Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-19
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION

cent uCQutStt1On OF new IeTGllUTy III LAC Noitu'
west, been published previous to the virtual
settlement of the terms by which Russia coded
to us her possessions GA this continent. the
public no doubt would have been bored with
q revival of the old arguments against expan-
sion, which were used by those who opposed
the purchase of louisiana. and the annex alton
of Texas. But little time, however, was al.
lowed for discussion in this case, as the pub
Iicausn of the facts was quickly followed by
the ratification OF the treaty by the Senate.
Some of our exchanges, though. seem deter.
mined to have their say even at this late hour,
and have ceased their respondent croakings
about the sperils of reconstruction" and the
s'critical condition of the national finances" to
sound note Of warning on the dangers OF &C.
quisitisu. Weare told that expansion is weak
ness, and that every State added to the Union
loosens the ties by which all are bound, but
the arguments by which these conclusions are
reached are not at all satisfactory. Why
should a large confederacy be less powerful
than small one! The illustrations drawn
from history prove nothing unless it can be
shown that the conquests OF the ancient
republics led directly or indirectly to their
final dissolution. But it was not so. In
their days of greatest vigor the surplus
force OF the government was expended in the
acquisition of new territory, the surest sign Of
prosperity in the community and power in the
administration. W hen a Government is weak
ened by changes in its form, with which expan.
sion has nothing to do, territory is lost and not
won. Expansion is symptom of strength;
contraction of weakness. Ii England's great
ness is not owing TO her acquisitions OF terri.
tory. at least the two have grown together,
and no one will seriously contend that Prus-
sia is any weaker for her recent absorption of
States and cities. To coma nearer home who
will now assert that the United States would
have been as powerful if our energy had
been confined within the boundaries of
the original thirteen States. Let the great
West answer. If the power and stability
OF democratic governments decrease in the in
verse ratio of their territorial expansion, then
the little republic OF San Marlno is stronger
and mere enduring than the United States, and
the petty wranglIng communities in South
America will continue TO flourish, when our
boosted free institutions have been lost in an
archy or despotsm.
There is another important point which can.
not be overlooked in considering this q uestlon.
The difficulties OF governing provinces remote
from the capital OF great country have been
overcome by modern inven ions. The Romans
knew the value OF good roads, and relays of
horses, TO facilitate communications from one
part Of the empire to another, but with all they
accomplished. the outlying provinces were
still too far from the seat Of government.
With us all this has changed. Steam and the
telegraph have almost annihilated time
and space. Remote States are brought close
together, and all parts OF the country
are brought into direct communication
with the capital. Granting that the British
Minister was right who once said that III the
boundaries OF the United State had continued
to be the lakes on the North, the ocean on the
East, and the Mississippi river on the West
this government would have been not only one
OF the strongest and most powerful, but the
safest and most enduring In the world" we
can now claim without qualifications as to
territorial limits, all that he was willing to
grant with such qualification. So far as
danger from expansion is concerned, our coun.
try is to-day, with its present boundaries, more
compact, and bound i'll closer ties than the old
thirteen States would ever have BEEN il steam
and the telegraph had not superseded horse.
flesh and mail coach. Practically Portland,
Me, is as near to San Francisco, California: and
St Paul, Mimi. as near to Fernandina Florida,
in 1867, as New York was to Philadelphia in
l77S. We have said nothing of ssmanife-t des.
ton to continue until the "whole boundless
Continent" is ours, we would have no fears OF
danger to the Union from that cause Our
model republic has already absorbed, digested
and assimilated the most incongruous ele
ments without harm to the body polite, and
still further absorption OF land and people is
net In our opinion the greatest evil the country
has to fear.