The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-30
ltion of Louisiana Purchase Exposition

and reverent manner in which the re-
trictions OF our fundamental law were
scrutinized a hundred years ago. with
the tendency often seen in latter times
to fippantly attempt the adjustment OF
our constitution to the purposes OF in
terest and convenience?
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
In conclusion / hope l may be permit
ted to suggest that our thoughts and
surroundings on this occasion should lead
us TO humble recognition OF the provi-
dence OF God in all that has made US
great nation. From our beginning as
people our course has been marked by
occurrences and incidents so striking. so
significant and so constant that only
superstitious dullness or intellectual
blindness will place them to the credit
of luck or chance.
In the midst OF our rejoicing today, IL is
peculiarly fitting that we recall with So
berness and meekness some OF the hap
penings in connection with the great
event we celebrote. which impressively IL
lustrate the interposition of Divine Prov
idence I'm our behalf. We sought from
nation ruled by one whose ambition was
boundless and whose scheme for aggran-
dlzement knew neither the obligations OF
public morality nor the restraints OF good
faith, the free navigation OF the Missis-
rippi river and such insignificant terri
tory as would make such navigation use-
'ful While our efforts toward the accom-
plishment OF this slight result anguished
md were fast assuming a hopeless con-
dition, the autocrat OF France suddenly
commanded one OF his ministers TO enter
into negotiations with our waiting and
disputed representatives. and exclaimed:
IT renounce Louisiana. II is not only New
Orleans | cede. It is the whole colony
without reserve
II was only nineteen days thereafter
that the treaty transferring to us the
magnificent domain composed within the
Louisiana Purchase was concluded.
This astonishing change In our pros
pects. which dissipated the fears and APP
prehensions OF our government and re-
vived the promise OF our perpetuty aud
hanpv destiny, came at the very moment
hat Bonaparte was organizing a force 10
scupy the Louisiana territory in the
rosecutlon Of colonial occupation and de-
Selopment, which IL consummated, would
probably have closed the door even TO the
slight acquisition which we originally
sought.
The French colony OF san Domingo was.
however. a prime factor i'm this scheme OF
occupation. and IL was essential 20 It's
success that this colony and Louisiana
should both be included and should sup
plement each other. A serious revolt then
leging I'm San Domingo delaying proceed
ings the occupation OF Louisiana was
postponed until this revolt should be
overcome. The troops sent from France
10 accomplish this apparently easy task,
we're so stubbornly resisted by hundreds
OF thousands OF freed blacks. fighting
against their re-enslaYement, and they
suffered so terrible from climate condi-
tons and deadly fever. that after the sac
rince of twenty-five thousand soldiers
many OF whom were intended for the
sgbseauent occupation Of Louisiana, Bona
parte's plan for the occupation of both
/ colonies miscarried.
This disappointment and the conception
Of new schemes of war and conquest 10y, ps
the restless dictator OF France, and ms
need of money To carry out these
schemes, were controlling circumstances
in leading him to throw IN % our zap p,,eae sne
circumstances were within our procure
ment or knowledge. but who shall say
that God was not accomplishing his de-
sicus In our behalf amid the turmoil and
distressing scenes OF San Domingo's re-
volt? And how can il be said that there
was no providence in the unexpected, un-
| yielding and successful fight for continued
freedom or the part OF the negroes on
. San Domingo, or In the fatal pestiehce
that We'd with bloody warfare I'm the de-
struction OF the army OF subjugaton. or
in the fever of war and aggression which
heated the blood of Bonaparte, all COM
bining TO turn him away from the occu,
these things 40 remote and so far out oi
our sight pointed with the coercion that
belongs to the DEGREES of God to con-
summa ton which restored To our pc 'oic
peace and contentment and secured "a
our nation extension and development he-
yond the dreams of our fathers.
Thus we may well recall in these SIR.
roundings the wonderful measure ol
prophecy's fulfllment within tho span ol
a short century, the spirit, the patriot
= ism and the civic virtue of Americans
who lived a hundred years ago. and God )
overruling OF the wrath OF man and ms
. devious ways for the blessing or oul
, nation.
We arc all proud of our American citi'
. zenship. Let us leave this place witr
Q this feeling stimulated by the sentiments
! born of the occasion. Let us appreciate
more keenly than ever how vitality ncces.
4 sary IL IL TO our countrys veal tha
: everyone within it's citizenship should b'
! clean minded in political aim and aspira
! tion, sincere and honest In his ooncep
r tion of our countrys mission. and aroused
Q TO higher and more responsive patriotism
q by the reflection that it is solemn thinl
= | 10 belong to a people favored of God.
Prayer was then offered by RI. Rev
!. e. r. Hendricks, bishop of the Metho'
- dist Episcopal church.
The benediction was then pronounced
by Bishop Potter of New York.
: c,as.oo nAYrrnyo rMrn,nrINl