The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-22
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION in THE
PAST.

Current events have again brought to
the front the question of territorial az
grapdizement.
At the time of the organization of the
United States geographical considerations
indicated that two pieces of foreign terri
tory ought to be included in the new
nation. One of these was Louisiana. the
other Florida. They occupied very diff
ferent positions. Louisiana controlled the
mouth of the Mississippi, which was es-
sential to the commerce of Illinois. Ken
tucky and Tennessee. 1t had been shut
tie cooked back and forth throughout the
eighteenth century between France and
Spain. The question disputed between
the two nations was, not which should
own Louisiana. but which should not own
il. At one Of the transfers the grantee
insisted that the grantor should pay a
stated sum OF money before it would take
possession. The province was constant
source of expense 1t was piece of ter
ritoTy owned by nation which wanted
badly to get rid it, and absolutely needed
by another nation. Under such circum-
stances NO party in this country objected
when Mr.. jefferson bought it. Florida
occupied different ground. 1t also had
been shuttlecocked back and forth be-
tween Spain and England, but not being
considered necessary TO this country, no
party demanded its annexation. 1t was
not till thirty years after the organization
OF the Government that jackson began to
agtate for It's annexation. The movement
was not seriously resisted, and 1t became
Territory of the United States in 1915 and
State In 1916.
After the acquisition OF Florida, and
when slavery felt that its life depended on
territorial extension. the spirit of territorial
acquisition broke out in this country.
Every one is familiar with the intrigues
which eliminate in the wrestling of Texas
from Mexico, and in the Mexican war.
The latter enterprise resulted in the acqui-
sition by the United States of all the terri
tory of Mexico from the one bundredth
parallel to the Pacific, and from the Rio
Grande and line drawn through the head
of the Gulf of California to the British
Possessions. As it has turned ont the an
nexation has proved advantageous to this
country and to the territory annexed. But
it would not have been undertaken at so
early period in our history, nor pressed
with such earnestness, had not the au-
thorities at Washington believed that the
new territory would become slave-holdiDg.
The operation did in some degree justify
the assertion that the United States was
consumed by an insatiate greed for the
territory of other nations. Had the pow
ers at Washington succeeded in their at
tempt to annex Cuba, the accusation would
have been completely justified.
As it was, the outbreak of the maraud-
ing fever had the effect of placing political
parties OF new platforms. The Democrats
planted themselves on platform favoriug
the annexation of large areas OF contigu-
Gus territory. The Wings opposed the
molestation of neighboring nations. Henry
Clay set his face against the proposed en-.
croachment on Mexico. The people did
not sustain him. Polk signed the treaty
with Texas, and though the act gave the
next election to the Wings their standard
bearer was a general who had fought in
the war with Mexico. AT this juncture
the slavery question superseded the an
nexation issue, and for twenty years, DUR
ing which the Republican party succeeded
to the estate and principles of the Wings,
little or nothing was heard of territorial
aggrandZement. General Grants unsuc-
cessful attempt to annex SANTANA and Mr..
Stewards purchase of Alaska possessed no
political significance. but the latter was in
strict accordance with American ideas.