The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-01

ter or uipiomacy, It was unparalleled De- cause 1t cost almost nothing"
 Peace the Keynote.
 How fitting on every ground 1t is that
 the Centennial of this stupendous event
 should be Joyously and appropriately cell
 ebrated; and that 1t should be celebrated
 here in the most populous of the States
 created from the territory which the
 Louisiana purchase gave to us. And how
 in keeping 1t Is with the character of this
 acquisition. and with its purpose and mis- sion, that our celebration should not
 waste itself on the pomp and pageantry that belong to the triumphs and spells of
 war or to the rapacious dispossessions of
 ruthless conquest. Every feature of our celebration should remind us that we me- morialize a peaceful acquisition of terri tory for truly American uses and pur- poses; and we should rejoice not only be- cause this acquisition immediately gave peace and contentment to the spirited and determined American settlers who de- manded an outlet of trade to the sea, but
 also because 1t provided homes and means of livelihood for the millions of new Americans, whose coming tread fell upon the ears of the expectant fathers of the republic, and whose stout hearts and brawny arms wrought the miracles which our celebration should interpret.
 We are here at this hour to dedicate
 beautiful and stately edi1ces to the pur-
 pose of our commemoration. But as we
 QO IllS, let us TemefnDeT IuaL the SOll whereon we stand was a century ago ded- icated to the genius of American indus
 try and thrift. For every reason, nothing could be more appropriate as an import ant part of the Centennial commemora-
 tion we have undertaken. than the gath
 ering together on. this spot of the things
 that are characteristic of American ef
 fort, and which tell the story of Ameri-
 can achievement; and how happily will this be supplemented and crowned by the ntmOuR and in9trlIrttve contributions from other and older lands, which standing side by side with our ex- hibits, shall manifest the high and friend ly regard our republic has gained among demonstrate how greatly advancing civil ization has fostered and stimulated the brotherhood of nations.
 Retrospection.
 cannot, however, rid myself of the feeling that the inspiration and value at ipated and increased. if on this dedica- tory occasion we promote appropriate re- | factions by retrospectfon of some of
 the incidents which accompanied the event we celebrate.
 We all know that long before the nego- tiations of the treaty of 1893, our govern
 ment had keen appreciation of the im- portance to American settlers in the Val ley of the Mississippi of an arrangement permitting their products to be deposited and exported at the entrance of that river to the sea. It will be remembered that this need of our settlers had been met In a limited and not altogether se- cure manner by a treaty with Spain, al- lowing such deposits and export to be made. at the city of New Orleans. This privilege was entirely withdrawn in Oc- tober, 1892 the territory appertenant to such privilege having been in the mean time transferred to France. The situa- tion 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 trading | outlet, and on the other the perplexing l question of affording them relief by | means of diplomatic agreement. or in | some other methods The abandonment of I our settlers to their disheartening fate | was of course not contemplated.
 | It cannot be denied that the conditions | plainly pointed to cautious and deliberate
 negotiations as the way of prudence and | safety. It very soon became apparent,
 however. that delay and too much delib- l eration did not suit the temper and spirit | of sturdy Americans chafing under a | sense Of wrong and convinced that they
 were entitled to prompt assistance The Inhabitants of our territory bounding on | the east side of the Mississippi, in @ me- | morial addressed to the President. Sem | ate and House of Representatives, after
 reciting their discouraging condition and
 expressing their faith in the government 8 l disposition to extend the necessary aid, | closed their memorial with these signih- l cant words: And so far as may depend upon ourselves, we tender to our country l our lives and fortunes in support of such | measures as Congress may deem neces-
 sary to vindicate the honor and protect
 the interests of the United States" The | settlers in the States west of the Ale ghany Mountains" also in memorial to | the government clearly indicating their | impatience and readiness for extreme ac-
 ton. declared that prompt and decisive l measures were necessary, and referred to | EA trra kt.aA
 are reciprocal, as being particularly ap- | plicable to their situation, They conclud- | ed their statement with these solemn words: Without interfering in the meas | about the amicable arrangement of a difference which has grown out of the | gratuitous violation of solemn treaty,
 they desire that the United States may
 explicitly understand that their condition l Is critical; that the delay of a single sea-
 son would be ruinous to their country: and that an imperious necessity may con l sequently oblige them. if they receive no aid, to adopt themselves. the measures 1 that may appear to them calculated to
 protect their commerce-even though
 those measures should produce conse-
 9uences unfavorably to the harmony of | the Confederacy."
 Jefferson for Speed.
 | These representations emphasized the 1 apprehension of those charged with gov l ernmental affairs. that the course of de-
 hberate caution and waiting, which up to | that time had appeared to be the only | one permissible, might be insufficient to | meet the situation; and that whatever
 the result might be. more pronounced | position. and more urgent action should be entered upon. President Jefferson wrote to friend on the frst of Febru- | ary, 1903. Our circumstances are so i'm | perious as to admit of no delay; as to our | course, and the use of the Mississippi so indispensable, that we cannot hesitate its maintenance" He apapointed an addi- | tional envoy to cooperate with our repre- sentative already at the French capital, | In an attempt to obtain concession that would cure the difficulty and in a com munication to him, after referring to the excitement caused by the withdrawal of
 the right of deposit, he thus character ized the condition which he believed con- frcnted the nation: "On the event of this
 mission depend the fuS1re destinies of this
 republic. If we cannot by a purchase of
 the country. insure to ourselves a course
 of perpetual peace and friendship with all
 nations. then as war cannot be distant
 1t behooves us immediately to be prepar-
 it."
 I have not recited these details for the
 purpose of claiming that this accelerated
 speed and advanced position on the part
 of our government had any important
 effect in hastening final results. l have
 thought 1t not amiss. however. to call att
 tention to the fact that a century ago the
 people of this country were not seeking
 to gain governmental benefit by clandes-
 tine approach and cunning pretence, but
 were apt to plainly present their wants or