The record-union., 1899-11-19
JEFFERSON AN EXPANSIONIST

jefferson, the father of Democracy,
author of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, was an expansionist. From the
very outset of his career as President
he foresaw the spread of the borders
of the national garment. More than
that he contemplated the use of force
in effecting that expansion. He did not
for one moment consider the consent OF
the governed in the matter.
Whoever has any doubt on that head
cannot do better than take up the first
volume of Messages of the Presidents"
issued by order of Congress and coldly
official and formal throughout. Therein
will be found record testimony in plenty
of what is here averred. 1t must be
kept in mind that at the time the re-
gion west Of the Mississippi was farther
removed in fact from the civilization
of the few States upon the Atlantic
border, than are the Philippines from
this continent to-day.
What now embraces about the whole
region occupied by Oregon, Washing
ton. Montana, Idaho. the Dakotas, Col
orado. Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska,
Missouri and Arkansas as well as
Louisiana, was wild, far distant terri
tory. the latter only expected, contend
ed for between foreign Powers, held by
one of them and occupied by savage
tribes for most part. Jefferson coolly
planned the spying out of this country,
to send expeditions under cover
across this vast region to the very
shores of the Pacific, for the purpose
of winning over the leading tribes, ex-
aiming the land and ascertaining how
best it could be acquired to our own
uses.
He asked Congress, in a message
dated January Is, 1903, to grant a suffi-
cient sum to outfit the first expedition
the success OF which he foresaw and
which Clarke thereafter made reality.
Concerning the plan he said: 1.-THE ma
ton claiming the territory, regarding
this as literary pursuit, which it is
in the habit of permitting within it's
dominions. would not be disposed to
view it (the expedition with jealousy,
even If the expiring state of its in
terests there did not render it a mat
ter of indifference. The appropriation
of $1,000 for the purpose of extending
the external commerce of the United
States, misunderstood and considered
by the Executive as giving the legisla-
tive sanction, would cover the under
taking from notice and prevent the OBJ
structions which interested individuals
might otherwise previously prepare in
its way"
In other words Jefferson looked upon
the ownership first of Spain and then of
France as simply dependent upon the
will of the United States to take the
territory. He was deliberately plan
ming to expand the dominion of the
United States over the trans Misss-
sippi country and to employ force to
do 1t If need be. He had in 1903, as
he had previously, secret agents in New
Orleans spying out the strength, to as
certain what force would be required
to take and hold the place if need be.
The employment of force was. however.
rendered unnecessary, for France wrest-
ed from Spain her possessions, and then
because of the wars in which France
was engaged in Europe, selling the
property in 1S05 to us, that it might
not fall into the hands of the Eng
lish
Thus, for 100000 jefferson added
to the United States a territory larger
and now richer than all the other ter
ritory of the Union in 1903. At no time
did he consult the inhabitants of the
territory thus acquired, or suggest that
they should not be governed except by
their consent. On the contrary. he was
wise enough to provide for their SUBJ
jugation If they manifested any dispo-
sition to resist the change of proprie-
torship.
We concur with the Humboldt
STANDARD" which treating Of the ex-