slight acquisition which we originally sought.  The French colony of Santo Domingo was, however, a prime factor in this scheme of occupation, and it was essential to its success that this colony and Louisiana should both be included and should supplement each other.  A serious revolt then raging in Santo Domingo delaying proceedings, the occupation of Louisiana was postponed until this revolt should be overcome.  The troops sent from France to accomplish this apparently easy task were so stubbornly resisted by hundreds of thousands of freed blacks fighting against their reenslavement, and they suffered so terribly from climatic conditions and deadly fever, that after the sacrifice of 25,000 soldiers, many of whom were intended for the subsequent occupation of Louisiana, Bonaparte’s plan for the occupation of both colonies miscarried.  The disappointment and the conception of new schemes of war and conquest by the restless dictator of France, and his need of money to carry out these schemes, were controlling circumstances in leading him to throw in our lap the entire Louisiana Territory.  None of these circumstances were within our procurement or knowledge; but who shall say that God was not accomplishing His designs in our behalf amid the turmoil and distressing scenes of Santo Domingo’s revolt?  And how can it be said that there was no Providence in the unexpected unyielding and successful fight for continued freedom on the part of the negroes of Santo Domingo, or in the fatal pestilence that vied with bloody warfare in the destruction of the army of subjugation, or in the fever of war and aggression which heated the blood of Bonaparte, all combining to turn him away from the occupation of the Louisiana Territory?  All these things, so remote and so far out of sight, pointed with the coercion that belongs to the decrees of God to a consummation which restored to our people peace and contentment, and secured to our nation extension and development beyond the dreams of our fathers.

Thus we may well recall in these surroundings the wonderful measure of prophecy’s fulfillment within the span of a short century, the spirit, the patriotism, and the civic virtue of Americans who lived a hundred years ago, and God’s overruling of the wrath of man and His devious ways for the blessing of our nation.

We are all proud of our American citizenship.  Let us leave this place with this feeling stimulated by the sentiments born of the occasion.  Let us appreciate more keenly than ever how vitally necessary it is to our country’s weal that everyone within its citizenship should be clean minded in political aim and aspiration, sincere and honest in his conception of our country’s mission, and aroused to higher and more responsive patriotism by the reflection that it is a solemn thing to belong to a people favored of God.

Eighth.  “America,” with full chorus and band accompaniment.

Ninth.  Prayer by Bishop E.R.  Hendrix: