New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

Indian Territory. North and South Dakota,
Wyoming Montana, and Colorado north OF the
Arkansas River. This REGION kingdom IN IT.
self. was bought by President Jefferson for Sl1-
100000 from Napoleon BOnaparte, then First
Consul Of France. 1t was great service TO the
American people. although the Democrats per-
formed it. on the one hand. in audacious disre-
gard Of Jefferson's own theory OF strict con-
struction of the Constitution. and. on the other
hand in strict pursuance Of the Federalist ana
Republican idea of implied powers in the
Constitution Certainly no power has even been
granted by the language Of the document itself
for the purchase of foreign territory. While the
Louisiana Purchase" has conferred immortal
fame upon Thomas Jefferson, truth compels tho
statement that the United States would never
have secured this vast territory had it not been
for political complications in Europe.
In 1919 James Monroe, a Democratic Presi-
dent. annexed Florida to the United States by
trading off Texas to Spain and taking Florida
We then had only partial title to Texas under
the Louisiana Purchase" and the acquisition
of Florida gave us the whole Gulf coast as far
west as Louisiana. The trade good one
in many respects, although the Democrats gave
more than 26J 900 square miles of land to gain
less than 100000
BY the treaty with Spain under which Florida
was secured. and by later treaty with Eng
land in 1876 the right Of the United States to
Oregon was fully recognized America claimed
Oregon by right of original discovery and occu-
patton by Eastern fur traders and by Govern
ment exploration. Oregon was sec.yed by
Democratic Administrations.
So far. in the enlargement Of territory the
Democratic party of the United States had been
governed by statesmanlike and patriotic motives.
The next large annexation of foreign soil was
made from unworthy motives. Texas was an
nexed to the United States by the Democratic
party in 1916. Mexico went to war with the
United States over this incident. The war forced
upon Mexico by the Democratic party Of this
country by Wing generals and the
United States wruns in 1913 from Mexico. in
payment for the expenses Of the war. the vast
California territory west Of the Rocky Noun
tains and south of Oregon thus extending the
domain Of the United States straight across the
continent to the Pacific coast. These latter en-
argements of the Republic effected. ex-
pressy and concededly. in the interest Of negro
slavery. which the Democratic party was then
seeking to fasten upon the whole Nation. The
object of the Democrats was to gain vast ter
ritory. half of it lying in the latitude Of the
slave States. out Of which other slave States
could be created. in order to reinforce and main
tain the institution Of slavery.
THE NAVY AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
To the Democratic party of this earlier period
must be given credit also for defending the
rights of naturalized citizens of the United
States while travelling abroad Every inhabt-
ant of America disputed the European dogma Of
"Once a subject. always a subject" and this
Government then under Democratic control,
went to war with England in 1872 largely over
this issue. A remarkable fact concerning this
war is that 1t was won largely by our Navy. The
Anti-Federaist and Democratic parties had al
ways shown an obstinate, niggardly and UNI
friendly spirit toward the Navy. The Southern
Democrats were especially opposed to keeping
up a strong fleet OF warshirs. because those
ships could be used to stop the slave trade JEFF.
ferson had insisted substituting a swarm OF
harbor gunboats in place Of sea-gOing frigates
and other ships of war. an experiment. Blythe
way which proved a costly failure. The war OF
1872 compelled the United States to construct
number of splendid frigates and sloops of war.
and these ships. manned chiefly by Northern
men. a series Of brilliant victories. which
conferred immortal renown the American
Navy.
An act of this period for which the Democratic
party received great credit was the enumeration
Of the Monroe Doctrine" by President Monroe.
Democrat in 1923 1t is only fair to say that the
Monroe Doctrine was only new application OF
the old FederaIist doctrine, maintained by George
Washington and other Federalist leaders. OF non
intervention in the affairs Of foreign nauons.
The independence Of the Spanish American
States having been formally recognized in lS22.
President Monroe. in his annual message to Con-
gress in 1928 referred to a convention OF foreign
Powers with reference to these States. and de-
LII. ny aitemnt