The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-07
SATURDAY EVENING, JAN. 7. 1871.
EXTENSION OF TERRITORY.

nous annexations, but not of isolated ac-
QUESTIONS. This idea is in keeping with
his German training. Born and reared in
q land which never made any maritime
pretensions, whose people are good soldiers
but very bad sailors, which, until recently,
has not attempted to plough the briny
deep with wsrike keels, and whose terri
torial acquisitions have all been cotermi-
nous,swe are not surprised to find that the
ideaof acompactan and continuous nationality
within one set of boundary lines should
alone find favor in his eyes, and that he
should wish to preserve the same terri
torlal unity 10 his adopted country that
has marked the march of his fatherland to
national greatness. Without navy and
without sailors, nation has no business
With detached and isolated states or colo
MES, aud, therefore, Germany has been
right in her policy thus far, and Schurz
was right in his ideas while in Germany,
and SO far as they applied to that country /;
but when we come to apply the same rule
to maritime powers, we find that it Is not
necessarily imperative. England can well
afford to have colonies and distantly separat-
ed possessions, for she has powerful navy
to guard and protect them ard so may
q France and Denmark and Spain have out
lying States, for the same reason
though not perhaps with the same safety.
We make the point here that nation
which has the power to protect and de-
fcnd its possessions abroad, may with
safety, and with wisdom, too, depart from
Mr.. Schurz's rule of coterminous boun-
dares, and 60 to the uttermost ends of the
earth, if it SO please, to conquer or pur-
chase territory, provided the investment be
ajudicious one. This point conceded, why
may not the United States travel abroad
in quest of new islands to govern--new
possessions for their Sancho Panzas? We
have a powerful navy, and are 'nation
of sailors Ia a truer sense of the term
than any other nation, save perhaps Eng-
land, on the face of the globe. We took
into our keeping Alaska, and its great and
little seals, and it is not coterminous.
Between our real boundaries and that
magnificent land, we find England has
colony wedged, which it will require
good deal of effort to force out that we
may bring our possessions i1to unity.
The doctrine of coterminous possessions
may have done well enough for Mr.. Schurz
in Germany, but we think if he will look
at the matter through our spectacles, he
will find plenty of good and wholesome
reasons why it should not be applied to
this country.
More than any other nation in the
world, and we don't know anything
about the other planets-does America
need distant and outlying States. Not too
distant; but just about as close as St. |
Domingo, Cuba, and other West India |
Islands-within reach of the strong and |
protecting arm of her grand infantry,
that in case Of danger it may cooperate !
with the navy in its defence. The history |
of all nations shows that men are more
inclined to war than to peace, and we be-
lieve history will bear us out in the declar-
alton that every generation must have
little sport of this kind.
The youth grow up with burning
desire to win fame on the battle field The
stories their fathers tell of the last war"
fire their young hearts, and if they can
not have fight they will certainly spoil.
1t does not matter much to them who thew
fight with either, if they can only get an
to "cool their ardor " such as
most of this generation have had, for in
stance. If foreign foe presents ITSELF
80 much the better but if there is none
70 offer, then they will even fight with
one another. This has been the history
If America since its first discovery not
has passed away that has not
lad its war, and judging the future by the
past, and foreseeipg that history will re-
peat itself, we should begin now to look
round fer some eligible battle field where
IN therising generation may have an oppor-
unity to experience the delights Of copious I
,lood-letting. They will want fight and !
will have it, and it is our duty to see that Z
hey are not disappointed, and at the same 4
ime we should provide against their cut
ing each others Threats, as in the struggle =
list closed. -
Well, where shall we look for this battle
round Why, certainly 10 distant and :
1tlying possessions. We cannot have il
! coterminous soil, for no foreign enemy q q
'uld transport soldiers enough here in til
venty years to give us one respectable I
title. We cannot afford to have the war :
together at sea, for then the navy would A.
in all the laures and the army would be :.
priyed of any share in the glory. l
We must, therefore, select a battle H
ound on which all contestants may meet A
ION something like an equal footing. st. 4;
,mingo appears to us to be the most e.,
sirable point that could possibly be Dii
ected. II we take it now we will have vic