The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-04

territory and It's outlying islands TO us,
it had ceased to beqof any tos Russia
The only way she ever did, or ever
could. utilize the northwest coast was
in the prosecution of the fur trade.
But that trade having declined
and nearly run out, have we done
wisely In buying it?, If estimated by
what it is in itself, certainly not; if
by what the purchase may hereafter
lead to, perhaps yes. When Frank
lin was asked the use of some new
discovery in science, his reply was :
What is the use of born in
FAINT? 1t may become man" 1t is
only in some such prospective view
that we can discover any value in this
new purchase
The small value'of the territory in
itself being SO evident to every one
who will be at the pains to look into
the subject, it's purchase, at the price
paid, is not defensible except with
view to Interior objects. What those
Interior objects must be requires no
great sagacity to descry. They touch
Great Britain so nearly that IL is no
wonder Sir Frederick Bruce forthwith
telegraphed to Lord Derby to- know.
what heeshould do. - =
g, Looking to- the future. we must
regard the purchase of the Russian.
possessions as wise, although they are.
of little immediate value. 1t, is an
advancing step in that destiny:
which Is yet to give US British North
America. When we have completed
our coast line on the Pacific, we shall
have hemmed around and shut in
from the sea nearly the whole British
territory ~
A country thus shut in would find
itself so crippled if we should close
our gates. that-its people will in time
be convinced that annexation is for
their interest. 1t was for reasons
such as these that President Pierce
opened, twelve years ago, the negotia-
tons with Russia which President
j ohnson is now drawing to conclu-
sion.
The Herald says:
& Seven millions for Russian Ameri-
ca Is the country worth the money? |
The products Of the country, in fact,
are snow. ice and icebergs, Esqui-
maux men and dogs. white bears, rein
deer. furs. hides, fish, oil and Ivory.
The annual exports under Russia are |
forty five thousand dollars. Seven
for such country, looking
only at its products, is unquestionably |
. high price, compared with the splen-
did Louisiana purchase from the first
Napoleon for fifteen millions of dol
lars.
Politically considered, however,
This cession of Russian America be-
comes a matter of great Importance.
We know that AIR Seward has al
ways had weakness for the annexa-
ton of Canada; and this treaty which
he has concluded with Russia is only
4 flank movement for this great OBJ
ect. 1t is step gained, foothold
secured for closer and more decided
operations.
That a two-thirds vote of Ethe Sem
tie can now he obtained for this
reaty we are by no means certain;
put we are satisfied that the proposed
from its political bearings,
will be at once approved by the pub
ic sentiment of the country, and
will, perhaps, be considered bar
rain at seven millions, simply as
peculation in fish oil and the fur
business.
We extract from the Times as fol-
ows:
The main Importance of this acqui-
ition grows out of its bearing upon
ur future trade with Japan, China,
nd the other countries of Eastern
Asia. The time must come, and that
re long, when this country will con- 4
rol and carry on the great body of
hat enormous traffic, which has never
ct failed to enrich the nations which
njoy it. Many now living, will see
be day when the Pacific coast will
e as thickly studded with ports and
tiles as the Atlantic is now, and
1hen the Pacific Ocean will be
overed with commercial fleets, ex-
hanging between the Asiatic and /
american Continents the productions )
f, each And it seems inevitable
hat all that commerce should be
american. |
The country cannot fail to appreei-
tie at its full magnitude the impor-
ance of this accession. Until the :
enate has acted upon the treaty we
annot, of course, know its details.
ssluctant as that body may be to ac-
ept even so great boon as this from !
ne hands of the President and Mr..
eward, its sense of public duty will !
Dnstrain its ratification,