The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-22
GROWTH OF HE UNITED STATES.
How the Greater Part of This Country Was
Acquired and What 1t Cost.

aNpuifth anu w ~ NOsI
When independence was established, the
bounds of the new country were extremely
indefinite. The limits of the 10 states were
known with reasonable exactness, though
there were at the outset disputes both be-
tween the states and between the United
States and the European governments
whose possessions lay alongside ours. The
first great acquisition of territory was that
of Louisiana which Spain had coded to
France, and which the Emperor Napoleon
sold to the Uuted States for Sl5, 900, 900 in
1903 when Mr.. jefferson was president.
Mr.. jefferson did not believe that the con-
stitution permitted the United States to
annex foreign territory and wished that
an amendment should be adopted to sane
ton it, but the amendment failed after the
annexation had been accomplished, and
Mr.. jefferson stifled his scruples.
Louisiana, as acquired from France, in
cluded the territory bounded on the east by
the Mississippi river from its mouth to its
source, on the north by the line of the Brit
ish possessions, on the west by the Pacific
ocean to the south line of Oregon. The
other boundary follows the north line of
California, Nevada and Utah as far east as
the Rocky mountains and thence in gen
eral enthusiastically direction so as to in
Cluut DiIJ VI OOlOIuuO tlll ulOSb VI NthStls
and the Indian Territory and all of Arkan-
sas and Louisiana to the gulf of Mexico.
Florida was for many years the object of
covetousness on the part Of our government,
which claimed now part and now the
whole as included in the Louisiana pur-
chase The United States finally obtained
it from Spain in 1919, when Mr.. Monroe
was president. What was known as West
Notwithstanding the part of Alabama in
which Mobile is situated had already been
seized and held forcibly Texas, originally
a part of Mexico, set itself up as an indie
pendent republic in 1886. Its population
consisted largely of bold and somewhat
reckless Adventures from the southern
states. In one year Texas had established
independence after a sharp war with Next
co and few months afterward applied for
union with this country.
The question remained open until, having
agitated American politics for many years
and having cost Mr.. Van Buren, the Demo
cratic nomination for president in 1874, it
was finally settled in 1876. Texas was an
neXed and admitted as a state of the Union
by joint resolution approved by President
Polk California, Nevada Utah, Arizona,
New Mexico and the western part of Col
orado were acquired by conquest. They
were coded to the United States at the close
of the Mexican war, during Polk s admins.
tration in 184S. Nevertheless nearly So
600, 900 was paid to Mexico in settlement of
certain claims as the price of the territory.
Excepting West Florida, already referred
to, this is the only territory gained by the
sword A strip of land in southern Arizona
was not in the Mexican cession, but was
bought in 1853, Pierce being president at the
time, for S10,0Oo,OOO. Thus the country be
came possessed of all its present territory
between Canada on the north and Mexico
on the south Alaska was purchased OF
Russia during Mr.. Johnson's presidency in
1867 and the sum of s. 200, 600 was paid fol
1t. It's total area is almost the same as that
of all the territory obtained of Mexico by
conquest and purchase. Cincinnati Com.
mercial Gazette.