Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02

7 ouisiana Then such men came as Du
Tissenet. as the brothers LIE Moline dHer-
willie and LIE Nome de Bienvlile, tnls iast
tho founder of New Orleans: as Falner de
CbarIeyoix who gave the best account we
have of the country and spoke most wisely
about it's future: as La Clede, WofthieI
than any one to be remembered at TINS Gay
and this place, as he was tiie loulioei VI
your town.
Years went on: the dark shadows and
splendid rays of light with which french
history is interviewer Shone ana vanished
in their grand ana aWIui al.e. a., o,,is1
day the French flag was lowered IN LOUIS
lana. that was at the close OF the seven
wears war Another day the same nag
was seen on the mast Of a small Tessei
leaving the harbor at Bordeaux and sail
ing for America The ship happened to
bear the suspicious name of La Victo1re.
and it bore Lafayette. Then 1T was the al
lance of IT'S and the coming, In the same
year of the first envoy accredited by any
nation to this country, my predecessor,
Gerard de Rayneval, Stanch friend OF
America; then the peace OF 1883 when
with the assent Of the whole world. to the
Joy of every French heart, thirteen stars
shone on the American flag
France recovered thea neither Louisiana
nor Canada, nor anything. But she mad
never intended it. She Won friend, and
such friend is better than any province.
She was happy, having exactly fulfilled,
without change, bargain or extenuation,
the task she had mapped out for herself
treaty that the direct and essential object
of the same was eff1caciously to maintain
the freedom, sovereignty and absolute and
fllimited independence of the United
States" The joy was such in Paris at the
news of American independence that per-
formances in the theaters were interrupted;
the great event was announced, and au-
diences 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 mountains. and it was carefully pre-
served. and possess 1t at this day.
France followed her destinies In 1900
Louisiana was French again; three years
French republic, NOT New Orleans alone,
not mere strip at land. ut the whole
country became FOREVER American.
The treaty signed one hundred wears and
a day ago hadalittle precedents in history.
it dealt with territories larger than the
empire OF Alexander, 1t followed no war: ii
was preceded by no shedding OF human
blood: the new possessors got a hundred
times more than they even thought of de-
handing. lo@ .3i
The Words of Bonaparte,
81 know the worth of what I give I'D"
said Bonaparte; and the French govern
ment knew it indeed They acted with omen
Sy0Ss LUZ tucy- taASA care, from the
year Of 1900 to gather all available tnfor-
nation. One Of the memoirs with which
they enlightened themselves had been ask.
ed of Louis vilemont. former captain in
the regiment of Louisiana. 1t Is stiII un-
published: and 1t informed the government
that from various reports OF Canadian and
Indian hunters 1t Is possible to walk from
the Missouri to the sea In less than two
months and a half" An access to the Pa
cific was not SO easy as now. but yet an ac-
cess was therefore practicable, and the
wealth Of the country was extraordinary.
Warming at the souvenir Of what he knew,
the retired officer exclaims: What sources
of wealth can we not expect to find in those
parts At each step made from east to- west
all produce. all things increase tenfold. Il
seems as X nature had made this corner OF
the globe the most favored one of her inn
mense empire. The samples of all reigns
have more beauty and majesty than any,
where else. The men born there look more
| Hike descendants of Alcibiades than kins-
men of the tribes who worship Manitou."
Seeing the results, my countrymen have
never ceased to approve of the treaty stUs-
ed q hundred years ago. ''au nom du peuple
| Francais." 1893 Is the third memorable
date In the relations between France and
| America In giving the United States, ac-