SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART I. 75 



of subjects wliich to some men have become a sort of fetich, a super- 

 stition, to which they bow down and venerate regardless of its logical 

 and true effect. But I thought that this great State of Iowa had people 

 who are composed of a different timber, that I would meet here men from 

 the farms, from the feed lots, who are vitally interested in the discussion 

 of this great question. And as I represented the American Live Stock 

 Association, and the Shorthorn Breeders Association, it was my duty to 

 come here representing those organizations, which cover the great field 

 of live stock all over this country and tell you what I believe to be the 

 absolute, actual facts. 



At the time I received the invitation it so happened that I had been 

 reading an account of the conquest of the wonderful region which lies 

 between the Alleghany Mountains and the Mississippi River, the period 

 between, 1785 and 1800 was one I thought which covered the most 

 romatic period of the history of this Nation. First the Colonists and the 

 English together had fought the French and the Indians, for the pos- 

 session of this great region; then the French and the Colonists together 

 "fought the English and the Indian combined for the occupancy of this 

 great region, and at last, as we know, it became a part of the great new 

 Confederacy that had sprung into life along the Atlantic Coast. Their 

 domination extended as far as the Mississippi River, first France and 

 then Spain covered with their colors the region which you now occupy, 

 clear down on the west bank to the mouth of the Mississippi river, and 

 a part of it on the east side. The strong, vigorous men who had gone 

 through with this terrific conflict, and had finally settled the Valley ot 

 the Ohio, in the regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, Southern Ohio and 

 Indiana, thought they had found a new Eden. It was a wonderful con- 

 trast to the country they had left east of the mountains and they went 

 to work vigorously, and began to develop the agricultural resources, 

 corn, tobacco, hogs and everything of that kind were produced, but all 

 at once their efforts seemed to be paralyzed. Spain dominating the 

 mouth of the Mississipi river, denied them the free navigation of the 

 Mississippi. They could not find a market for their products. Spain 

 imposed an excise tax of 50 to 75 per cent ad valorem, for everything pass- 

 ing out of the Mississippi river, and they found their products practi- 

 cally destroyed, and at the same time the value of the land which had 

 cost so much blood was being absolutely wiped out. There was tremen- 

 dous indignation. They blamed the National Government for not 

 protecting their interests, and they actually talked about organizing a 

 new and separate government, but finally with the wisdom and far-seeing 

 sagacity of Mr. Jefferson, with the enterprise and energy of Mr. Monroe, 

 who was seconding the effects and aim of Mr. Robert Livingstone, all com- 

 bining with the necessities of the First Counsel, then controlling the 

 destiny of France, we succeeded in acquiring the great country known as 

 the Louisiana Purchase, and with it the free and unmolested navigation 

 of the Mississippi river. That was the first road to the market of this 

 great country you occupy, and it was the first great question, which 



