The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-01-18
GROWTH oFTHE UNITED STATES.
How Our Territory Has Been Enlarged
From Time to Time.

GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES.
How Our Territory Has Been Enlarged
From Time to Time.
The first acquisition of territory by
the United States was the so-called
louisiana Purchase in 1908. By this
purchase, which was effected during
Jetferson's administration for about
SIS, 200, 600, 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 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: II have thus given
| England a maritime rival who will
sooner or later humble her pride"
The next acquisition of territory was
the purchase of Florida from Spain in
1919. 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
cost of something like $1,000, 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 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 1874 turned on the
Texas question. Polk, the democratic
and anneXationist candidate, was
elected to the presidency, and the de-
feated wing administration, recognize
| ing the result of the election as def
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 a 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 100000, and to assume
debts of about 81, 900, 600 due from Mex
leo to citizens OF this country. In re-
turn for this money the United States
acquired possession of territory some
921, 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 strip of territory now at
tached partly to Arizona and partly to
New Mexico This territory remained
in dispute after the Mexican war, but
in 1858 it was finally coded to this coun-
| frry "a of tho S11r Of SSO
| 900, 600 to Mexico. The tract contained
about A. 600 square miles, and the name
of 'Gadsden's Purchase" was derived
from James Gadsden, then American
minister to Mexico, under whose direc-
| ton 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 at
the time, an immensely valuable in
vestment 1t added nearly 10000
square miles to the national domain
and has abundantly indicated the
wisdom of its purchasers.
| Other annexation schemes without
number have been proposed since the
| Louisiana purchase" Half dozen
| propositions for the acquisition of
| Cuba and Santo Domingo, either by
seizure or purchase, have been brought
| forward at various times only to be re-
| jected or condemned Walker, the
| Nicaragua adventurer, dreamed of
bringing Nicaragua, Honduras and
| other Central American territories into
| political union with the United States.
| The annexation of Canada has become
a question of pressing interest on both
| sides of the st. Lawrence and seems
likely to develop into an urgent issue
| in Canadian politics N. Y. Herald.
Irelands Sacred Oak.
In years gone by Ireland had a sacred
| On L. dndicnte tod to ST Cnlnm ban one eff