Arizona republican., 1903-05-01
Mr.. cLEVELAND'S SPEECH
Continued from Page one.)


contentment of his fellow countrymen.
From the fullness of gratitude and joy'
he thus wrote to one who had assisted
in the consummation of this great
treoty; For myself and my country
| thank you for the aid you have given
in il; and I congratulate you on hay
ing lived to give these aids in 4 trans
action rcpleta with blessings to unborn
rIillicrs OF men, and which win mark
the face Of a portion Of the globe. SO
extensive as that which now composes
the United States OF America; and.
when is president. he gave notice in =
message to congress Of the actual oc-
cupdncY by the government OF its new
acquisition. he happily presaged the flu
ture. and save assurance of his COM
piete faith and confidence in the BEN
eficent result OF our nations extension
in these words: ON this important
acquisition, so favorable to the imme-
date interests of our western citizens.
so suspicious to the peace and security
CT the nation in general. which add 5
10 cur country territories SO extensive
and fertile. and to car citizens new
brethren TO partake of the blessings
Of freedom and self government, of
cere congratulations"
Our prophets do not live forever.
They are not here to see how stupen-
dcusly the growth and development OF
the American nation on the domain
newly acquired in their day, have dur
ing short century, outrun their an
ticipations and predictions.
Almost within the limits of the ter
litory gained by the Louisiana pur-
chase. We have already carved out
twelve great states-leaving still Il
large residue, whose occupants are even
now loudly clamoring for statehood.
Instead OF the 5000 white settelers
who Occupied this domain in 1909. it now
contains 100000 of industrious, en-
terprisins, intelligent Americans, con-
shutting about one-fifth of the pCpula-
ton of all our states; and these are
dafiantly oontesting for premiership in
wealth and material success with the
eldest of Our states. and are their
equals in every phase Of advanced in
telligence and refined civilization.
The states which composed the union
when it's possessions were so greatly
extended. have since that time seen the
center of the nations population car
ried more than 500 miles westward, by
the swift and constant current OF set
Element toward this new domain; and
the citizens of those states have seen
decking thither new brethren to par
take of the blessings of freedom and
self government" in multitudes great
1
dared to foretell.
Mr.. Cleveland then dwelt upon the
incidents leading up to the acquisitiCa
of this territory and the history of the
negotiations by which it was accom-
plished. Turning to the purposes of
the exposition. he said:
THE EXPOSITION LESSONS.
I cannot. however. rid myself of the
feeling that the inspiration ard value
attending such an exposition may be
anticipated and increased, if on this
dedicatory occasion we promote appro-
pirate reflections by retrospection of
some OF the incidents which occupied
the event We celebrate.
We all know that long before the ne
gotiations of the treaty of 1903 our gov
eminent had a keen appreciation OF
the importance to American settlers in
the valley of the Mississippi of an ar
rangement permitting their products
to be deposited and exported at the en-
trance of that river TO the sea. 1t will
be remembered that this need of our
settlers had been met in Il limited and
not altogether secure manner by l
treaty with Spain, allowing such dc
posts and exports To be made. at the
city OF New Orleans. This privilege
was entirely withdrawn in October,
1902. the. territory appurtenant to such
privilege having been in the meantime
transferred to France. The situation
thus created was extremely delicate.
There was presented to the government
on the one hand the injury to western
settlers through the loss of their trad
ing outlet. and on the other hand the
perpleXing question of affording them
relief by means Of diplomatic agree
mont. or in some other method. tn
Abandonment of our settlers to their
dishcartening fate was of course not
contemplated.
Another incident which it seems to
me we may recall today with profit GnI
satisfaction. grew OUT Of the conducc
of the president when that treaty of
1899 had been formulated and was re-
turned to him for ratification and final
completion. He was. as is we'll known,
originally firm in the belief that the
constitution as il stood did not author
ize such an extension Of our limits by
purchase as the treaty for the acqui-
sition Of the Louisiana territory con-
templated Holding this opinion and a.
the same time confronted with the
clear conviction that the treaty with
all its stupendous advantages, couli
rot be allowed to fail without positive
peril. if not to our national life at least
To its most vital object and aspirations
his perpleXity was increased by the re-
ceipt Of an authoritative intimation
that any delay in final action on the
treaty might open the way to a recess
sion on the mart Of France In these