The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-13
TUESDAY, JULY ID, 1869.
ACQUISITIONS

TEpRTTORLAL ACQUISITIONS
rr.....,, 10 a vague idea in many minds that 1t
.,,oht 90 he a part of our national policy to
o.to,,d orr boundaries in every direction
,G .',;i S,o obsorb the whole of the North Anne
rioan Continent and the adjacent ISLANDS, the
,,ronrietv of annexing South America being
NATTER for future consideration This is the
es,,anifest destiny doctrine, which tortu-
,oteIv has become mania with but Few, the
majority being satisfied that we will get alive
imagine we ought to have in good time, and
that we can accordingly afford to wait, only
taking care to keep out intruders. whether
,vo would be benefited by the acquisition OF
territory to any great extent, is at least open
70 question. Our empire already includes
,bo choicest section of the continent, that tenn
,,e,,tez zone which experience has amply proved
: Lost fitted for the most perfect development
t,e human race; and but for the facilities
- & we possess for rapid intercommunication,
g. yarv extent of our dominion would be
e.. of difficulty, and source OF weakness
inst ad of strength.
Tbore are some things about the lands
/, lba north and to the south of us which
would make them desirable possessions, but
are are also Objectionable features that per-
l. : more than counterbalance these During
The later years of his life Mr.. Seward appears
I, have been bitten with the annexation
mania; and although his performances III the
,,ay of getting for us new territory were
more rdiculed than praised, yet 1t IS certain
that his ideas are in the main endorsed by
probably majority of the people OF the
country. Mr.. Seward has just taken trip
across the continent on the Pacific Railroad,
and his ideas of boundless empire appear to
have been enlarged by what he saw In a
speech recently at Sacramento, he reiterated
his opinion that we were to preserve what we
have, and add to it whatever may be properly
annexed.
Now, leaving the British provinces out Of
the question, we have Mexico Cuba, and the
West India Islands, upon which longing eyes
have been often cast Is it worth our while
to gain these =? They will give us fertile coun-
tries, and with Cuba we will be able to con-
troll the sugar trade and have command of the
Gulf with Mexico we will get the silver and
gold mines and other sources of wealth.
These countries however, are in the tropics,
where white men cannot labor with effect,
and where, in a comparatively few years, they
degenerate in energy and vigor They are
already inhabited by turbulent races that have
never been able to govern themselves or to
develope their resources; and to keep these in
subjection, at least until our political ascend
ancy was secured by large increase of the
Anglo-Saxon race in their midst would be a
difficulty of the first magnitude Our own
territory presents all the varieties of soil and
climate suitable for the most perfect
development of the human race.
and it is a serious question whether the ac-
QUESTION of new territory, especially to the
south of us, would be more of an advantage
than a disadvantage At least, under
existing circumstances, it does not seem
worth while for us to make any movement
towards the annexation of either Mexico OF
Cuba. There is strong probability that the
natural course of events will throw the latter
into our hands, and then we may take it and
do our best to reform the abuses of the
Spanish rule.
On serious consideration, the only terrific
rial acquisitions that seem necessary or i'm
portant are such as will give us the command
of the ST. Lawrence river and the Gulf of
Mexico. The mouth of the former is now under
British control, and sound craftsmanship
points plainly to the expediency of our OBJ
tanning possession of one of its banks. at least.
at as early day as is practicable Any over
lures, therefore, that may come from the
dissatisfied provinces of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick ought TO receive attention and
encouragement. We also need strong naval
station in the West Indies, that will enable us
to control the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of
Mexico. The need of such a station was
severely felt during the Rebellion, and in event
OF aforeign war our deficiency in this respect
would be even more plainly demonstrated.
Beyond these two points it is certainly doubt
ful whether we require any new territory, and
we can at least afford to wait until our neigh
bors are ready to come to us of their owr
accord Manifest destiny" is a very capti
waiting watchword, but the practical ex
pedlency OF our absorbing the whole cont
nent presents some doubtful points that ar,
entitled to consideration.
NO ROOM FOR GONE NOREn