Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-01
JEFFERsoNIAN EXPANSION.


In these times, when there is SO much
talk of foreign acquisition and an imperial
policy, confessedly fraught with hidden and
probable, if not certain perils the Pater on
Guardian very opportunity reviews what
has been accomplished by the Democratic
party in the way of strengthening the
Union with contiguous territory which, as
time moved on, has heen divided into
States, settled by a homogeneous and
American population, and admitted to the
Union with all the rights and privileges of
the original members.
The first acquisition was the purchase BY
Jefferson of what was then known as
Louisiana. 1t was bitterly opposed by the
Federal party of that day By this trans
action, for the sum of SIS 100000 (which
is not one-twentieth the cost of even
three months war in these times the Re-
public acquired possession OF the vast area
now covered, in whole or in part, by
Arkansas Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louis
lana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ore
gon, Colorado, the two Dakotas, Idaho,
Montana, Washington and Wyoming and
are of substantially 100000 square miles.
This more than doubled the area of the
Union and. furthermore, gave ii control of
the mouth and the west bank of the Mis-
siesippi, the possession of which by Spain
and France was a constant source Of
danger.
About fifteen years later, in 1919. under
the Administration of James Monroe, an
other Democratic President. Florida was
purchased from Spain for $1,000 900 adding
about 900 square miles of territory to
the Union General Jackson was largely
the inspiration of the Florida purchase.
This acquisition gave the United States
unbroken control of the coast line from
Maine to Texas.
Then came the annexation of Texas.
with the resulting acquisitions from Mexico
The annexation of Texas alone added 1885,
900 square miles As an outcome of the
Mexican war and the payment of about
SIS, 0O0, 900, possession was acquired of the
area now covered by Utah, Nevada, Cali
fornia, and large portions of Colorado, New
Mexico and Arizona, in all about $4,000
square miles of territory. One of the most
valuable features of this acquisition was
the long stretch Of coast line on the Pacific,
from the Oregon boundry to the Mexican
State of Lower Californian all over 800,-
900 square miles we're gained. 1t was the
fruit of Democratic policy, maintained
and carried out by the Democratic party
and opposed by the Wing party.
In 1853, under President Pierce, what is
known as the Gadsden purchase was made,
including $4,000 square miles of territory
in those portions of Arizona and New
Mexico lying South of the ella river, and
at the same time yexatious dispute with
Mexico was brought to a close.
We thus find that the area of the Union
was increased by Democratic policy from
1900 square miles (when the Constitu.
ton was framed) to 81 100000 square miles,
BY President Jefferson, Monroe, Polk and
Pierce.
No better vindication of Democratic
policy can be found than the roll of States
that came into the Union in pursuance and
fulfillment of that policy, with the Terri
tories still awaiting full membership. 1t
comprises twenty three States and three
Territories, with a present population of
twenty five millions, all Incorporated in the
Union by the Democratic policy of annex
ing contiguous territory and homogeneous
populations. 1t was all along the line of
natural development Strike them from
the Union and what small showing would
be left
The Democratic party stands by this
policy rather than one of colonial and i'm
perial grandeur, full of great perils to our
institutions and certain source of world
wide ENHANCEMENT and foreign wars
We believe the rich West Indian islands
are desirable and a proper part of the
great American republic in its natural de-
velopment, SO far as they come to us with
the consent OF the governed The new
policy of holding the mongrel populations
of sea islands thousands of miles away
from our shores, and which are naturally
part of Asia, rather than America, is not
the true and tired old Jeffersonian Ameri-
can plan.