The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-01-26
NJ TERRITORY
ED STATES.
Report for Glass ID by +. Il. y


The United States. throughout all its relations
with foreign powers. has from its beginning as d
nation. always endeavored 10 remain neutral and
preserve that peace which can trIthfully be said
To have made it what it is to-,,ay-the most pros
porous of nations. other powers are at enmty
and look upon the slightest move of their neigh
bOrs suspicious. and use them as a preteXt for
going to war and thus impoverish themselves by
sinking so deep in debt. that their people groan
and bend double under their burden of taxes
What these countries have gained in territory by
these conqucstS of war. ana the lives of millions
of their subjects the United States has acquired
by treaties of purchase. Instead of engaging in
war with the different nations that at one time
possessed territory which is now under its GOV
eminent. it has. 10y means OF purchase. accom-
plished its end Only i'll the cases OF Texas and
Florida were harsh measures resOrted to, but any
fair minded person will admit that the United
states government was justified in the course it
pursued.
Florida was, at the time Of purchase, a Spanish
possession: and our government proposed that
Spain should cede it as payment for the various
claims that American citizens held against her.
but Spain did not care to settle those claims in
that manner. In 1911 the Seminole Indian out
break, and their frequent raids across the border
caused the United States to send Gen. Andrew
Jackson to suppress Them notwithstanding that
Spain objected to the invading of its territory by
American soldiers. the home government felt
justified in doing so. because the SpaniariS were
aiding the Indians and To illustrate that it meant
business. Gen. Jackson took possession of st.
Augustine and drove out the Spanish governor
and his garrison. Spain then signiied its will
ingness to cede Florida. receiving nearly six and
one half millions of dollars payment for it.
This purchase comprised 59.ais square miles of
territory.
Texas which had gained its independence from
Mexico; set up Republic of its own. In 1915 it
was admitted into the nion the entire territory
being coded to the United States for $4,000, OOO
which was to be used in payment of its debt.
Mexico demonstrated against such IA proceeding
so the home government sent a Mr.. Sdell to the
Mexican capital to bring about a reconciliation,
but that government refused to receive him.
thereupOn Gen. Taylor was ordered to the Rio
Grande with an army. Mexico then issued an
order eXpelling all Americans from its territory
HOstilites were then commenced and after a
series of engagements. the American army took
possession of the City of Mexico and in February
1913, a treaty of peace was signed, which ended
the war, and coded New Mexico and California to
the United States in return for the payment of
$15,000OO0. and later that part of Arizona. south
of the ella river was purchased from the same
government for $40. 900, 900 more
The vast territory of Louisiana which contained
1882, 100 square miles. in 1900 coded to France
by Spain. This fact caused the United States
some alarm. Spain Il neighbor was not much
to be feared but in the case of France it was an
entirely different matter. because at that time
France and the United States were not what
could be called the best of friends, owing to the
fact that the United States had refused TO aid
France in its war with England.
To rid itself of so powerful neighbOr-who
at any time might commence hOstilties-the
United States through Robert Livingston who
was then minister to France commenced nego-
tiationS for the purchase of Louisiana; his adj
Vances were met With much favor, that Mr.
Monroe sent to Paris in 1903 to carry through