The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-05-20

i Gulf of Mexico. It's navigation was
q prize nercely contended for by ev.
cry chancellerie of western Europe
Many suitors have looked upon 1t
| since that gallant Prince Charming,
fernando de Soto, parted the cur
| tains of its repose, and all have
found 1t fair. It aroused equally the
interest of the Briton, the Iberian
and the Gaul. When by virtue of one
of the strangest caprices of the great
game of diplomacy ever known it be-
came our cherished possession, it
gave rise to the fiercest political con-
tests. the most far-reaching combina-
tions. When the accumulated pas
sions and purposes of hundred
years at last burst forth in tempest
of war. 1t became the center of a
worlds breathless interest and was
flooded with the fatal and terrible
light which plays about the battle
fields of fame and Shines in the sud-
den making of splendid Names So
long as its waters roll to the sea, so
|long will the world remember the
high resolution with which Grant and
Sherman hewed their way southwark
and the chivalrous courage with
which Johnson and Pemberton op-
posed them. So immense is the val
ue of that silver bar that binds to-
gether the framework of the welded
States.
We celebrate this year, with the
generous assistance OF a friendly
world, the most important event in
the history OF this great valley. an
event which in far-reaching and last
ing results is surpassed by few in the
life of the nation. 1t is perhaps true
that to the philosophic mind all per
iods are critical-that every hour is
the end of an era and the beginning
Of new order of ages. But to us
ordinary observers there occur from
time 10 tims Crises in history when
the Vine Of cleavage between the old
and the new Is clear and distinct
where the aloe blooms. where the
avalanche leaves the mountain top.
where the leisurely march of events
is quickened to the dynamic rush of
Irresistible destiny. The transfer of
this imperial domain from European
to American control was one of those
transactions which render the period
of their accomplishment memorable
for all time. In no other act did the
men who made the Revolution-men.
as Lowell called them, with empires
in their brains'-more clearly show
their marvellous prophetic insight.
The United States was. in 1903. fee
BILE folk, with hardly enough popula-
ton to occupy the long Atlantic sea
coast; with the great spaces of the
middle west scarcely yet picketed by
adventurous pioneers; with imperfect
means of defense against world
which still looked askance at the
half-known upstart which might prove
dangerous hereafter: with the heavy
cares incident to the building of
new nation upon yet untried founda-
tions. But weighty as were the re-
sponsibilities they did not hesitate
to assume others weightier still. To
an undeveloped empire they seized
the occasion to add another still viii
der and more remote. To their half
finished task they undauntedly super
imposed another full OF exacting and
perilous possibilities. In their robust
faith in the future-their fearless
confidence in the force of the new
democracy-di difficulties were not con-
sidered and the impossible did not
exist To men of that strain. in an
enterprise which promised usefulness
and glory. toll and danger were only
Irresistible attractions.
While we should give due credit
to the individual instrumentalities
by which this great transaction was
brought about. we should not forget
the Overwhelming influence exerted
by the unseen Director of the Ora
ma. whether we call 1t the spirit OF
the age. or historic necessity. or the
balance Of power. or whether We rev
erently recognise In the matter the
hand Of that Providence which
Watched over onr infancy rs peo-
pie, We cannot but admit that the
acquisition Of this vast territory was.
In one way 0f another, sure to come.
4 wise diplomacy FASTENED It; tim
|id conservation might have delayed
II: but It was written in our horo-
scope. The surest proof Of this lies
IN the eminent personalities by
whom the purchase and sale were
made. Jelferson was the last man in