The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-05-08
MR.. CLEVELAND'S ADDRESS.
Former President Recounts History of
the Louisiana Purchase.

Former President Grover Cleveland
was accorded a great reception when
he was presented to deliver the Grafton
Of the day, following the presidents
dedic&tory address Mr.. Cleveland said,
in part:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The impressiveness of this occasion is
greatly enhanced by reason OF an at
mosphere of prophecy's fulfllment which
surrounds it. The thought is in our minds
that we are amid awe-inspirins; surround
lngs, where we may see and feel things
foretold a century ago. We are here in
recognition of the one hundredth ami
yersary of an event which doubled the
area of the young American ia ton, and
dedicated new and wide domain to
American progress and achievement. The
treaty whose completion we today COM
memorate was itself a prophecy of our
youthful nations mighty growth and de-
Velopment, At its birth prophets in wait
ing joyously foretold the happiness which
its future promised He who was the
chief actor for. the United States in its
negotiation, as he signed the perfected in
strument; thus declared its effect and
strument which we have just signed will
cause no tears to be shed. 1 prepares
ages of happiness for innumerable gen
erations of human creatures. The Mis-
sissippi and the Missouri will see them
succeed one another-truly worthy of the
regard and care of Providence-.n the
bosom Of equality under just laws, freed
from the errors of superstition and the
scourges of bad government" He who
represented the nation with whom we ne
gOt1ated, when he afterwards gave to the
world his account of the transaction de-
clared: THE consequences OF the cession
Of Louisiana will extend to the most DIS
tant posterity. 1t interests vast regions
that will become by their civilization and
power the rivals Of Europe before an
other century commences" and warmed
to enthusiasm by the developments al
ready in view, and greater ones promised,
he added: Who can contemplate with
out vivid emotions this spectacle of the
happiness Of the present generation, and
the certain pledges of the prosperity of
numberless generations that will follow?
From 5000 to 100000.
Almost within the limits of the terri
tory gained by the Louisiana purchase,
we have already carved out twelve great
states-leaving still large residue, whose
occupants are even now loudly clamoring
for statehood.
Instead Of the 5000 white settlers who
occupied this domain in 1903, 1t now con-
tains 100000 of industrious. enterprisng,
intelligent Americans, constituting about
| one-ffth Of the population of all our
for premiership N wealth and material
success with the oldest Of our states, and
are their equals in every phase of ad-
Yanced intelligence and refined civiliZa-
ton.
The supreme Importance of the Louis
| lana purchase and its value as nationa!
accomplishment, when seen in the Incl
of its present and prospective effects; and
judged solely by its paipable and indie
pendent merits, cannot be better charac-
terized than by the adoption of the fol-
lowing language from the pen of bril-
liant American historian: 1.-THE annexa-
ton of Louisiana was an event SO por-
tentious as to defy measurement. 1t gave
a new face to politics. and ranked in his
torical Importance next to the declaration
of independence and the adoption Of the
constitution, an event of which it was
the logical outcome. But as matter of
diplomacy, it was unparalleled because it
cost almost nothing
Celebration Is Most Fitting.
How fitting on every ground it is that
| the centennial of this stupendous event
! should be joyously and appropriately cele-
| brated; and that it should be celebrated
here in the most populous of the states
| created from the territory which the
| in keeping it is with the character OF this
acquisition, and with it's purpose and mis-
| sion, that our celebration should not
waste itself on the pomp and pagea0tzzy
/ that belong to the triumphs and spells of
war or to the rapacious dispossessi6ns OF
| ruthless conquest.
| We are here at this hour to dedicate
| beautiful and stately edifices to the pur-
pose OF our commemoration. But as we do
! this, let us remember that the soil wherein
we stand was century ago dedicated to
| the genius of American industry and
| thrift. For every reason, nothing could
| be more appropriate as an important part
| of the centennial commemoration we have
undertaken, than the gathering together
! on this spot Of the things that are charac-
| terist;c OF American effort and which
tell the story of American achievement;
and how happily win this be supplemented
| and crowned by the generous, magnan-
~ -. lave s.s,,,rr.r,..- ~