Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-04-11

today, news which applies not to one
man nor to one woman of this or any
country more than to another. but
news which belongs to all the world"
He paused for a moment and held
up in his right hand tiny scrap Of
paper, thin. crumpled. None could
guess what significance it had.
"May God in his own power punish
me-" said he soiemnly, IF ever l halt
or falter in what believe to be my
duty! I place no bounds to the future
of this republic-based. as firmly
believe it to be, upon the enduring
principle of the just and even rights
of mankind a.. .-
Our country to the west always
has inspired me with the EXTREMIST
curiosity and animated me with the
Hottest hopes. Since the year 1858
that great river, the Missouri, empty
ing into the Mississippi, has been look
ed upon as the way to the Pacific
ocean. One hundred years from that
time-that is to say, in 1881 myself
asked one of the ablest of our western
ers none other than General George
Rogers Clark. to undertake journey
of exploration up that western river.
1t was not done. Three years later.
when accredited to the court at Paris,
met Mr.. Ledyard, an American then
abroad. desired him to cross Russia.
Siberia and the Pacific ocean and then
to journey eastward over the Stony
mountains to find, If he could, the
head of that Missouri river of which
we know so little. But Ledyard fail
ed, for reasons best known, perhaps.
to the monarch of Russia.
Later than that and long before
had the power which now is mine to
order matters of the sort the Boston
sailor. Captain Grey. in 1892. as you
know, found the mouth Of the Column
bia river. The very next year after
that I engaged the scientist MichauX
to explore in that direction, but ne
likewise failed.
"All my life ! have seen what great
opportunities would be ours If once we
owned that vast country yonder. AS
a private citizen planned that we
should at least explore it. Always 1t
was my dream to know more Of it. 1t
being clear to me that the future of
our republic lay not to the east, but
to the west of the Alleghenies-inde
to the west of the Mississippi itself
never have relinquished the ambi-
ton that l have SO long entertained.
Never have l forgotten the dream
which animated me even in my young
err years. I am here now to announce
to you>s so that you may announce to
all the world certain news which ]
have here regarding that western re-
gion, which never was ours, but which
I always wished might be ours"
With the middle finger Of his left
hand the president ficked at the mys-
FERROUS bit of crumpled paper still held
aloft in his right. There was silence
all down the long table.
more than year ago l once more
chose messenger into that country
went on Thomas Jefferson. II chose a
leader of exploration, Of discovery. !
chose him because knew could trust
in his loyalty, in his judgment, in his
courage. Well and thoroughly he has
fitted himself for that leadership"
He turned his gaze contemplatiyely
down the long table. The gaze OF
many of his guests followed his. still
wonderingly as he Went on.
"My leader for this expedition into
the west, which planned more than a
year ago, is here with you now. Cap
tain Meriwether Lewis. will you stand
up for a moment? wish to present
you to these, my friends"
With wonder, doubt and. indeed, q
certain perturbation at the presidents