Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-05-10
che gepnblifan.
Our New Territorial ACGui-
SitiOn

SitiOn.
Most of our Republican exchanges have
condemned in severe terms the new terri
torial acquisition of what is termed Russia
America, but we have not sympathised
with our brethren in their course in this
matter, believing all the time, from the
fact that the treaty was almost unani-
mously ratified 10y the Senate, that the day
would come when the wisdom of the pur-
chase would be fully indicated and gen
orally acknowledged. The following, from
the Laportc Herald, gives a more correct
view, in our opinion, Of the value and ad-
vantsges Of the territory than any article
we have read on the subject, even from
leading Republican journals:
We regard the new territory as a ydlu-
able acquisition, valuable materially and
politically, II is a step in the direction of
our destiny. That destiny Is the Occupa
tion OF all the soil of the North American
Continent. The time must come when II
shall be wholly ours, and peaceable pos
session now is better than fOrcible posses
sion in the future Expressed or uneN-
pressed. every true American feels that tle
monarchies Of Europe. with their satraps
and dependents have no business on Amer
lean soil. We look forward to tlrc.r total
exclusion. not by war, but by treaty. II IS
q great point gained when a power like
Russia. the most progressive ol European
nations, acknowledges this to be our right.
The political moral of this purchase is.
that Russia savs to the United States. We
admit Your right to the American Cont
nent; we are willing to withdraw and give
England an example which we think she
would do well to follow.
In climate and material resources this
northwestern portion of the continent is
not by any means what it has been repre-
sented To be. Those who have studied the
climatology of the country know that 1T
anv point on the Pacific slope the climate
is far milder than in the same latitude on
the atlantic. Hence the idea that there is
nothing in Russian America but iccberss
and walruSes and polar bears. is miSchlev-
Ouslv erroneous. From Prince of Wales
Island to Behring's Straits the climate on
the coast is much milder than the climate
of Northern Indiana. Much rain falls in
the winter aE1 very little snow, the eli
mate nearly resembling that Of Tennessee.
II IS colder of course In the interior, but l.
nowhere more severe than the region OF
the 81. Lawrence in Canada, not even in
the extreme north on the great river
knitchpek. The whole country Is bounii-
fully timbcred, hard pine forests prevail
ing On the coast at least, and probably
along the rivers. the soil produces grain
and vegetables ahundantly.
There are vast numbers of furred aui-
aalS. such as sea and river otter, Gurrcd
seal, sable, &c. Tie fisheries can and viii
be made more extensive than those of New
F0undland. as there are eXhauStleSs NUN
bcrs e herring. Goldfish. salmon and half
but; willie all the way north from Zodiac
TO the Arctic. whales are found in greater
abundance than anywhere else il either
ocean.
Gold IS known TO exist, and copper ore
in great abundance.
The Knitchpea is navi-able one thou
sand miles from Behring's Straits; and
once steam navigation enters its waters, a
new world viii be opened 10 commerce.
Immense mining wealth will be developed,
and the fur trade viii lee immensely eX-
tended. The HudSon's Bay Company
have made this trade highly profitable,
though having to transport their furs by
the wearisOme overland route, at a cost of
certainly not less than one dollar per
pound: but with steam on the kn;tchpek
there Is continuous water navigation to
San Francisco. whittier fur can be trans
ported at cost not exceeding ten cents
pound.
These are some OF the numerous Gd-
vsrtages which will accrue to us from the
al. sl,
of keeping it in repair" will be mere
bagatelIe. The statement of the New
York Tribsne that it will take six ships of
war and a regiment of soldiers to hold the
territory is too absurd 10 need refutatiOn.
To what use could they be applied? Rus
sia peaceably withdraws, and who ever
heard of an Esquimaux Indian fighting?
al accounts represent them as teachable.
peaceable and industrious. The Russians
now in the country are permitted to return
to Russia within three years, or become
American citizens, as they choose. 1t is
hard to discover what employment could
be afforded six war vessels and a Thousand
soldiers ItwOuld be like an army march
ing TO attack nation Of Quakers. They
would find nothing to fight 1t is not at
all likely that q single soldier will be re-
quired in the territory, and the war vessels
row lying in idleness on the Pacific coast,
can take a pleasure trip northward occa-
siOnally, and attend to all the wants and
interests Of our new possessions. We
know of nothing TO create difficulty unless
it be the British boundary line, and surely
I if Russia could be England's neighbor in
peace. tho Urited States can. especially as
we have so long been her neighbor on the
other side Of her possessions. We hope
the people will not be frightened over this
purchase, bui rejoice in it, and thank Sec
retary Seward for his one good act, among
i ''innumerable false"
| We hope none of our worthy citizens
will be induced by what we have said to
emigrate to New Archangel. or establish a
colony on the Knitchpek. We do not be-
lieyc that country is equal to Laporte
I County. but we do believe that il is much
better than common rumor makes it, and.
above all, IFS acquisition is the practical
admission by the most radical and pro-
gressive power of Europe that the North
American Continent ought to belong
| wholly to tbe limited Stairs