The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
Z xEED oF rnn KoRLp.
The Territorial Expansion OF the United
gtatea n BENEFIT to Mankind,

states y BENEFIT to Mankind.
Boston. Aug. 27.-In a paper on American
territorial expansion read before the American
Association for the Advancement OF Science
WI. MCGEE. Vice. President Of the Nhtiona
Geographical Society. said:
1t is clear that every territorial accession t.
the United States gave new opportunity fo
growing enterprise and was soon followed b.
new industries. new associations. new lines o
thought. all contributing to increased in.
dtvidual wealth and augmented nationa
strength. II IL no less clear that the character
OF the territorial accession has shaped the
character OF the consequent progress, The
Louisiana purchase created q demand for navi.
cation OF the Mississippi and It's tributaries
and the finest steam packet system In
the world was developed. The conquest OF
California created a demand for transportation
facilities. which was met by the development
OF the American railway system: and in like
manner the pushing OF population into the arid
districts created q demand for an irrigation
system which marks an era In national history,
"Then a glance from the history OF the nation
to the century's history Of the world indicates
the force and benelcence Of the American ex-
ample; the relations are too many for even
summary statement; 1t may only be noted that
the absorption OF American ideas and the imi-
tation OF American methods by other peoples
and nations prove that the progress Of this ma
ton is meeting O need of the world.
Cautious students presaRo the future from
the history Of the past. and the American OF
to-day must look to the lessons Of 1908. 1921.
and for indications OF results to follow
the expansion In 1898. The trend OF these les
sons Is clear. After n generation OF concehtra-
ton. American energy is more tense than ever
before. American enterprise and capital are
overlooking in every direction. American prog
ress has outstrlpped that OF the rest Of the
world In every line save that Of oceanic ship
ping. American genius will not be pent and Is
bound to diffuse itself by Individual effort. IL
not BY national action. Such is the present
condition OF the United States as demonstrated
by any fair arrangement Of lRhres-the young
giant ia rending his chains. The prospect ia def
mite. JustSas tho Louisiana purchase in 1903
made America n steamboat nation. and Just
as the acquisition OF California inl 1S45 made
America a railway and a telegraph nation. so the
acquisition OF Hawaii and Porto Rico. and.
above all. the Philippines in 1893 must make
America the naval nation OF the earth. for the
born Of the accession would be the
for It's final solution, while America
needs %si the , linGen ~ y to strennSeft h epphtihfIans,e1I enen n
remote. only a fraction 90 remote In time az
California a, half century ago. yet remote
enough to compel the invention Of devices for
Si .hAh tiIiC uhd diliL 1p1JCs clu |
night or a week of San Francisco Is one worthy
devices Involved in steamboating. r%aIlroading
and teleYraphinR. Given, swift vessels, the
Ptnsr a Pso ~ IIftisp cessa6%ah 6y t asv sa aS fare OF the
Ing u new direction for the profitable expendi-
.1re, Of lGng.pe3t energy; The 7.0OD ,02O pas
less menace to our quadrupled population
md multiplied power than, were. the, savage
While. it is the special function Of the repub-
tsnia Io OF sc OF g rsd tnrrifdr 10 n rend nniS me dnha6-
PORTING but self-governing.
THE progress OF mankind may be measured
~ advance in speed of locomotion. beginning
less Of ridden or driven animals, and ending
swiftness Of locomotive engines and sea-
here need b be Iiittle fear Of foreign ihntteerSen.
To- l ll1els se ar sEeat Tor pR m9iiatati 61l i saTm stanSII
ompetition be but aroused. Individual effort
nay be trusted to develop the devices re-
hat Hite a quickly tSc gs converted dfG mefc6antm na9 co 1aSe
handed by. a sigsbee or that q hastily
an wreck torpedo-boat destroyers and
avail theories together is full of promise.
, 5nG pr ts ls the si RSf@s, t snS %s Sf a tEss an, aSa
and to meet emergencies as they arise.
ton, in noSmai ideSeiopment Of popuiatfon. i
III. uuO'e, all. ~ ueieIOpuieHt VI, u HutlOnHl
l%aracter. in which individual enterprise and
opacity are the most conspicuous traits.
here Is but a single line in which progress has
zen sluggish, and that is the line which must
be strengthened through the stirring
nd nj t y, Far non NO; AND y" WWindentao Rmer;na mes !
ION lead the world in ocean navigation as in !
her directions, and begin a conquest OF the ]
a noless complete and noble than the con- I
lest Of the land already wrought. ,
And more than all else. the territorial acqui- !
tlonslmust contribute toward the extension OF /
lliRhtenment, toward the elevation Of human 1
J. and toward the ultimate peace and welfare Z
the world" I