, 1904-12-07
A TRIP TO ST. LOUIS
Continued from Page 2

SetDIS SCaICCl1 ClNoAOAO t1
ouisition of Louisiana by Jefferson
vas denounced with a bitterness sur
passing the partisan rancor with
which later generations have been
familiar. No abuse was too malig-
nant, no epithet too coarse, no impre-
cation too savage, to be employed by
the a~ssailants of the great philosophlc
statesman who laid SO broad and deep
the foundations of his cOuntry's
growth and grandeur. President of a
feeble republic, ~contending for a prize
which was held by the greatest mill
tary power of Europe, and whose pos
session was coveted by the greatest
naval power of the world, Mr.. Jeffer-
son through his chosen and trusted
agents, SO conducted his important
negotiation that the ambition of the
United States was successfully inter-
posed between the necessities of the
one and the aggressive designs of the
other. Willing to side with either of
those great powers, for the advantage
of his own country, not undertaking
the dangers of war, yet ready to en-
gage in it for the control of the great
waterway to the Gulf, the President
made the largest conquest ever peace
fully achieved and at a cost so small
that the total sum expended for the
entire territory does not equal the
revenue which has since been collect
ed on its soil in a single month in time
of great public peril. ''The
acquisition of Louisiana brought in
calculahle wealth, power, and prestige
to the Union, and must always be re-
garded as the master-stroke of policy
which advanced the United States
from a comparatively feeble nation,
lying between the Atlantic and the
Mississippi, to a continental power of
assured strength and boundless pro-
mise. The coup d'etdt of Bonaparte
was an overwhelming surprise and
disappointment to the English govern
ment. Bonaparte was right in as
Stunning that prompt action on his
part was necessary to ave Louisiana
from the hands of the English.
Twelve days after the treaty ceding
Louisiana to the United States was
signed, the British ambassador at
Paris demanded his passports, as did
also the French ambassador to En-
gland, and a tremendous war ensued.
England's acquisition of Louisiana
would have proved in the highest de-
gree embarrassing if not disastrous, to
the Union. No colonial acquisition
ever made by her on any continent has
been so profitable to her commerce,
and so strengthening to her military
position, as that of Louisiana would
have proved. This fact was clearly
seen by Bonaparte when he hastily
made the treaty ceding it to the
United States. That England did moi
at onee attempt to seize it, in disre
gard of Bonaparte's cession, has beer
a source of surprise to many histor
ians. The obvious reason is that she
dreaded the complication of a war il
America when she was about to as
sumo so heavy a burden in the i'm
pending European contest.u
After reviewing this bit of history
it is no wonder, then, that the st
Louisians set themselves to such /.
gigantic task. They did their worl
well AID it is predicted that there will
never be another such exposition
until 1876.
AN AMUSING INCIDENT.
While seated in the Wabash rail
road station on Monday night watch
ing the Indians, who were at the fai
i'll charge of exhibits, etc., depart 70
their western homes, | met man VIII,
seated himself next to me and com
menced to talk of the money he haC
made at the fair. He was PARTIAL,
intoxicated and said that he was $500
10 the good, but expressed regret tina
he had got to drinking so much. Fin
ally he asked me where | was from
| replied, Jersey. He then startled M
by exclaiming "HOLLY BEACH
What!l gasped, GRASSY SOUND
he added with the rising infection, be
fore had time to recover from M,
original shock. 1t was such a SUI
prise to hear these familiar place
mentioned by a stranger and in