The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-02

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 staunch friend of America: then the peace of 17S3 when. with the assent of the whole world. to the joy of every Frfench heart. thirten stars shone on the American flag.
 France recovered then neither Louisiana nor Canada, nor anything. But she had never intended it. She won a friend. and a friend. and such a friend, Is better than any province.
 Fulfilled the Task.
 She was happy. having exactly fulfilled, without change, bargain or attenuation. the task she had mapped out for herself in l77S. when she declared in the Alliance Treaty. that the Direct and essential ob- ject of the same. was efficaciously to maintain the freedom sovereignty and ab- solute and lllimited independence of the United States" The joy was such, in Paris, at the news of American lnde- pcndence that performances in the theatres were interrupted: the great event was announced, and audiences rose to their feet to cheer the new born republic. Festivities were given and colored prints were scattered all over France for the benefit of those who could not be present. Such souvenirs were proudly kept in families. One such came to the remote house of my own parents in the noun tains. and 1t was carefully preserved and 1 possess it at this day.
 France followed her destinies. In 1900 Louisiana was French again; three years later, on the spontaneous proposal of the French Republic. not New Orleans alone, not mere strip of land, but the whole country became for ever American.
 The treaty signed one hundred years and a day ago had little precedents in history; 1t dealt with territories larger than the empire of Alexander; 1t followed no war: 1t was preceded by no shedding of human blood, the new possessors got hundred times more than they even thought of demanding and the negotla- tons were so simple the good faith and mutual friendship so obvious that all was concluded In a fortnight The simplest protocol on postal or sanitary questions takes nowadays more time. Each party found its interest in the transaction, but something more than interest Jed the affair to a speedy conclusion, and that was the deep-rooted sympathy of the French and American nations. The French were simply continuing what they had begun; they had wished America to she would be great. Money was paid, 1t is true; had this been the main considera- tion Louisiana would have been preserved for the money was not, by far, the equivalent of the buildings and lands be- longing to the State. Part of the money was employed in satisfying American claims. Those gays the French nego- tiator. Marbois. "who knew the import ance of good understanding between these two countries attached more importance to the four millions of dollars set apart for the American claims than to the twelve offered to France" An impending war in Europe, the possibilities of an occupation of Louisiana by a foreign power. was not either the main motive. In the council held at the Tuileries on Easter day 1853, the faithful friend of til" First Consul the future Marshal and Prince of Wagram, BeTthier, whose first war had been the War of American h. dependence said as to this If L0uisia- na is taken from us by our rivals, what does 1t matter. Other possessions would soon be in our hands and, by means of an exchange, we should quickly obtain restitution" He concluded: No navy without colonies. no colonies with out q navy"
 Add again that the value of Louisiana was much better understood than it had been before. "I know the worth of what 1 give up.' said Ronaparte; and the French Government, knew it indeed. They acted with open eyes, for they had taken care. from the year of 1890 to gather all available information. One of the memoirs with which they enlightened themselves had had been asked of Louis Vilemont, former captain in their regi- ment of Louisiana. It Is still unpublisn- ed. and it informed the government that from various reports of Canadian and l Indian hunters it is possible to walk from | the Missouri to the sea in less than two ! months and half. An access to the | Pacific was not so easy as now, but yet an access was therefore practicable, and | the wealth of the country was extraordi- nary. Warming at the souvenir of what | he knew, the retired officer exclaims: | What sources of wealth can We not ex- pect to find in those parts? At each step | made from east to west, all produce. all l thing increase ten
 I fold. It seems as if nature had made | this corner of the globe the most favored | one of her immense empire. The samples | of all reigns have more beauty and ma- | jesty than anywhere else. Tho men born | there look more like descendants of AIcl- I des, than kinsmen of the tribes who wor- | ship Manitou."
 Pleasing to All.
 The main motive power without which all inc others go id have been II DO