The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-08
in which the L%ouls,ana purchase

pansion in which the Louisiana purchase
was the striking achievement. 1t stands
OUT In Neltef even among the feats% OF a
nation of pioneers. The acquisition Of the
territory is a credit to the statesmanship
OF the statesmen to whom it was due, and
to the character of the pioneers to whose
energy these statesmen gave expression
and direction. The history of the .pur-
chase is an epitome Of the history of our
up state after state until now they many
times over surpass In wealth, in popu-
latlon, and IN many-sided DEVELOPMENT, the
themselves mighty in war and in strength
to tame wilderness. They could not
thus have conquered forest. and prairie,
sessed the qualities which enable a .peo-.
pie to overcome. They could not W
used Alright their CONQUEST had they not
Courage and hardwood are Indispensable
virtues, but the people which possess no
others can never rise high. Greet peoples
which comes only when individuals fully
recognize their duties to one another and
to the whole body polite, and are able to
join In constructive craftsmanship and
effective administration.
Duties Of the Future.
The old pioneer days are gone, with their
roughness and their hardship, their in
credible toll and their wild half-sayase
virtues remain as ever. Frontier condi-
tons have vanished, but the hardihood Of
the frontiersmen can be given fresr scope
under the complex industrialism of the
present. In this great region cqulred
under Jefferson, stretching from the gulf
to the Canadian border, from the Missis-
sippi to the Rockies. the material and so
cial progress has been SO vast that Its
people now share the opportunities and
burdens OF the civilized world. The prob
lens are the same east and west, In new
states and old.
We meet today to commemorate an
event which marks an era In statesman
ship no less than in pioneering. 1t is fit
ting that we should pay our homage in
words: but we must make our words good
by deeds. We have every right to take
a Just pride in the great deeds Of our fore
If we make what they did an excuse for
lying supine instead of an incentive to
show ourselves worthy Of them. In the
administration of city; state and nation,
to show high qualities under penalty Of
seeing the heart Of our civilization eaten
out while the body lives.
We justly pride ourselves on our mar
velous material prosperity, and such pros
per1ty must exist to establish a founda-
ton upon which a higher lifs can be built:
higher life thereon, material prosperity
itself will go for little. We must meet
the changed problems with the spirit
quent years gained and settled this terri
tory now filled with populous states.
The old days. were great because the
ties. and we must make the new days
great by showing these same qualities.
We must insist upon courage and resolu-
tility in resource: we must insist upon the
strong virile virtues; and we must in
sist no less upon the virtues of .elf-re-
Of others; we must show olr adherence
Of cruelty. brutality and corruption, in
public and in private life alike. If we
shall measurably fail; and If, as 1 believe
We surely shall, We develop these quail
ties in the future to an even greater de-
fury now beginning we shall make Of this
republic the freest and most orderly. the
most just and most mighty, nation which
time.