Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-01

' Of orr countries future A less able Pres
ident with the same view enterii set .i ~
9 jefferson as to the constitutionality OF ti'
measure would have put aside the 'oppoI
tnnity. Jefferson put aside ms pTeGS e. y,
eeived views as 70 be 5e to ba Will Of tn,
i nation, and welcomed the opportunity tt
2 open up the continent to the expansion o.
American democracy and free instit"
} TONS
was wrong in his adverse construction OF
the constitution, and glad that hc was
liberal minded enough to see that he rnigin
be wrong. And yet may we not probably
pause here long enough to contrast III DUB
thoughts the careful and reverent man
ner in which the restrictions of our funda-
mental law were scrutinized hundred
!, years ago; with the tendency often seen cen
, adjustment of our constitution to the pur-
poses of interest and convenience?
In conclusion, / hope / may be permit
ted to suggest that our thoughts and sur
roundings on this occasion should lead US
to humble recognition of the Providence
of God in all that has made us great
nation. From our beginning as people
our course has been marked by occur-
rences and incidents SO striking, SO sig
nificant, and so constant, That only super
stitious dizziness or intellectual blindness
will place them to the credit OF luck Or
| chance.
! in the midst of our rejoicing, today, it
is peculiarly fitting that we recall with
soberness and meekness some of the hap
penings in connection with the great
event we celebrate, which impressively il
lustrate the interposition of Divine Provi-
dence in our behalf. We sought from a
boundess and whose scheme for aggran-
| diZement knew neither the obligations of
public morality nor the restraints of good
| faith, the free navigation of the MISSISSIPPI
| pi river and such insignificant territory
| as would make such navigation useful
While our efforts toward the accomplish
ment of this slight result languished and
were fast assuming hopeless condition.
| the autocrat of France suddenly com
| 1xa1 zs.,&<
negotiations with our waiting and dispirit-
| ed representatives and exclaimed: ~ re-
nounce Louisiana. It is not only New Or
leans I cede: 1t is the whole colony with
out reserve"
| : 1t was only 10 days thereafter that the
treaty transferring to us the magnificent
| domain comprised within the Louisiana
Purchase was concluded.
| This astonishing change in our prospects
which dissipated the fears and apprehcn-
sions of our government and revived the
promise of our perpetuity and happy des-
tiny, came at the moment that Bonaparte
was organizing a force. to occupy the
Louisiana territory in the prosecution OF
colonial occupation and development
which. if contaminated, would probably
have closed the door even to the slight ac-
QUESTION which we originally sought. The
French colony of San Domingo was how
cupation. and it was essential to it's sue
cess that this colony and Louisiana should
both be included and should supplement
each other. A serious revolt then raging
in San Domingo delaying proceedings, the
occupation of Louisiana was postponed
until the revolt should be overcome. The
troops sent from France to accomplish
this apparently easy task were so stub
bornly resisted by hundreds of thousands
OF freed black lighting against their re-
from climate conditions and deadly fever,
that after the sacrifice of 25,000 soldiers.
many of whom were intended for the sub
sequent occupation of Louisiana, Bona
parte. S plan for the occupation of both
colonies miscarried. This disappointment
M
and conquest by tee restless dictator Of
France. and his need of money to carry
out these schemes. We're controlling cir
cumstances in leading him to throw in
our lap the entire Louisiana territory.
None of these circumstances were within
our procurement or knowledge; but who
shall say that God was not accomplishing
bis designs in our behalf amid the tur-
MOL and distressing scenes of San Do
that there was no Providence in the unex-
pected unyielding and successful fight for
continued freedom on the part of the
thence that view with bloody warfare III
the destruction of the army of subjuga-
ton hi or IN the fever Of war and aggression
combining to turn him away from the oc-
cupation of the Louisiana territory? All
our sight, pointed with the coercion that
belongs to the DEGREES of God. to con-
summation which restored to our people
peace and contentment. and secured to
our nation extension and development be-
yond the dreams of our fathers
mus we may well recall in these sur
round1ngS the wonderful measure of
prophecy's fulfillment within the span of a
short century, the spirit the patriotism.
and the civic virtue of Americans who
lived hundred years ago, and Gods over
ruling of the wrath of man and his de-
vious ways, for the blessing of our ma
ton.
We are all proud of our American citi-
zenship. Let us leave this place with this
leenhhg simulated by the sentiments born
keenly than ever how vitality necessary
II Is to our countrys veal that everyone
within Its s cltizeniship should be clean
sincere and honest in his conception of
our countrys mission, and aroused to
the reflection that it is a solemn thing to
belong to people favored of God
The exercises were closed by the
benediction delivered by Bishop Potter
of New York.
| thousands of people occupied an i'm
mense grand stand near the Adminis-
tration building during the evening to
witness the display of fireworks. The
display was delayed until the appear
ance of the President, when a great
battery of 15-inch aerial moons was ex-
pioded in a salute which was almost
deafening. Following this beginning,
for nearly two hours the air was a scin-
t1llant screen of flashing color The
night was made brilliant with various
coiored lights, framed in appropriate
ievices. The spectacle closed with the
printing in letters of fire Of the words
Farewell Until 1904"
The Chinese ambassador was an es-
pecially pleased spectator.
| From the dining hall in the Hall of
| Congresses, President Roosevelt and
his party were hurriedly escorted to
President Francis private office, from
| the windows of which they reviewed
the pyrotechnical display.
President Roosevelt denied that a
cabinet meeting will be held in Kansas
| City as has been rumored. When the
post office investigation was mentioned,
ne declined to discuss the matter fur
Their than to say that the investigation
would be rigid and thorough.
AFTER spending almost an hour view
ing the fireworks the Presidential party
prepared to take their departure from