New-York tribune., 1903-05-01

followed by all the great peoples who were capa-
BILE both of expansion and of self-government.
and the world accepts it as the natural
process, as the rule; but century and quar-
ter ago IL was not merely exceptional; it was
unknown.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVEMENT.
This. then, is the great historic significance
OF the movement of continental expansion in
which the Louisiana Purchase was the most
striking single achievement It stands out in
marked relief even among the feats of
ticn of pioneers, nation whose people have
from the beginning been picked out by a proc
ess Of natural selection from among the most
enterprising individuals of the nations of West
ern Europe. The acquisition of the territory is
a credit to the broad and farsghted statesman
ship of the great statesman to whom 1t was
Immediately due, and. above ALL to the ag-
gressive and mastarfui character OF the hardy
pioneer folk to whose restless energy these
statesmen gave expression and direction, whom
they followed rather than led.
The history of the land comprised within the
tire history Of people Within these limits
we have gradually built up State after State
until now they many times over surpass in
wealth, in population and in many sided de-
velopment the original thirteen States as they
when their delegates met in the Cont-
mental Congress. The people of these States have
shown themselves mighty in war with their fel-
low man, and mighty in strength TO tame the
rugged wilderness. They could not thus have
conquered the forest and the prairie, the noun
tain and the desert had they rot possessed the
great fighting virtues, the qualities which enable
a people to overcome the forces OF noSIlie men
and hostile nature. On the other hand, they
could not have used Alright their conquest had
they not, in addition, possessed the qualities OF
elf-maStery and self-restraint, the power OF
acting in combination with their fellows, the
power of yielding obedience to the law and OF
building 1Ip an orderly civilization Courage and
hardihood indispensable virtues in peo-
pie; but the people which possesses no others
can never rise high in the scale either of power
or of culture. Great peoples must nave IN aodl-
tion the governmental capacity which comes
only when individuals fully recognize their duties
TO one another and to the whole body polite
and are able to join together IN 1eats OF con
structive craftsmanship and of honest and eI-
fectfve administration
THE OLD VIRTUES STILL NEEDED.
The old pioneer days are gone with their
roughness and their hardship, their Incredible
toll and their wild, half savage romance. But
the need for the pioneer virtues remains the
same as ever. The peculiar frontier conditions
have vanished: but the manliness and stalwart
hardihood OF the frontlefsnlen can De given even
freer scope under the conditions surrounding the
complex industrialism of the present day. In
this great region acquired for people under
the Presidency of Jefferson. this region. stretch
ing from the Gulf to the Canadian border, from
tIte NississiDpi to the Rockies the material and
social progress has been so vast that alike Tor
veal and for woe its people now share the op-
portunities and bear the burdens common to the
entire civilized world. The problems before US
are Fundamentally the same east and west or
the Mississippi, in the new States and in the
old, ard exactly the same qualities are required
for their successful solution.
We meet here to-day to commemorate a great
event an event which marks in states
manship no less than in pioneering 1t is fitting
that we should pay homage in words; but
must in honor make our words good by
deeds. We have every right to take just pride
in the great deeds Of our forefathers; but we
show ourselves unworthy TO be their descend
ants if make what they did an excuse for
cur lying supine instead of an incentive to the
effort TO show ourselves by our acts worthy OF
them. IN the administration Of city, State and
nation, in the management OF our home life
and the conduct of our business and social re-
"a we O high
fine qualities, of character under penalty of see
ing the whole heart of civilization eaten out
while the body still lives,
We Justly pride ourselves on our marvellous
material prosperity and such prosperity must
exist in order to establish a foundation upon
which higher life can be built; but unless we
do in very fact build this higher life thereon the
material prosperity itself Will go for but very
little. Now. in 1903, in the altered conditions,
must meet the changed and changing prob
lens with the spirit shown by the men WHO in
1903 and in the subsequent years gained. ex-
plored, conquered and settled this vast terri
tory. then desert, now filed with thriving and
popUlous States.
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
The old days were great because the men who
lived in them had mighty qualities; and we
must make the days great by showing these
qualities We must insist upon courage
and resolution, upon hardihood, tenacity and
fertility in resource; must insist upon the
strong virile virtues. and we must insist no less
IIpon the virtues of self-restraint self-nastery
regard for the rights of others; must show
cur adherence OF cruelty, brutality and corrup-
ton, in public and in private life alike.
If we come short In any Of these qualities we
shall measurably fail, and if. as l believe we
surely shall. develop these qualities in the
future to even greater degree than in the
past, then in the century now beginning we
shall make Of this republic the freest and most
orderly the most just and most mighty nation
which has ever come forth from the womb of
time
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