Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-09
MR.. CLEVELAND'S ADDRESS.
Former President Recounts History OF
the Louisiana Purchase,

Former President Rccounts History OF
the Louisiana Purchase.
Former President Grover Cleveland
was accorded q great reception when
he was presented to deliver the grafton
OF the day, following the presidents
dedicatory address. Mr.. Cleveland said.
in part: (,
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The impressiveness of this occasion Is
mosphere of prophecy's fulfllment which
surrounds IL. The thought is in our minds
that we are amid awe-inspiring surround
ings, where we may see and feel things
foretold a century ago. We are here In
recognition of the one hundredth ami
versary 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 COM
memorate was itself a prophecy Of our
youthful nations mighty growth and de-
velopment. At its birth prophets In wait
ing Joyously foretold the happiness WHICH
chief actor for the United States In its
negotiation, 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. II prepares
ages OF happiness for innumerable gen.
erationS OF human creatures. The Mis-
sissippi and the Missouri will see them
succeed one another-truly worthy or the
regard and care of Providence-.n the
bosom Of equality under just laws, freed
from the errors of superstition and the
scourges of bad government" He who
represented the nation with whom we ne
gotiated, when he afterwards gave to the
world his account of the transaction de-
clared: "The consequence Of the cession
Of Louisiana will extend to the most DIS
tant posterity. 1t interests vast regions
that Will become by their civilizatio and
power the rivals Of Europe before an
other century commences" and warmed
to enthusiasm by the developments. al
ready in view, and greater ones promised,
he added: "Who can contemplate with
out vivid emotions his spectacle of the
happiness OF the present generation, and
the certain pledges of the prosperity OF
numberless generations that VIII folloW!
From 5000 to 100000.
Almost within the limits of the terri
tory gained by the Louisiana purchase,
we have already carved out twelve great
s~tates-leaving still a large residue, whose
occupants are even now loudly clamoring
for statehood.
Instead of the 5000 white settlers who
occupied this domain in 1903, 1t now con-
tains $1,000, 600 Of Industrious, enterprising,
intelligent Americans, constituting about
one-ffth of the population of all our
states; and these are defantly contestlng
for premiership IN wealth n nateria!
success with the oldest Of our states, ana
are their equals in every phase or ad-
vanced intelligence and refined civil!za-
ton.
The supreme Importance Of the Louis
lana purchase and It's value as a national
! accomplishment, when seen in the incl
dents Of It's short history and in the light
Of it's present and prospective effects; and
judged solely by It's palpable and inde-
pendent merits, cannot be better charac-
terized than by the adoption of the fol-
lowing language from the pen Of a bril-
liant American historian: The annexa-
ton of Louisiana was an event so por-
tentious as to defy measurement. 1t gave
a new face to politics. and ranked In his
torical importance next to the declaration
Of independence and the adoption or the
constitution, an event OF which 1t was
the logical outcome. But as a matter OF
diplomacy, II was unparalleled because II
cost almost nothing"
Celebration Is Most Fitting.
How fitting on every ground 1t Is that
the centennial Of this s~tupendous event
should be joyously and appropriately ceie-
brated: and that 1t should be celebrated
here in the most populous OF the states
created from the territory which the
Louisiana purchase gave 10 us. And how
in keeping it is with the character of this
acquisition, and with its purpose and mis-
sion, that our celebration should not
waste itself on the pomp and pageantry
that belong to the triumphs and spells of
war or to the rapacious dispossessions Of
ruthless conquest.
We are here at this hour to dedicate
beautiful and stately ediices to the pur-
pose Of our ommemoration But as we do
this, let us remember that the soil wherein
we stand was a century ago dedicated to
the genius Of American industry and
thrift. For every reason, nothing could
be more appropriate as an important part
of the centennial commemoration we have
undertaken, than the gathering together
on this spot of the things that are charac-
~teristic of American effort, and which
tell the story of American achievement;
and how happily will this be supplemented
and crowned by the generous, magma
imous and instructive contributions from
other and older lands, which, standing side
by side with our exhibits, shall manifest
the high and friendly regard our repub-
lie has gained among the governments or
the earth, and shall demonstrate how
greatly advancing civilization has fostered
and stimulated the Brotherhood of nations.
l hope l may be permitted to suggest
that our thoughts and surroundings on
this occasion should lead us TO humble
recognition OF the providence OF God In
all that has made us a great nation. FROM
our beginning as a people our course has
been marked by occurrences and incidents.
so striking, so significant, and so con-
slant, that only superstitious dullness or
intellectual blindness will place them to
the credit Of luck or chance.
The Purchase of Louisiana.
In the midst Of our rejoicing today, 1t is
peculiarly fitting that we recall with SO
berness and meekness some of the hap
penings in connection with the great event
we celebrate. which impressively illus
trate the interpretation OF divine .proVl-
dence In our behalf. We sought from a
nation ruled by one whose abmition was
boundless and whose scheme for aggran-
di2ement knew neither the oDllgallOnS OF
public morality nor the restraints of good
faith, the free navigation of the Miss's-
sippi river and such insignificant terri
tory as would make such navigation use
full. While our efforts toward the accom-
plishment of this slight result languished
and were fast assuming a hopeless condi-
ton, the autocrat of France suddenly
commanded one of his ministers to enter
into negotiations with our waiting and
disspirited representatives, and exclaimed
81 renounce Louisiana. 1t is not only
New Orleans : ceGe. 1t is the whole col
ony without reserve"
: 1t was only n~ineteen days thereafter thai
the treaty transferring to us the mag
nifcent domain comprised within the
Louisiana purchase was concluded.
Thus we may well recall In these sur
roundings, the wonderful measure OF
prophecy's fulfllment within the span Of
a short century, the spirit, the patriotism
and the civic virtue of Americans whc
lived a hundred years ago, and Gods over
ruling Of the wrath of man and his deviou:
ways, for the blessing of our nation.
We are all proud Of our American citi
zenship. Let us leave this place with thi:
feeling stimulated by the sentiments borr
of the occasion. Let as appreciate more
keenly than ever how vitality necessary l
Is to our country's veal that every on
within it's citizenship should be clear
minded in political aim and aspiration
sincere and honest in his conception o.
our country's mission, and aroused Il
higher and more responsive patriotism b!
the reflection that 1t Is a solemn thing t
belong TO q people favored Of God.