The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-01

could never have been admitted? They
neither will see It, nor ought to see 1t, with
content. The bin will justify revolution,
and will produce it. New States are intend
ed TO be formed beyond the Mississippi.
There IS no limit to mems imagination on
this subject short of California and the Co
lumbia river . The bill. IL it passes.
is a death-bow to the Constitution. 1t may
afterward linger but, lingering. its fate
will at no distant period be consummated."
Tho Louisiana. purchase gave US our pres
ent States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri,
Iowa, Minnesota. Kansas, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma and
Indian Territories.
There are men and women still living who
remember the delivery of that speech.
myself am old enough TO have witnessed the
annexation Of Texas, which aroused SINH
lar protest not only from the Abolitionlsts
but from many Wings who predicted the
permanent supremacy of slavery as the in
evitable consequence. Then followed the
war with Mexico which resulted in the
transfer to the United States of what are
now New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Cali
fornia, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado.
Idaho ard Montana Florida was ceded to
sia, a purchase advocated by Sumner,
though he defeated the admission of st.
Domingo.
All these expansions seem to have been
dimly anticipated by the founders of Amer
lean independence, who spoke or their
army as the "Continentals," and quoted the
celebrated couplet:
mo pent-up Utica contracts our powers;
The whole unbounded continent is ours
So far. this series Of territorial expansions
has been justified by its results. But 1t may
be said, and with reason, that these were
all Of contiguous territory except Alaska,
in a temperate climate, almost untnhabited,
capable of colonization by people of our own
and kindred races. These tropical islands.
on the contrary. are already occupied by
people alien in habits, language and institu-
uons. They have climate which has
hitherto proved incompatible with the ex-
istence of the white race as laborers and
permanent residents. The West Indies have
to-day fewer white inhabitants than they
had one hundred years ago. Jamaica
Plain. Mass, and Jamaica, l.. l., were so
named by immigrants from the West In
dies. In bringing in the Eastern and West
ern Indies, therefore we are occupying and
developing for other races than our own.
If we succeed in civiizng the tropics, it
will probably be for the Malay, the Kanaka,
the creole and the negro, not for the Cau-
caSian race.
Moreover, the agricultural products Of the
tropics are principally such as can only be
made profitable upon great scale, by the
application of large capital and servie or
to these regions will go as employers, not
as operatives; as planters, not as farmers.
There is imminent danger that, the system
will give renewed vitality TO the principle
of race aristocracy. which still dominates
every State where slavery formerly existed.
May not American control Of the Indies re-
suit III q war of races?
If our people are wise enough and just
enough to relieve these alien communities
from the cruel yoke Of Spain without at
tempting TO incorporate them into our po-
lftical system. all will be well. Let us es-
tablish equal suffrage on a moderate prop
erty and educational qualification combined,
irrespective of race or sex. and a system of
free schools for all. Let us give them the
priceless boon of self-government, applica-
bic alike to all races and both seXes-''a
right invaluable to them and dangerous to
tyrantS only"
HENRY B. BLACKWELL
Dorchester, Mass, Nov. 2S