Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-02-10
.atertown 8erubIicalg.
2Ge3nesauy, We62wuz,y ~, 90.
TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS.

IEaRiIORlAL ACQUISITIONS
Secretary Stewards real estate transact
tions have excited a sort Of mania among
some Of our public men to increase our
territorial possessions and their own no.
toriely at the same time. The venerable
Secretary has evidently been determined
to make the exaggerations of poetic IL
cense, which declared in the the eight
zenith century that "the whole bound
less continent is ours" practical fact Of
the nineteenth, and accordingly began
to buy up the continent" at both ends
Inst x ed by his example, MedilI of the
Chicago Tribune, usually moderate and
judicious writer, is out in fiery article
claiming that we should take British
America, now that it is sandwiched in
between our possessions, by force if it can
not be obtained otherwise Others are
casting longing eyes at Cuba and Mexico,
and still others propose protectorates over
some Of the adjacent islands. But the
fate of a bill introduced into Con
gress few days since to establish a
proteetorate over the Haytien Republic
shows that large majority of that body
is hopelessly matter of fact, and not at all
inclined to indulge the expensive nations
Of the few who think that greatness and
glory imply extensive territory, and that
the latter must be secured regardless of
cost. For our part We fail to see the de-
sirableness of adding to our already ex-
tensiVe territory at the present time. The
lessons of history show that true power
and greatness have characterized nations
OF far less territorial possessions than
ours, and common sense teaches that if
we unite with people not homogeneous nor
sympathetic with US that we introduce
elements of weakness rather than strength.
The inhabitants of British America are
essentially different from US in all impor-
tant particulars they do not compre-
bend nor appreciate the advantages of
our Government We care nothing for
titled rank-they adore it the object
of our patriotism is our nationality-that
of theirs is their sovereign. A union be-
tween US would be uncongenial to them
and they would render an un, Hing ALE
glance to our flag, As for Mexico, what
do We want of the bigoted and ignorant
race of robbers and assassins that inhabit
that land F.? Cuba is but little better han
Mexico, and, in buying either, we simply
buy revolutions to go with the icebergs of
Alaska and the earthquakes of St. Thomas.
We consider that the acquisition of any
Of these adjoining countries would be far
more desii able if they consisted merely
of vacant territory, unincumbered with
their uncongeuial populations. But we
do not need more territory, now at least,
and when we do it is time enough to OBJ
tain it. increased territory brings with
i. increased expense, and especially would
this be the case if we should become en-
gagged in war and be obliged to defend
it t seems to US that the true policy is
to devote our energies to paying off the
public debt, restoring the national credit,
and exhibiting the excellencies of our
institutions so that our neighbors will
desire to enjoy their benefits, and when
annexed, may be easily assimilated and
incorporated into the body polite.