Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-19
Editors In
ST. Louis


er; with the heavy cares incident to
the building Of a new nation upon yet
untried foundations. But weighty as
were their responsibilities they did
not hesitate to assume others weight,
Ter still. To an undeyeloped empire
they seized the occasion 10 add an.
other still wilder and more remote,
To their half finished task. they I'M
dauntedly superimposed smother flll
OF exacting and perilous possibilities.
In their robust faith - the futu-
their fearless confidence in the force
81 the new democracy-difflculties
were not considered and the impos
sibie did ~ exist I'D men oS that
strain, IN an enterprise which prom.
Used usefulness and glory. foil and
danger we're only irresistible attrsc.
lions.
While VI should give due credit ID
&hN AhSAfiAIdi luSl ulA1fitatAksr7 A& ~
which this great Transaction was
brought about. We Mould not forget
the Overwhelming Influence exerted
by the unseen Director Of the Drama.
Whether We call II the spirit of the
age. Or historic necessity. Oh the BAL.
ance Of power. Or whether We reyer.
emily recognize in The matter the
hand Of that providence which
watched over our infancy al 4 people,
we al not but admit that the acquisi
tion of this vast territory was. In one
way or another, sure TO come. A
wise diplomacy fastened II, a tlmid
conservatism might have delayed IT;
but II was written lii our horoscope.
The surest proof Of this lies II the
eminent personalities BY whom the
purchase and sale were made. Jcffer.
Q was the last man In America Of
whom we could have expec.ad this de.
parture on the field 0f illimitabe exs
pansion. and Napoleon was, Of all the
soyereigns Of Europe. the least likely
70 give up 50 vast = 49, Of en-
pirc.
One Of the most brilliant and tenac.
lous dreams Of Bonaparte was 10 w.
tablish On the right bank OF the Mis-.
siss.ppi a Latin empire reaching from
the Gulf Of Mexico to the Pacific
ocean, extending in future ages the
glories Of France 10 the sunset scar
The principle dearest 10 the heart of
Jefferson was that Of a strict construc-
ton OF the constitution, which In his
view forbade the exercise b. the gen.
eral government or anything hut ex.
pressly delegated powers. IT. would
have seemed like a contradiction In
terms TO expect either of these states
men TO agree upon a proposition
which radically contraseiied the In
mort convictions Of each of them. But
the nature Or things was more pow.
erinl than either a Bonaparte or a
Jefferson. No human influence could
have controlled either of them, but
the stars In their courses we're still
stronger. and they gladly obeyed the
mandate OF fate, which was In each
case the mandate of an enlightened
patriotism. Franch, diyesting herself
of This rich lneumbrance, was tho bet
ter fitted for The supreme gladltorial
effor that awaited her and jefferson
gained an immortal fame by prefer,
ring an immense benefit to his coun
try 70 consistency In a narrow con-
strHetion IL the written law.
NO man. 10 party, can fight with
any chance Of final success against d
cosmie tendency no cleserness, no
popularity. ayails against The spirit Of
The age IN obcying that invincibl
tendency, against all his political con
victions. jefferson secured d coa
spicuous place III history; whi,e the
federalist politicians who should
hAye welcomed this signalillustration
and proof Of the truth Of their theory
OF tha power Of the government .ncy
hst framed. through The influence *
party spirit faitered in -leir faith and
brought upon their party a lasting
eclipse through their failure 10 dis.
cern the signs of the times. presi.
Dent Roosevelt, ii the memorable al.
dress with which he dedicated iast
year this exhibition. used. in relation
to this subject. these striking words:
AS IL 50 often the case in nature,
the law 81 development III 1 living o..
ganism showed itself Iii tts actual
workings TO be wiser than the wisdom
OF the wisests
A glance NJ the map % Europe
gives an Idea Of the yastness 81 this
acquisition II covers 4 spacs greater
Than that occupied by France. Ger.
many. Great Britain. Italy. Spain and