Douglas Island news., 1899-05-03
History Repeating Itself.

The territory of Alaska, WnIcn CnlrGy years ago was further from the city of Washington or the Mississippi river than the Island of Luzon is today, cost S72OO,OOO. Correspondent Curtis of the Chicago Record recalls that the oppo- sition to the acquisition of Alaska was identical in its reasoning processes with the present opposition to the acqulsl- tion of the Philippines. It was argued then that we had enough land of our own; that Alaska was worthless, and it was bad policy to increase our national responsibilities; that it would be necessary to retain a large military force up there, and that the necessary taxes to support it would be great burden upon the people. Nothing, however, was said about the consent of the governed. In answer to an inquiry from A. Borkaw of Litchfeld, H., says Mir. Curtis, 1 would say that much of this opposition came from the leaders of the dominant party in congress, as is the case with the Philippines. Hon. Orange Ferris of New York, for exam pie, said in debate that Alaska was 'wretched, God-forsaken region, worth nothing, and a positive injury and in cumbrance." He moved an amend ment to the annexation bill authorizing the president to pay S7, 100000 "to any respectable European, Asiatic or Afri- can power that would take Alaska off our hands"
 So good a man as Representative Hiram Price, of Iowa, declared that the S7, 100000 which we paid for Alas ka was "a dead loss to us and the more expense we incur the worse it will be for the country and the people"
 Gen. B. r. Butler said: If we are to pay her (Russia) for her friendship l desire to give her the S7, 100000 and let her keep Alaska. No man except one insane enough to buy the earthquakes of St. Thomas or the icefelds of Green land could be found to agree to it's acquisition"
 Elihu B. Waseburne, of Illinois, took the same position in regard to Alaska that MT. Hoar takes regarding the Philippines, and he lived to realize his folly. He urged congress not to ratify the treaty; he declared that the govern ment was taking upon itself unneces- sary and expensive responsibilities, and went so far as to predict that no part of Alaskan territory would ever be in- habited by white men.
 As against the original cost of ST. 100000 the Alaska seal company has paid in royalties to the United States government over 6 million dollars and still owes S1y 1y340,OOO. Over B million dollars of sealskins have been taken from the Alaska seas and nearly twice as much more in the fisheries, while the gold product has aggregated b millions and is increasing. Mir. Curtis QuOJGS kOCh di U ctS ocLy AAS III 4Sp4y CC ILC question as to the most important act of his career: 'The purchase of Alaska, but it will take the people a generation to find it out"
 Tie same story may be told of the acquisition of Louisiana, which was to the greatness of the United States the critical event and turning point of the early period of the nation. The expan- sion program from the earliest days to the present has not only met opposi- tiOn and the same opposition at each successive step, but has triumphantly downed it and gone on it's way working out the greatness of the Union.-Tope- ka Capital
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