Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-05-04

early days by the soldiers. missionar-
les. explorers AMI traders who did
their work for the honor of the proud
the settlers OF English-speaking stock
and those OF Dutch, German and Scan
dinavian origin who We're associated
with them We're still clinging close to
the eastern seaboard, the pioneers of
Spain and France had penetrated deep
into the hitherto unknown wilderness
OF the west and had wandered far and
wide within the boundaries of what is
now our mighty country. The very
cities themselves-St Louis, New Or
leans. Santa Fe. New Mexico-bear
witness by their titles to the nationali-
ties of their founders. 1t was not un-
til the Revoloution had begun that the
English speaking settlers pushed west
across the Alleghenies. and not until
century ago that they entered in to
POSSESSES the land upon which we now
stand. We have met here today to
commemorate the hundredth aniver-
sary of the event which more than any
other. after the foundation of the gov
ernment and always excepting its de-
termined character of our national life
determined that we should be a
great expanding nation instead OF
relatively small and stationary one.
OF course it was not with the Lou
isiana Purchase that our career of ex.
pansion began. In the middle of the
Revolutionary war the Illinois reser-
vation including the present states of
Illinois and Indiana was added to our
domain by force of arms. as sequel
to the adventurous expedition of
George Rogers Clark and his frontier
riflemen. Later the treaties of Jay
md Pinckney materially extended our
real boundaries to the west But none
of these events was of so striking
character as to fix the popular imagi-
nation. The old thirteen colonies had
always claimed that their right
stretched westward to the Mississippi,
and vague and unreal though these
claims were until made good by con
quest settlement and diplomacy. they
still served TO give the impression that
the earliest westward movements of
our people We're little more than the
'iiiliitH III Va diithhF tNlSllllts
boundaries.
But there could be no illusion about
the acquisition of the vast territory
beyond the Mississippi. stretching west
ward to the Pacific. which in that day
vas known as Louisiana. This i'm
nense region was admittedly the terri
'ory of foreign power, of European
King None of our people had ever
aid claim to a foot of it. Its acquisi-
lion could in no sense be treated as
rounding out any existing claims.
When we acquired it we embarked in
career of expansion. This work of
expansion was the greatest work OF
our people at the outbreak of the civil
war. The frontier was pushed ever
westward across the continent; never
before had the world seen this kind of
national expansion which our people
gave to this continent. The history of
Rome and Greece illustrates very well
the two types The type of expansion
had an underlying viciousness. The
remedy formulated by the fathers of
our republic was untried and many
shook their heads, only the adventur-
GUS and far-seeing could see its wis
dom, that of expansion. for it might
bring peril which would daunt the
most stout-hearted The idea. howev-
er, was wise. We expanded by carving
the wilderness into territories and out
of these territories building new
states. In each case we showed the
practical governmental genius of our
Nv IL,
to meet the existing needs. This pro
cess now seems to be part of the nat
ural order of things. but it was un-
known until our people devised it. The
acquisition of the territory was and is
credit to the broad and far-sighted
craftsmanship of the great statesman
to whom it was Immediately due, and
above all TO the aggressive and mas
terful character of the hardy pioneer
folk to whose restles energy the states
men gave expression and direction,
and whom they followed rather than
led. Within the limit of the purchase,
we have gradually built up state after
state, until now they many times over
surpass in wealth. in population and
in development, the original thirteen
states. The people of these states
possessed qualities of seli-mastery
md self-restraint, courage and hardi-
ness, indispensable virtues in the peo-
pie.
The old pioneer days are gone, with
their roushness and their hardships.
But the need for the pioneer virtue re-
mains the same as ever. We meet
here today to commemorate great
event and which marks an era IN
craftsmanship no less than in pioneer
ing. We justly pride ourselves on our
marvellous material prosperity. And
such prosperity must exist in order to
establish foundation upon which a
higher life can be built We must
meet the change and changing prob
lens with the spirit shown by the men
who in 1903 and in the subsequent
years explored, conquered and settled
it. The old days were great because
the men who had lived in them had
mighty qualities; and we must make
the new great by showing these same
qualities. We must insist upon cour-
age and resolution. upon hardihood
and tenacity and fertility in resource.