The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-13

The century low drawing 10 close
has been most memorable IN the Woilu
progress and history. The march or man
kind in intellectual advancement mas peeh
onward and upward. The growth OF the
worlds material interests IS so vast that
the figures would almost seem to be
drawn from the realm of lmaglnatloL
rather than from the field of fact Al!
peoples have felt the elevating influences
of the century. Humanity and nome nave
been lifted up. Nations have been drawn
closer together in feeling, interest," ana
sentiment. Contact has removed OLD pref
udices at home and abroad and brought
about a better understanding, which has
destroyed enmlty and promoted aHltS.
Civilization has achieved great .ctorles
and to the gospel OF good Will there are
now few dissenters.
The great powers, under the inspiration
of the car of Russ a, have been sitting TO-
gether in a parliament OF peace seer ~
to find a common bas for the adjustment
of controversies without war and waste.
While they have not made war lmposSi-
BILE, they have made peace more propaoie.
and have emphasized the universal love OF
peace They have made a gain for the
worlds repOse and Americans, Wnlle re-
joicing in what was accomplishing, reJoIcS
also for their part cipation in the great
cause yet to be advanced, we trust, W
more perfect fulf1llment.
The century has blessed US as a nation.
While it has not given US perfect peace
it has brought US constant and even IN
creasing blessings and imposed upon us
no humiliation. or dishonor.
We have had wars with foreign powers
and the unhappy one at home-but all
term mated in no loss OF prestige or honor
or territory, but gain in all. The in
crease of our territory has added vastly
to our strength and prosperity W1tho4t
has given wider scope to democratic prln-
ciples and enlarged the area for repuo-
lican inst tutions.
what we have, and the mighty trust we
have committed to our keeping The study
of geography and history have now more
than a passing interest to the American
people 1t is worth recalling that when
the federal union was formed we neld
$685. 765 square miles of terri tory and In
less than one hundred years we nave
grown to 3,S45,515 square miles.
GROWTH OF A CENTURY.
The first acquisition in 1903, known as
the Louisiana purchase, embraced SS3,072
square miles exclusive of the area west or
the Rocky MOUNTAINS Its yastness and
that it comprises the entire states or
Arkansas, Missouri. Iowa, Nebraska
North and South Dakota and parts, of
the states of Minnesota, Kansas, Col,
orado, Montana. Wyoming, Louisiana, all
of the Indian territory and part of Okla
homa territory. 1t would seem almost
incredible to the present generation that
this rich addition to the federal domain
should have been opposed and yet IT was
resisted in every form and by every kind
The coded territory was characterized
as "malarial swamp" its prairies desti-
tute of trees or vegetation: 1t was COM
monty charged that we had been cheated
by giving SIS, 600 for a territory SO
worthless and pestilent al that it could
never be put to use; and it was also
gravely asserted that the purchase would
lead to complications and wars with EURO
pean powers.
In the debate in the senate over the
treaty a distinguished senator from Con-
necticut said The vast and a1o1 unmana a.
Louisiana will give the United States; the
consequent spersion of our population
and the destruction of that balance which
is so important to maintain n'tWeen the
Eastern and Western states, threatens at
no very distant day the subversion of our
union"
said: But as to Louisiana-this new, i'm
mense, unbounded world-if t should ever
| be incorporated into the I'm on, of which
I have no idea, and which can only be
done by amending the constitution. I
believe it will be the greatest curse that
could at present befal US. 1t may he
! productive of innumerable evils For citi-
zens W II be removed to the immense dis
| lance of two or three thousand miles from
| the capital Of the union where they will
scarcely ever feel the rays Of the general
! alienated; they will gradually begin 20
/ view US as strangers-they will form other
| commercial connections and our interests
will become distinct. Under ex sting cir
| cumstances, even suppos1ng that this ex-
tent of territory was a desirable acquisi-
ton, fifteen millions of dollars was a
most enormous sum to give
A distinguished representative from Eir-
g'nia said: 81 fear the effect Of the vast
extent of our empire He feared the
effects of the increased value of labor.
the increase of the value of lands, and
the influence of climate upon our citizens
who should migrate thither. 81 fear
| Though this land was represented as
Eden of the New World will prove Gem
etery for the bodies of our citizens
PLACE OF IMPERIALISM
Imperialism had chief place In the cat
alogue of disasters which would follow
| the ratification of this treaty, and it was
alleged that this was the first and sure
! step to the creation of an emnire and tie
subversion of the constitution. The