The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-01-04
wANrED-MoRE oF EAnrH.

Absorption appears to be the present
controlling mania in the Great Republic.
We have Alaska at seven millions, and
a fight in Congress as to whether or not
we shall pay for it, after having taken
formal possession. We have st. Thomas
and ST. johns for about the same amount
2.400 per centper acre ,conseqC mt prob
ably upon the liveliness Of the real
estate market. Then comes a rumor
that Spain has concluded to sell to the
one hundred and fifty millions, a rumor
Indignantly contradicted at Madrid, no
doubt to the extreme delight of the tax
payers of America. The Bay of Samana
is considered desirable acquisition and
it is negotiated for, while the early pos
session of the Sandwich Islands is
strongly urged as an imperative neces-
sity to keep up our flag on the Pacific.
With the exception of Alaska and Sam
ana, it is not likely any of these pur-
chases will be consumated, at least for
the present, and even with those it is
still doubtful question. So far as any
practical, direct benefits are to be deriv-
ed from Alaska, it is all moonshine.
Looking forward to the eventual posses
sion of the entire North American Cont
nent by the United States, the possess
ion of Alaska will have strong moral
suasiveness upon the British Lion when
the time shall come for him to loosen
his claws from the great country to the
northward. Already measure has been
suggested by Senator Ramsey. OF Min
nesota, having in view the acquisition of
all that portion of British America lying
to the westward of 800 oflongitude. In
consideration of this cession it is propos
ed that the United States shall pay to
the Hudson Bay Company for all their
claims upon the territory, sc, ,000, ,000, and
will also assume the debt of British
Columbia, providing it does not exceed
$2,000.000. The area of territory en-
braced in the proposition will not fall
short of 100000 square miles, FIVE
times as large rs Alaska, and three
fourths as large as the U. s. and Territor-
les are at present. Out of this new ac
cession it is proposed to erect three or
more new Territories, whose citizens are
to have all the rights and privileges of
the people of Montana. In these Ter
ritories will be embraced British Col-
umbia, the Saskatchewan and Selkirk
regions, over which it If now proposed
In the Canadian Parliament to extend
the Jurisdiction of the Dominion in op-
position to the desires of the people to
the westward of the 90 meridian, who
prefer annexation to the United States.
These propositions are made as provisos
in case of the renewal of reciprocity
treaty between our government and the
Canadian ,su bstituting an ad UaS0rem tax
of five per cent. on all productions of
either country, exported to the other, in
lieu of the existing tariff, and declaring
the Great Lakes and the st. Lawrence
river forever free to the citizens of both
countries. As the construction of the
Northern Pacific Railroad is almost a
certainty, its extension parallel and as
close to an alien government as it would
be in the extension of the line from Lake
Superior to Puget Sounds not desirable
if ayoidable, and it is probably in con-
siderGtion of this fact that the Senator
from Minnesota has introduced the re-
solution. We consider it quite improb-
able that England will at present dispose
of her territory for such an insignificant
sum. Her policy, like that of Russia
and ourselves, has been acquisition, not
cession. and it will require time and the
agitation of the question by the people,
ere Britain will loosen her grasp or her
peuple feel that there is no wrong or
humiliation in slicing off to strangers
the heritage that might be left to their
children. That the United States will
eventually spread the Egis of its pro.
lection over all this continent, no one
can doubt. 1t is merely a question OF
time when it will be consumated, and
the Monroe Doctrine become an actu-
atty as well as finely sounding rhetor
ical flourish. ~ er.# rsr
THERE is good substratum of loyalty
and godliness in Gen. Sherman although
| bs IL a Democrat and did do very silly