The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-02-06
WHAT THEY Do.

WHAT THEY DO.
A greater part of the territory OF the
United States has been acquired by pur.
chase or annexation. Probably the most
ministration of JEFFERSON was that re.
lating to the purchase and admission of
Louisiana, comprising much of the terri,
tory west of the Mississippi and south of
the Missouri. In 1900 Louisiana was
coded by Spain to France and in 1903 it
became a possession of the United States
on the payment of $15 900 900 to France.
The direct question of territorial acquisi-
ton vas now presented for the first time
and was a source of heated controversy
between the republican and federalist
parties of that day as to the power Of the
government to acquire territory. JET
FERsON did not pretend that there was
constitutional warrant for the action of
his administration, but the treaty was
finally ratified by the senate, while the
house adopted a resolution for carrying
the treaty into effect.
The next territory acquired by pur
chase was that of Florida, in 1919. for
which the consideration was So. 600, 900,
representing the claims of American cit
liens against Spain, the United States
also giving up its claim to Texas and the
Rio Glande as its western boundary. In
1887 Texas, having revolted as a Mexi
can province, became an Independent
republic, receiving recognition from
leading European powers Negotiations
were begun for annexation to the United
States and this constituted one of the
main issues in the presidential contest
of 1874. The circumstances leading up
to the annexation of Texas, without the
Formally of a treaty, and its admission
as a state in 1915, make a most interest
ing chapter of history and one which
it is hardly possible will ever be repeated
The conditions of the purchase of Alaska,
which followed the precedents in the
cases of Louisiana and Florida, are ia
Of these several territorial acquisitions
he only one that offers the least prece
dent for the proposed annexation Of Ha
vail is that of Texas, and this fails in
some important respects. One is that
Texas had a recognized government
was, in fact, al independent natiOn-and
possessed every right to enter
.nto negotiations for becoming a part of
United States. 1t cannot fairly be
for the provisional government
Hawaii that it has any such standing
'ef"re the world. Nothing is known as
o the real character of that government,
is responsibility, its true relations to the
and its ability to maintain peace
md order and carry out whatever treaty
n other engagements it may be called
lpon to make. 1t may stand as long as
t Is supported by the armed forces of the
Jnlted States, but who can say that it
would hold out an hour if these were
withdrawn, or if an equal force hostile to
should be sent to the islands from some
ther country?
The Hawaiian commissioners to this
oVernment say that they want the pro
ection of the United States and some
orm of government that will be salts
actory and profitable to both countries.
hey object to a territorial form as not
beral enough, and to a government '
Ike that of the states as impracticable. i
heir suggestion is for a system of gov :
similar to that of the British ;
THIS the United States could ,
give them. Our constitution author e
rs no such plan of government The
'ct is that the more carefully this mat e
II is considered the more evident it be q
mes that the only wise, safe and prac- )
cal course for the United States is to =
'ntlnue to guarantee the autonomy of +
lie Hawaiian islands and to interfere no a
lrther in their affairs than is necessary d
the fullest protection of American in a
rests there. t