Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition CommissionLouisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
History
Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 : Saint Louis, Mo.)
The treaty giving away in full possession and forever Louisiana
to the United States, allowing them to spread without meeting
any foreign neighbors from one ocean to the other, adding
fourteen States to the original thirteen, was signed one hundred
years ago, "au nom du peuple Francais" in the year XI of the
French Republic. The results have passed the most sanguine
hopes, but they have not gone beyond the extent of our friendly
wishes for the sister Republic of America. The representative of
France comes to this spot that was French in former times with a
feeling of admiration for what you have done, and no feeling of
regret. He sees splendid development, arts, sciences, trade, and
agriculture equally prosperous; he applauds your success, and
expresses from his heart his good wishes for your grand
exhibition of next year.
As for his own country, if she no longer holds those immense
domains, she has, on the other hand, found other territories for
the peaceful employment of her inexhaustible energy, with
results which will forever redound to the praise of the
Government of the Republic. And as for Louisiana itself, France
rests satisfied with remembering that she could not have more
friendly nor more sympathetic intentions. She remembers also,
not without pride, that her sons first discovered and tilled the
soil, first described it, and first drew a map of it; that one
of her most famous writers first revealed to the world the
springs of poetry that lay concealed as much under the fir trees
of the Mississippi Valley as under the plane trees of Tempe; the
diplomat and literary artist who made all those who had a mind
and heart weep for the fate of Atala.
Seeing the results, my countrymen have never ceased to approve
of the treaty signed a hundred years ago "au nom de peuple
Francais." Eighteen hundred and three is the third memorable
date in the relations between France and America. In giving the
United States, according to the words of your negotiator, its
place among the greatest powers in the world, 1803 did nothing
but perfect what had been gloriously begun in 1778 and 1783.
Sixth. Music by the Marine Band, playing the Spanish "Himno de Riego."
Seventh. Address by the Spanish minister, Señor de Ojeda:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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