The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-30
Former President, Grover Cleve-
land, Speaks at Dedication
or the Grounds Of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition.
PROPHECY FULFILLED.
Promises of Hundred Years
Ago Realized.
Jefferson Saw What the Future
Held for Us.

ar. President and Ladies and Gentle
men.
The impressiveness of this occasion
is greatly enhanced by reason of an at
mosphere of prophecy's fuliliment
which surrounds it. The thought is in
our minds that We are amid awe-inspir-
ing surroundings, where we may see
and feel things foretold a century ago
We are here in recognition of the one
hundredth anniversary of an event
which doubled the area of the young
American nation, and dedicated a new
and wide domain to American progress
and achievement. The treaty whose
completion we today commemorate, was
itself a prophecy of our youthful ma
ions mighty growth and development
At Its birth prophets in waiting joy
ously foretold the happiness which its
future promised. He who was the chief
actor for the United States in its ne
gotiation, as he signed the perfected in
strument, thus declared its effect and
far-reaching consequences: THE in
strument which we have just signed
will cause no tears to be shed. 1t pre-
pares ages of happiness for innumera-
Bile generations of human creatures
The Mississippi and the Missouri Will
see them succeed one anOther=truly
worthy of the regard and care of Provf-
dence-in the bosom of equality under
just laws-freed from the errors of
superstition and the scourges of bad
government" He VINO represented the
nation with whom we negotiated when
he afterwards gave to the world his ac-
count of the transaction declared: The
consequences of the cesSiOn of LOuiSi-
ana Will extend to the most distant
posterity. 1t interests vast regions
that will become by their civilization
and power the rivals of Europe before
another century commences and
warmed to enthusiasm by the develop
ments already in view, and greater ones
promised he added: who can con-
template without vivid emotions this
spectacle of the happiness OF the pres
ent generation, and the certain pledges
of the prosperity of numberless gen
eraiions that will follow2 At these
magnificent prospects the heart beats
with joy in the breasts of those who
We're permitted TO see the dawn OF
these bright days. and who are assured
that so many happy presages will be
accomplished"
There was another prophet, greater
than aIl-prophet and priest-who high
er UP the mount than others. heard
more distinctly the voice of destiny.
whose heart and soul were fun Of
prophecy, and whose every faculty was
tense and strong as he wrought for our
nations advancement and for the peace
and contentment of his fellow country
men. From the fullness of gratitude
and JOY he thus wrote to one who had
assisted in the contamination of this
great treaty: For myself and my eoun-
try [ thank YOU for the aid you have
given in it: and congratulate you on
having lived to give these aids in a
transaction reDlete with blessings to
unborn millions of men. and which will
mark the face of a portion on the
globe. so extensive as that which now
composes the United States of Ame.l-
ca" and when as president, he gave
notice in q message to congress OF the
actual occupancy by the government of
its assurance of his complete faith and
confidence in the benehcent result of
our nations extension. in these words;
ION this important acquisition, so IA
yorable TO the immediate interests OF
onl. western citizens, so suspicious 20
the peace and security OF the nation IN
general, which adds to our country ter
ritories so extensive and fertile, and 10
our citizens new brethren to partake
of the blessings of freedom and self
government | offer to congress and our
/ country my sincere congratulate
! our prophets do not live forever They
are not here to see how stupendously
/ the growth and development of the
( American nation. on the domain newly
I ACQUIRED III titCAI nay --~f - .
short century. outrun their antlclpatlons
and predictions
Almost within the limits of the terri
! tory gained by the Louisiana purchase
we have already carved out Il grea'
! states-leaving still a large residue
whose Occunants are even now loudly
clamoring for statehood.
Instead OF the 5000 white settlers who
occupied this domain in 1903, it now
contains Is millions OF INDUSTRIOUS. en-
+ ms
( stituting about one-ifth of the popula-
ton of all our states; and these are de-
/ family contesting for premiership IN
wealth and material success, with the
Oldest of our states and are then
EQUALS in every phase OF advanced m
/ telligence and refined civilization.
The states which composed the union
when its possessions were so greatly ex-
/ tended, have since that time seen lhe
/ center of the nations population car
ried more than 500 miles westward Dy
the swift and constant current OF set
/ tlement toward this new domain; and
/ +be citizens of those states have seer
! focking thither new brethren to par
4 take of the blessings OF freedom anq
4 eif-government" in muldtudes great
er than even Jefferson would nave
dared to foretel.
shall not enter the field of statistics
/ for the purpose of giving details of the
DEVELOPMENT of the territory acquired
under the treaty we commemorate
have referred to such development II
some of its general features BY way
of suggesting how distinctly the cen
fury lust ended gives assurance Of {
startling and superabundant final full
hnment Of the prophecies Of its begin
ming.
The supreme Importance Of the Louis.
lana purchase. and its value as ma
tfcnal accomplishment. when seen in the
incidents of its short history and in th'
light Of its present and prospective eff
fects: and judged solely by its palpa-
bic and independent merits, cannot o.
ton of the following language from th'
Den Of brilliant American historian
s.The annexation Of Louisiana was an
event so rretentous as to defy meas
urement 1t gave a new face 70 poiltles