The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-05-09
The Recognition of Providence.

The conclusion OF the EX~froSldent
ClsReasnd's speech at St. Louis, in
winch he reverently acknowledges the
hand of Providence IN the affairs of this
nstiSu, is worthy of consideration and
cOE1sarison with the dedication speech
of President Ro o%sevelt, which was n
long glori6cation o: mans achieve
meut. Mr.. Cleveland's last words
were
I'm conclusion ! hope I may be per-
mitteo 60 suggest that our thoughts
and Surrounding on this occasion should
lead as to an humble recognition of the
providence of God in all that has made
ais q great nation From our begin
ming as a people our course has been
marked by concurrences and incidents
SO striking, so significant and so con-
stant that only superstitious dullness
or intellectual blindness will place
aheal to the credi of luck or chance,
In the midst of our rejoicing to-day
1T Is peculiarly fitting that we recall
with soberness and meekness some of
the happiness in connection with the
great event we celebrate, which i'm
pressively illustrate the lnterpositlon
of divine providence in our behalf.
We sought from a nation ruled by one
whose ambition was boundless and
whose scheme for sggrandizement
knew neither the obligations of public
morality nor the restraints Of good
faith the free navigation of the Mis-
sissippi River and such Insignificant
territory as would make such naviga-
fion useful. While our efforts toward
the accomplishment Of this slight re-
suit languished and were fast assuming
a hopeless condition the %autocrat of
France suddenly commanded one Of
his ministers to enter into negotiations
with our waiting and dIspirited repre-.
sentatiVes and exclaimed: 81 renounce
Louisiana. 1t is not only New Orleans
4 cede. 1t is the whole colony, with
out reserve"
j was only nineteen dayst thereafter
that the treaty transferring to us the
magnificent domain comprised within
the Louisiana Purchase was concluded.
This astonishing change in our
prospects, which dissIpated the fears
and app%rehensions Of our Government
and revived the promise of our perpet-
nifty and happy destiny, came at the
very moment that Bonaparte was or
gsniziDg a force to occupy the Louis
Eaua territory in the prosecution Of
colonial occupation and development,
winch, if contaminated, woulC
probably have closed the door even tc
the slight acquisition which we origin.
ally sought. The French colony O
San Domingo was, however, a prime
factor in this scheme of occupation, anC
1t was essential to its success that thi
colony and Louisiana should both b,
included and should supplement eact
other.
Serious revolt then raging in Sa.
Domingo delaying proceedings, tn
occupation of Louisiana was postpone
until this revolt should be overcome
The troops sent from France to az
complish this apparently easy tasI
were SO stubbornly resisted by hun
dreds Of the bands Of freed blacks
fighting against their re-enslavemenl
and they suffered Sc terribly froG
climate conditions and deadly few
thst after the sacrifice Of 26,0 C
soldiers, many Of whom were intende
for the subsequent occupation
Louisiana, Bonaparte's plan for Il
occupation of both colonies mlscarrie,
This disappointment and the co
ceptIon Of new schemes of wal al
conquest by the restless Dictator
France, and bis need OF money
carry GU. these schemes, were contrC
ling circumstances in leading him
throw in our lap the entire louisa
Territory. None of these circumsta
ces we're within our procurement
knowledge, but who shall say that G
was not accomplishing his designs
our behalf amid the turmoil and d
tressing scenes Of San Doming'
revolt? And how can it be SAID Il
tkere was no Providence in the un'
pected unyielding and successful fig
for continued freedom oD the part
the negroes Ct San Domingo, or IN !
fatal pr6stilence that wed with bloc
warfare 10 the obstruction Of the ar