The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1894-02-08
GROWTH or The UNITED STATES.
How Our Territory Has Been Enlarged
From Time to Time.


From Time to Time:
The first acquisition of territory by
| the United States was the so-called
Louisiana Purchase in 1908. b. this
purchase, which was effected during
Jetferson's administration for about
SIS, 100000, this government acquired
possession from France of all the terri
tory now included in the states of
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa,
Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, the Da-
kotaS, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Ore
gon, Washington, part of Colorado,
Indian Territory and Oklahoma. The
territory thus transferred has an area
of l, 100000 square miles, or considera-
bly, more than the country embraced
prior to the purchase. In this blood
less conquest the United States Sc
cured control of the Mississippi river
and the Gulf of Mexico, and Bonaparte,
who then occupied the throne of
France, said af it: Il have thus given
England a maritime rival who will
sooner or later humble her pride"
The next acquisition of territorywas
the purchase of Florida from Spain in
1910. Spain, doubtless fearing that
the territory would be invaded and
seized by an act of war if she insisted
upon retaining it, finally agreed to
cede it provided the United States
would assume the claims of the Spanish
citizens. The terms were accepted and
the territory of Florida containing in
all about $4,000 square miles, was
transferred to this government at a
cost of something like So, 900, 900.
There was no further territorial ex-
pansion for quarter of century. In
the meantime Mexico had secured it's
independence from Spain, shortly after
the latter had ceded Florida, and Texas,
then province of Mexico had drawn
a large and turbulent element from the
United States. Under their leadership
there grew up a fierce opposition to
Mexican domination, and in 1886 they
succeeded in establishing the Texas
| republic. Then followed a series of
events of extraordinary interest. The
new republic sought admission into
the union as a state and her applica-
ton became an overshadowing issue in
national politics. Henry Clay declar-
ing with what afterward seemed like
the voice of prophecy that the annex
alton of Texas meant war with Mexico" :"
The campaign of 1914 turned on the
Texas question. Polk, the democratic
and annexationist candidate, was
| elected to the presidency, and the de-
| feated whig administration, recogniz-
in ha Of = Ho Il H.
mite expression, distinguished the clos
ing days of its career by annexing
| Texas to the United States. War with
| Mexico followed, and it was not until
after the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
was signed in 1S4S that the status of
| Texas was settled. By that treaty the
United States agreed to pay to Mexico
the sum of S15, ZOO, 900, and to assume
| debts of about S3, 900, 900 due from Mex
leo to citizens of this country. In re-
| turn for this money the United States
| acquired possession of a territory some
| 92i 900 square miles in extent, included
in which were what are now the states
of California and Nevada, parts of Col
orado and Wyoming, and the territories
| Of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
To this cession by Mexico must be
added what is known as the Cad sden
Purchase" a strip of territory now at
taehed partly to Arizona and partly to
New Mexico. This territory remained
in dispute after the Mexican war, but
in 1858 it was finally ceded to this eotn:
try on the payment of the sum of S10,-
900, 900 to Mexico. The tract containe
about a. 900 square miles, and the name
from James Gadsden, then American
minister to Mexico, under whose direc'
tion the deal was negotiated.
Alaska, bought from Russia in 1867
for 81 200, 900, was the last acquisition
of territory by the United States 1t
has proved, contrary to expectation a.
the time, an immensely valuable in
vestment. 1t added nearly 6OO,0O(
square miles to the national domain
and has abundantly vindicated the
wisdom of its purchasers.
Other annexation schemes, without
number have been proposed since the
Louisiana purchase" Half dozel
propositions for the acquisition o
Cuba and Santo Domingo, either by
seizure or purchase, have been brough
forward at various times only to be re
jeeted or condemned. Walker, tht
Nicaragua adventurer, dreamed o
bringing Nicaragua, Honduras ant
other Central American territerie int,
political union with the United States
The annexation of Canada has becom
question of pressing interest on boil
sides of the ST. Lawrence and seem
likely to develop into an urgent issu
in Canadian politics N. Y. Herald.
Ireland's Sacred Oak.
In years gone by Ireland had sacre,
oak dedicated to st. Columbian, one e