The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-30

distinctly the voice OF destiny whose
heart and soul were full OF prophecy, and
whose every faculty was tense ana
strong as he wrought for our nations ad-
vancement and for the peace and content
ment OF his fellow -countrymen. From the
fulness OF gratitude and JOY he thus
wrote TO one who had assisted in the con-
summation OF this great treaty:
"For myself and my country j thank
you for the aid you have given IL; and
/ congratulate you on having nVed TO
give these aids i'm a transaction replete
with blessings 10 unborn millions or men,
and which will mark the face OF portion
on the globe, so extensive as that Whlch
now composes the United states of Amer
lea" and when as president he gave no.
tice In a message TO congress or the act-
ual occupancy by the government. or its
new acquisition, he happily presaged the
future, and gave assurance or his COM
plete faith and confidence In the beneh-
cent result OF our nations extensions; IN
| these cords: ION this important acquisi-
! ton so favorable TO the immediate IN
terests OF our western citizens, so auspi-
| cious TO the peace and security or the ma
| tion i'm general. which adds to our coun-
| try territories so extensively and fertile,
and to our citizens new brethren 10 par
/ take OF the blessings OF freedom and SELF
| government, I offer to congress and our
/ country my sincere congratulations
/
Our prophets do not live forever. They
/ are not here 10 see how stupendousously
| the growth and development OF the
/ American nation. on the domain newly
acquired I'm their day. have during
/ short century, outrun their anticipations
and predictions.
Almost within the limits of the terri
I cory gained by the Louisiana purchase
we have already carved out twelve great
states-leaving still a large residue whose
occupants are even now loudly clamorins
for statehood
Instead Of the 5000 white settlers who
occupied this domain in 1903, 1t now
I contains fifteen millions of industrious
/ enterprising intelligent Americans, con-
stituting about one-fifth Of the popula 70
tion Of all our states; and these are dc 70
/ family contesting for premiership IN
wealth and material success with the
Oldest of our states, and are their equals
I'm every phase OF advanced intelligence
and refined civilization.
| The states which composed the union
! when its possessions were so greatly eN-
] tended have since that time seen the
| center Of the nations population carried
more than FIVE hundred miles westward
by the swift and constant current ot sell
tlement toward this new domain; and
| the citizens OF those states have seen
]
OF the blessings Of freedom and self
1 government in mutitudes greater than
oven Jefferson would have dared TO fore
/ tell.
/ shall not enter the field OF statis-
tics for the purpose OF giving details OF
the development OF the territory acquired
under the treaty we commemorate.
1 have referred to such development IN
some OF its general features. by way or
suggesting how distinctly the century
inst ended gives assurance OF startling
and supera bundant final fulhllment or the
prophecies OF its beginnings
The supreme importance Of the Louisi-
ana purchase and its value as natlona
4 accomplishment. when seen In the lhcl
dents OF its short history ana IN 'he hsh
of its present and prospective eHects
and Judged solely by its palpable and In
denendent merits. cannot be better char
acterized than by the adoption OF th'
following language from the pen OF
brilliant American historian: The an
nexa tion OF Louisiana was an event s'
portentous as TO defy measurement
gave n new face TO politics ana rahse'
in historical Importance next 10 th'
Declaration Of Independence and the
adontion of the constitution-events o.
which II was the logical outcome. Bu'
as a matter of diplomacy, IT was unpar'
aIleled because 1t cost almost nothing
JOYOUS CENTENNIAL.
How fitting on every ground II Is thai
tho centennial of this stupendous eVen'
should be 80 joyously and approprateS
celebrated and that II should be cele'
brated here i'm the most populous OF th'
states created from the territory whlcf
the louisiana purchase gave to US. AnC
how In keeping II is with the character
of this acauisition and with It's purpose
and mission. that our celebration shoui'
not waste itself on the pomp and pagentS
that belong to the riumphs ana spoh
Of war or 10 the rapaclous dispossession
of ruthless conquest Livery ieatuie
our celebration should remind us that W
,,ar,orialize a peaceful acquisition OF ter
: ritorv for truly American uses ana put
, noses and we should rejoice not oni
. because this acquisition Immediately CAV
, noace and contentment TO the spHlte
"a determined American settlers WI
demanded an outlet of trade 10 the seu
hut also because 1t provided MONIES an
,,nans NJ livelihood for the millions Q
S new Americans, whose conilns sa.na,
unon the ears OF the expectant thtnei
. 20 ,ha republic and whose stout near
$ | ood hrawny arms wrought the mracle
: which our celebration should interpre|
: W. are here at this hour 10 dedleat
$ hoau,iful and stately edifices TO the pu'
= nose OF our commemorauon, pu, as !"
9 40 this, let us remember that tne So
n ,.hornon we stand was a century ag
: dcdIcated 20 the Genius of American N
e dustry and thrift. For every reasor
d nothing could be more appropriate as a
o ,,orortant part of the Centennial comneu
Grafton we have undertaken, than IN
pathering together on this spot OF IN
J, things that are chsracteristic OF Amer
q can effort and which tell the story
American achievement; and how happy
= ily will this be supplemented an
, crowned by the generous, mssnanfmou
a and instructive contributions from oth'
= ana older lands. which standing side b
: 40 with our exhibits, shall manie'
II tho high and friendly regard our rep'
: nc has gained among the governments
! the earth and shall demonstrate no
a ,rea,Iv advancing civilization has foi
a tered and stimulated the brotherhood
u nation
u RETROSPECTIVE VIEW.
3 cannot. however rid myself 81 "