The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-09-04
Former Expansion.

dOCS SOn6ANOEdDl0 ukuElAAS Ou JIG c.
passion question. Inasmuch as fig
ures do not lie, we reproduce this
leading Tennessee Journals re-
marks:
Probably nine-tenths of the oppO-
nents of expansion are opponents of
it because, not having been born or
having been quite young when the
United States made any considerable
extension of THEN domain, or not be-
ing familiar with the history of ma
tional land deals, these persons don't
realize that this country has, since
1903, quadrupled it's territory by con
quest or purchase, or both. The cry
of Imperialism seems hollow indeed
in the face of the fact that much OF
this territory was won with the
sword, and in the case of some of ii
was bought for money, the moral in
fluence of the American arms made
the bargain.
THE other one-tenth of the oppO-
nents of expansion are probably op
ponents of it from principle. True,
their principle doesn't convince or
satisfy anybody except themselves
the correctness of their position, but
it is principle nevertheless; and
when a man opposes you on account
of the principle of the thing he
means that he is open to no further
argument.
ITO those anti-expansionists who
oppose the holding of West Indian
and Philippine territory because
they don't realize that the United
States have been in the annexing
business persistently and continually
since 1903, and that according to
history, now is about the time for
another act of this kind, the follow
ing argument of facts and figures is
respectfully addressed:
''In 1903 President Thomas Jeffer-
son bought for the United States
from France the territory known as
the Louisiana purchase, which in
cluded, approximately, the present
states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas,
Nebraska, North and South Dakots 8,
Colorado, Wyoming and Montana,
Indian Territory and Territory of
Oklahoma. The area was LII 1881
square miles, and the price was S15,-
900, 900, of which So, ,75O 900 consisted
of the assumption by the United
States of claims of their citizens
against France.
"In 1919 the United States ac-
quired Florida from Spain, SO, ,26S
square miles, this country assuming
S5. 900 900 of claims of American cit
izens against Spain.
"In 1s45 the United States annexed
Texas, adding 316, ,133 square miles
to their domain.
"In 1S46 the unsettled northwest
ern boundary was fixed at the pres
ent northerly line of the state Of
Washington.
"In 184S the United States bought
from Mexico for SIS 200, 900 and the
assumption of claims to the amount
of S3, ,25O, 600 what are now the statei
of California, Nevada and Utah, par
of the states of Colorado and Wyom
ing and parts of the territories o
Arizona and New Mexico, 545, ,7s
square miles.
"In 1853 the United States bough
for 10000 900 from Mexico (th,
Gadsden purchase) that part of Ari
zona aud New Mexico south of tn
: GiIa river. 40 ,535 square miles.
I'm 1857 the United States bough
from Russia for 81, 200, 900 Alasks
577 400 square miles.
"By these acquisitions the terri
B tory of the United States was In
creased from s27, ,s44 to 3,6OS,s
. square miles. The foregoing RET
estate cost the United States 10 cent
a square mile, or s56, ,450, 900 and seN
eral wars.
"The year 1898 promises to be a
important one in the history {
American annexation"