The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-08-30

states, and sotR say there viii be more
] have also heard that the mouth Of the
Ohio will-be far to the east Of the center
Of the contemplated empire. You hive
no authority to throw the rights and lib.
critics and property of this people into
'hotch pot" with the wild men on the
Missouri, nor with the Mixed though more
respectable race of Anglo -Hispano-- Gallo
Americans, who bask on the sands In the
mouth OF the Mississippi. Do you SUP
pose the people Of the northern and Allan
tic states wIli or ought to, look ON with
patience. and see representatives and SEN
atoIs from the Red river and the Missouri
pouring themselves upon this and the other
floor, managing the concerns Of seabOard
lJpO0 miles, at least, from their residence?
What a harmless bogy this has
proved to be! 1t is difficult to sup
press smile as we read these prophe-
cies and contrast them with American
history from the acquisition and an
nexation of the Louisiana territory
TIL today. 1t seems like a huge joke
to the citizens of the great state carved
out of that territory, which includes
Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,
Minnesota, Missouri Nebraska, Col
orado, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Today
the same objection that Mr.. Quincy
urged against the acquisition of Louis
lana territory, from which Nebraska
was carved is being urged by William
Jennings Bryan against the Philip
pines, viz: That the territory should
not be acquired and annexed because
the inhabitants are not competent to
share In the government.
The United States, however, did en-
ter upon the policy of expansion at
that time. This country did not ask
France to take back the Louisiana ter
ritory and return to us the SIS, 900
given for 1t. The objections proved
to be more imaginary than real. The
United States patriotically and wisely
grappled with the problems involved,
and solved them in manner that has
contributed in an immeasurable de-
gree to the greatness and wealth of
the nation. Nobody can be found to-
day to say the expansion policy then
entered upon was unwise.
Since then we acquired, in 1919, the
10000 square miles of Florida; in 1S45,
Texas, with 976,163 square miles; in
1S48, New Mexico and California, with
26S,242 square miles; in 1858, the Gads-
den purchase from Mexico of 1886
square miles; in 1867, Alaska, with
bS1, ,409 square miles.
The Philippines today are nearer In
point Of time and ease Of communica-
ton than were those territories then.
Fifty years ago California was dis
tant from Washington three months
journey by land, and six months by
water, while Manila can be reached
from the national capital In less than
month, and when line of fast trans
pacific steamers, similar to the present
transatlantic lines, is established, as
1t is certain to be shortly, the capital
of the archipelago will be brought
within Is days of Washington. Under
such circumstances the reasons urged
by the anti-expansionists are far less
forceful now than when they were
first put forward by the original OBJ
structionists to national development
and progress over 80 years ago. The
people wisely decided in favor of ex,
pansion then; and there is no reason
to believe the old spirit and enterprise
and patriotism Of Americas sons will 4,
not take the same broad view today.
and support the Republican admins
tration in its expansion policy.