The national Republican., 1867-04-26
TERRIToRIAL ACQUISITION,

TERRITORIAL ACQUISITION.
Since the ratification Of Mr.. SKwArDs
treaty by the United States Senate for the
purchase Of Russian America, rumors have
prevailed that other and far more impor-
tant negotiations are going forward for the
purchase from Great Britain Of all that
sast territory which lies west Of the one
hundredth meridian Of longitude. Hints
are also given out that we are also in ne.
gotiation for Cuba, and that we shall soon
swallow up Mexico We do not give much
credit to these stories, which are going
the rounds Of the newspapers, and still we
hope there is foundation for them. 90
Nothing Is more certain, we think, than
that republicanism must prevail on thin
continent; and there Is no type Of genuine
democracy comparable to that which bear
sway in the United States. Since this
question Of territorial acquisition has been
lifted from the arena Of party politics, II
may be considered in It's true light, and
discussed with reference purely TO our
national greatness. There are those who
object to further acquisitions on several
grounds, which they deem sound, and
arguments predicated upon these grounds
they consider unanswerable. II Is said
that we have territory enough; more than
we can well govern; and that there Is such
a conflict Of interests that, IL we add more,
we shall fall to pieces. .,.f ..f.
In opposition to this statement, We
affirm that this greatness, in and Of itself,
gives strength. All history attests the
truth Of the argument. How was IL dur.
ing the rebellionS The fact that We were
q great people, and that our territorial do
main was vast, was the chief incentive to
the vigorous warfare which we waged.
Disintegration was the dreaded evil against
which we contended with such marvellous
energy and power. viii an increase o.
dominion intensity or weaken this spirit
Of resistance to national decadence Rely
upon it, the larger we are, the more incen-
tives and the more power shall we have to
maintain our supremacy Of empire. ID.
There is another argument, which can
not be ignored in this connection. 1t is
this: it is our duty to extend democratic
institutions and republican rule over the
whole earth. Why mott Is not this our
manifest duty, made palmer by the signif
cant indications Of Providence II repub
lican government is the best for us 1t il
best for all mankind and we cannot better
secure it to the people Of North America
than by taking them into our fold. II ID
objected to by some, that many Of these
people do not understand republican gov
ernment, and may therefore be too ignor-
ant to maintain it intact II is contended
that people must be educated and enlight-
ened to be capable Of self-government, and
that by adding an uneducated people to
our body polite we weaken our structure
Of Government. This declaration, as gen.
eral principle, has some show Of truth 10
it; for without doubt, q people to govern
itself well should be enlightened. Still, the
fallacy is in the idea that the ignorant and
unlearned must be denied the right Of self
government, and kept as the vassals oi
kingly domination till they are In.
structed sufficiently to take upon them.
selves their new privileges. This notion is
kindred to that ofthe over-cautious mother,
who determined to keep her son away from
the water until he had learned to swim.
The best place for all men to learn, and
the place where they fit themselves the
quickest for usefulness and power, is the
place Of responsibility. Let man know
that the institutions Of government under
which he lives rest, in measure, upon him,
and that he has an interest in them and can
preserve them, and you have given him q
place for bis feet and work to do with heart
and brain. The argument that men must
be ruled by selfelected masters till they
can be educated up to the idea oi self
government-a training which is slow to
come-is the argument Of tyrants and
despots the world over. II is time we
Americans repndiated this notion and con-
slider ourselves the schoolmaster to bring
the world out OF bondage to the true con.
dition Of liberty.
But it is insisted that ignorant men are
incapable Of selfgovernment. Why, from
the days Of NMRoD to the time Of LOUIS
NAPOLEON the bulk Of the rulers Of this
world have been ignoramuses, debaucbed
villains, tyrants and scoundrels. We think
the time has fully come for the people to
take this matter into their own hands and
we shall be glad, therefore, to know Of q
certainty that all these rumors Of Mr.
SEwARD's negotiations are well founded
and that he is not only making the effort
to add to our domain these vast posses,
sions, now in the hands Of other Govern.
ments, but that he will succeed in this un
dertaking. Success say we to all legiti
mate efforts to extend the power Ind do
minion of the young Republic Of the Uni
ted States. ---l ...1ml .l..
THE AMENpE.-Our reporter, contrary
to instructions, made oaricature reporI
of the proc oeeedings of the Republican meet