The record-union., 1899-10-13
we have committed to our keeping. The

| miles
/ The first acquisition, in 1903, known
as the Louisiana Purchase embraced
| SS3,Ul2 square miles, exclusive of the
area west of the Rocky Mountains. It's
vastness and value will be best under
| stood when l say that it comprises the
entire States of Arkansas, Missouri
| Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado
Montana, Wyoming, Louisiana, all OF
| Indian Territory and part of Oklahoma.
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 re-
| sisted in every form and by every kind
| OF assault. The ceded territory was
| characterized as a 'malarial swamp
| its prairies destitute of trees or vege-
| tatlon. 1t was commonly charged that
! we had been cheated by giving $15-
| OUO,OuO for a territory so worthless and
| pest1lential that it could never be in
haolted or put to use, and it was also
graVely asserted that the purchase
| would lead to complications and wars
| with European Powers In the, de-
| pate IN the Senate over the treaty a
| distinguished Senator from Connecti-
cut said:
The vast and unmanageable estate
which the Louisiana acquisition will
| give the United States, the consequent
dispersion of our population and the
destruction of that balance which it is
so important to maintain between the
Eastern and Western States. threatens
at no very distant day the subversion
of our union
"A distinguished Senator from Della
ware said:
But as to Louisiana this new i'm
! mense, unbounded world-if it should
ever be incorporated into the Union. of
which l have no idea. and which can
only be done by amending the Consti-
tuition, [ believe it will be the greatest
curse that could at present befall us.
Ii may be productive of innumerable
evils, and especially Of one that 1 fear
to ever look upon. Thus our citizens
VIII be removed to the immense dis
| tance of two or three thousand miles
from the Capital of the Union. where
they will scarcely ever feel the rays of
the General Government, their affec-
tlons will be alienated-they will grad
ually begin to view us as strangers
they will form other commercial con-
| nections, and our interest will become
distinct and I do saw that
under existing circumstances. even sup
posing that this extent of territory was
a desirable acquisition, fifteen millions
of dollars was most enormous sum to
give
A distinguished representative from
Virginia said
fear the effect of the vast extent
OF our empire. (TIe feared the effects of
the increased value of labor the de-
crease in the value of lands. and the
influence of climate upon our citizens
$50 should migrate thither.) 4 fear
(though this land was represented as
flowing with milk and honey that this
New World will prove a cemetery for
the bodies of our citizens.
Imperialism had a chief place in the
catalogue of disasters which would fol-
low the ratification of this treaty. and
II was alleged that it was the first and
sure step to the creation Of an empire
ana the subversion of the Constitu-
ton. The phrase which is now em-
ployed by some critics planetary pol
lcy,' so far as 1 have been able to dis
cover, first appeared here. jefferson
was made the subject of satirical verse:
See him commence, land speculator
Ana buy up the realm of mature
Towns, Cities Indians, Spaniards nrair-
les 49, PidH
The opponents, however, We're in tba
minority, and the star of the renub1ic
did not set, and the mighty West was
| brought under the flag of Justice. free
dom and opportunity.
In 1919 we added 69.749 souare
miles, which now comprises Florida and
parts OF Alabama, Louisiana and Mis-
sissippi. In 1916 we received the cos
sion Of Texas. 1t contained 37e a31
square miles, and embraced the State
OF Iexas and parts of Oklahoma
Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and New
mexico. The next cession was under
the treaty of 1913, containing 52o 56S
SQUARE miles, embracing the States of
CailIornla, Nevada, Utah and parts of
Colorado and Wyoming, and of the
territories Of Arizona and New Mexico
Inc next great acquisition was that
OIL Alaska in 1867, containing 800 446
square miles.
This treaty, like that of tho ST on
lslana purchase was fiercely resisted
When the House had under considera-
ton the bill appropriating the s,,no Of
@"%uO,OUO the amount of purchase
money for Alaska agreed ,,no,1 -, 49,
treaty, the minority report on that bill
4uo'eu approVingly an article which
0iiai icterlzed Alaska as a terra incog-
iii'd' ana that persons we'll Informed
aS 10 Alaska are ungrateful enoucb
10 mint that we could have bouebt n
Ihuch superior elephant in Siam or
BOMBAY for one-hundredth part of the
money with not a -thousandth nart
OF expense incurred in keeping the ami
maj In proper condition
Inc minority report proceeded 10
say mat the committee having con
sldered the various questions inyoI,,aa
ana the evidence in regard to this conn
Try under consideration are forced r.
the conclusion that the possession ~
the country is of no value to the Gov
einiiieht OF the United States: that #
wiz De source of weakness instead RI
power, and constant annual ax-
pelse' Tor which there will be no ade-
qudte return; that it has no capacity g
an agricultural country; that II ;O
known that it has no yalue as a min
eral country; that it's fur trade ;e oe
Insignificant value to us as nation
ana Will speedily come to an end No.
the fisheries are of douhtf,,l ,,oI,,r 80
that Whatever the value of its fisheries
iui trace, It's timber and its min
tney were all open to the citizens
'ie united states under existing
eieaties' that the right to govern the
nga