New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20
LOUISIANA.

To-day is in a peculiar sense the centennial
anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. 1t is
the anniversary of the day on which that
epoch making act fully cOnsummated.
Other dates in connection with il have been
worthy of commemoratiOn. One was April Is,
1902 lust a hundred years before which JEFF
ierson. in his wrath at learning Of the Treaty
OF San Ildefonso, declared that the day that
France takes pOsseSsio N Of New-Orleans fixes
''the sentence which is 10 restrain her forever
within her low water mark From that mo-
ment jefferson was irreVocably committed 10
the policy Of the Louisiana Purchase, to an
alliance with England which should enable
20 achieve the forcibie conquest Of that ter
ritory Another date was October 1G. 1902,
The centenary Of Morales's order revoking our
rights and privileges at New-Orleans and thus
arousing and uniting The American nation in
demand for American ownership Of the Mis-
siSsippi from source to mouth. There were also
The dates of the secret Congressional appropria-
ton Of S2,0oo,000, TO enable jefferson TO pur-
chase or to conquer Louisiana; of the signing
of the treaty Of cessiCn. April 80 1903, and
Of the ratification and PRONUNCIATION of that
treaty, on October 81.
After all these, and after other significant
dates however, comes the date Of the actual
transfer Of soyereignty-the date on which the
great contract was not only signed and sealed,
but also actually delivered. All through these
)ther times, during our preparations for war,
our negotiations with France. the making of
the treaty and the ratifying Of il, Spain was
still in possession Of Louisiana Since October
I, 1900, under the secret treaty of San IIde-
fonso, France had been the owner. but Spain
had remained the actual occupier Of the ter
ritOry, and Spain was reluctant to give it I'D
when il became evident that France meant 10
violate her agreement never TO dispose of il 10
any other power But Spain felt herself TO be
helpless, and 50 at the last moment assented
% the transfer Ii was on November so 1903
hat Louisiana was formally surrendered bv
spain 10 France, in order that France might In
accordance with the treaty made just seven
months and ratified ana promulgated one month
before, In turn transfer 1t 10 the United States
The Gay was dark and stormy, the skies weep
ing said the Spaniards, at the lrreparable loss
which ehe Iberian crown was suffering and
the transfer was effected with the scantest DOS
kible ceremony. Spain had no heart TO make a
parade over the REIMBURSEMENT Of an empire,
and France did not care TO celebrate the nomi-
nal acquisition OF territory which was In fact
no longer hers, but which she must in & few
days pass on 10 another power.
But On December % far different was the
scene. The day was clear and brilliant The
public square al New Orleans was picturesquely
thronged- There were the aristocratic Creoles.
who had just been transferred from orc gov
eminent 10 another not only without the cen
sent Of the governed" lux without even their
knowledge. There were negro slaves and red
Indians. There We're French and American sol
aiers in full uniform. There were also clad in
buckskins and red flannel. many OF those Ken
lucky and Tennessee fronhersmen who had con
tributed 20 the Fastening on OF the Loulsia 4.
Purchase by threatening war if it were not y