The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-04-30
LOUISIANA DOMAIN
DISCUSSED
hKnnIIE nIVh
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THE MAGNIFICENT GIFT OF
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
ST LOUIS EXPOSITION
Brings Civilized Nations Together to
Celebrate This Act.
To the Editor of the Palladium: -.

To the Editor of the Palladium: 80.
The acquisition Of the original
province of Louisiana was one
among the great events in the history
of this country and laid the founda-
tion of its present greatness and pow
er. And now while the American
people, assisted by all the civilized
nations Of the earth. are so magnif-
Gently celebrating the centennial Of
this occurrence, it may not be amiss
to briefly recall it's history with the
attending circumstances, which made
its acquisition possible. 1t was not
the result Of any diplomatic fore
thought on the part Of the American
people or their rules in seeking it.
1t was thrust upon an astonished peo-
pie and their reluctant government by
the necessities of another nation. And
he who gave us this magnificent gift
for its price was a mere pittance-
is seldom everd named in connection
with it; we accept the gift but we
forget the giver. 1t was to Napoleon
Bonaparte, then First Consul of
France, we owe the acquisition of this
vast and at that time underlined do
main
In 1853, at the conclusion of the
Seven Year War. France surrendered
by treaty to Spain all that remained
of her American possessions. These
consisted Of all the territory on the
west side Of the Mississippi river,
with New Orleans on the east
side. Already possessed of the
Floridas, Spain then owned both sides
Of that river from the 31st parallel
of latitude to its mouth, thus con-
trolling the only outlet for the trade
of all the country west of the Allie
gheny mountains. This condition
wa sintolerable to the western set
tiers, they grew discontented, they
even became rebellious and threaten
ed to march upon New Orleans and
capture it. But a temporary peace
was secured by treaty with Spain,
giving the American settlers the free
navigation of the Mississippi and the
right of deposit on the island of Or
leans But Spain in 1900 retrans-
fered the Louisiana province to
France, and pending Frances taking
possession, some two years, suspend
ed the right of deposit. The western
settlers were again aggrieved and
again rebellious, they did not believe
they were properly protected by the
general government and threatened
war upon their enemy. Jefferson was
Prsident and Madison was Secretary
of State "But'' as President Roose-
Welt says in his book, The Winning of
the West, "the country has never
had two statesmen less capable Of up
holding the honor and dignity of the
nation, or even of preserving its ma
terial well being, when menanced by
foreign foes" He adds, Jefferson
was the least warlike Of Presidents
and he loved the French with a ser
vile devotion. But his party wa.
strongest in precisely those parts OF
the country where the mouth of the
Mississippi was held to be of right
the property of the United States
and the pressure of public opinion
was too strong for Jefferson to think
Of resisting it, Therefore Jefferson
was aroused to action. He resorted
to negotiation with France, ther
known to be the owner of Louisiana
He instructed Livingston. the Ameri
: can minister at Paris, to secure from
France a renewal of the free naviga
ton of the river and the right of de
nosit at New Orleans. Mr.. Monroe
was also hurried over to assist Mr.
Livingston. and both were instructed
, to attempt the purchase of the islan6
of Orleans. and the Floridas. Nothing
beyond this was hoped for and ever
this was refused by France.
But achange of conditions brough
) a change in the plans of the Firs
!, Consul. A war cloud, was spreadin.