devoted attachment be possible among separate communities, it should surely exist between the people of these thirteen States. If there be such a thing as a common bond uniting these prosperous commonwealths that bond is the City of New Orleans which was the capital of the vast area which now comprises these thirteen States, and was the Mecca for the people of all the teeming valley whose unrivalled water way carried its abundant products to the sea. Divisions may spring up, ill blood may burn, opposing parties be formed and interests may clash, but the ties which unite these thirteen States and this old city are particularly strong in their relation to the past-strong in the deeds of the distinguished men to whom Louisiana and her sister States owe their origin, growth and development and in which all have a common patrimony. In like spirit I take pleasure in extending to you in behalf of its people, a generous welcome to this old city, with the assurance that you will find it no less hospitable, and far more interesting, than those who preceded you one hundred years ago."

Hon. Philander C. Knox, Secretary of State of the United States, was introduced by Governor Sanders as "the representative of President Taft, and one of the greatest men of the country."

Mr. Knox humorously remarked, before making his address, that President Taft had selected him because he represented him in size. And as Mr. Knox is of medium size and build, and President Taft is physically very large, the remark was greeted with laughter, in which the distinguished visitor heartily joined.

Mr. Knox was frequently applauded and his eloquent tribute to Louisiana was mightily cheered.

Secretary of State Knox spoke on the Centennial's significance as follows:

"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen-When our forefathers in their wisdom formed a more perfect union,' the domain of the United States was bounded on the west by a vast empire belonging to the sovereignty of Spain, which was transferred by Spain to France in 1800.

"Looking with far-sighted vision into the future and with a keen appreciation of the importance of having an outlet to the sea for the settlers and for the produce of the Mississippi Valley, Jefferson, not without a misgiving as to its constitutionality, seized the opportunity presented by the exigencies of European politics.

to acquire this immense territory by the treaty of 1803 with France. Thus was consummated the cheapest real estate transaction recorded in history, and one which in its results has fulfilled the prophesy of the French negotiator that the cession of Louisiana 'interests vast regions that will become by their civilization and power the rivals of Europe before another century passes.' Well might Robert R. Livingston exclaim after the signature of the treaty, 'We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole lives.' At the time of this cession the population of the United States numbered less than 6,000,000 souls. To-day more than 92,000,000 find their homes within its confines. Out of the wilderness acquired from France have been formed thirteen great states, having by our last census an estimated population of nearly 18,000,000 against an estimated population of 50,000 at the time of the cession. Not the least of these states and the first to be admitted as a state into the Union is the present state of Louisiana.

"While giving to Jefferson all the honor due him in the transaction, and it must be recognized that it required courage to take the patriotic action that he did, still we can hardly suppose that it taxed the wisdom of his statesmanship to forsee the necessity of acquiring the Louisiana territory for the United States and of assuring to its citizens forever control of the Mississippi River; for events aside from European politics were shaping to make the final action inevitable. During more than twenty years the Americans had asserted as an incontestable right the free navigation of the Mississippi River to the sea. It was indispensable to the suc cess of the large immigration that had peopled the region west of the Alleghenies that the settlers there should have an outlet through the mouth of the Mississippi to the markets of the world.

"By the treaty of San Lorenzo el Real of Oct. 27, 1795, the boundary between the United States and the Spanish colony of Louisiana was fixed in the middle of the channel or bed of the Mississippi River from our then northern boundary to the thirtyfirst degree of north latitude. The navigation of the Mississippi in its whole breadth, from its source to the ocean was made free to citizens of the United States. They were permitted for the space of three years to deposit their merchandise and effects in the port of New Orleans and to export them thence, and Spain promised either

to continue this permission or to assign to American citizens an equivalent establishment at another place on the banks of the Mississippi.

"The operation of this grant was not interrupted at the expiration of the three years, but continued in force by tacit agreement until on Oct. 16, 1802, the Spanish intendant by proclamation declared that the right of deposit no longer existed.

"The inhabitants west of the Alleghenies and east of the Mississippi at that time were said to exceed 80,000. Excluded by natural barriers and lack of communication and transportation from the markets of the east and now by the intendant's order deprived of their only means of exporting their produce, they saw in prospect their products rotting and their own inevitable ruin unless the Federal government should come to their assistance. The president and the Congress were beset with petitions and statements of grievances. Threats were made that if no aid was received from the government the people themselves would be obliged by necessity 'to adopt themselves the measures that may appear to them calcuIated to protect their commerce,' even though these measures should produce consequences unfavorable to the harmony of the Confederacy: "The Mississippi is ours,' they said (I quote from Marbois, the French negotiator), 'by the law of nature; it belongs to us by our numbers, and by the labor which we have bestowed on those spots which, before our arrival were desert and barren. Our innumerable rivers swell it and flow with it into the gulf sea. Its mouth is the only issue which nature has given to our waters, and we wish to use it for our vessels. No power in the world shall deprive us of this right. We do not prevent the Spanish and the French from ascending the river to our towns and villages. We wish in our turn to descend it without any interruption to its mouth, to ascend it again and exercise our privilege of trading on it and navigating it at our pleasure. If our most entire liberty in this matter is disputed, nothing shall prevent our taking possession of the capital; and when we are once masters of it, we shall know how to maintain ourselves there. If Congress refuses us effectual protection, if it forsakes us, we will adopt the measures which our safety requires, even if they endanger the peace of the Union and our connection with the other states. No protection, no allegiance!'

"The treaty with France was signed on April 30, 1803, and