The San Francisco call., 1899-10-13

A distinguished senator from delaware Sdlu'
But as to Louisiana, this new, immense
unbounded world-if it should ever be incorpo-
rated into the Union, Of which have no idea,
and which can only be done by amending the
constitution l believe II will be the greatest
curse that could at present befau US. 1t may
be productive of innumerable evils, and espe-
cially of that l fear to ever look upon.
! Thus our citizens viii be removed to the i'm
mense distance Of two or three thousand miles
/ scarcely ever feel the rays of the general Gov
ernment their affections will be alienated they
Will gradually begin to view us as strangers,
they will form other commercial connections
and our interest will become distinct
and I do say that under existing circumstances,
even supposing that this extent of territory was
a desirable acquisition. fifteen millions of dol
lars was most enormous sum TO give
distinguished representative from Virginia
said:
7 fear the effect Of the vast extent of our
empire He feared the effects of the increased
value of labor, the decrease in the value of
lands and the influence of climate upon our
citizens who should migrate thither. Il fear
Though this land was represented as flowing
with milk and honey that this Eden of the
of our citizens
Imperialism had a chief place in the cata-
logue OF disasters which would follow the rati-
1t was the first and sure step to the creation
Of empire and the subversion of the con-
stitution. The phrase which is now employed
by some critics. planetary policy so far as
I have been able TO discover, first appeared
here. Jefferson was made the subject of satiri-
cal verse
]
And buy up the realm OF nature,
Towns, cities. Indians, Spaniards. prairies.' -
The opponents. however were in the minority
and the star Of the republic did not set, and
the mighty West brought under the flag
/ OF justice. freedom and opportunity.
In 1919 added 69,749 square miles, which
now comprises Florida and all parts of Ala
bama, Louisiana and Mississippi In lS45 We
received the Cession of Texas. It contained
376 93l square miles and embraced the State of
Texas and parts of Oklahoma Kansas Col
I NynDinar q Mexico n,aYI
cession was under the treaty of 1S4S, contain
/ ing 52256S square miles, embracing the States
of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Col
orado and Wyoming and Of the Territories Of
Arizona and New Mexico.
In 1858 we acquired by tie Gadsden purchase
As, ,535 square miles, which embrace parts Of
Louisiana and New Mexico.
The next great acquisition was that of
Alaska in 1867, containing 599, 446 square miles
This treaty, like that of the Louisiana pur-
chase" was fiercely resisted. When the House
had under consideration the bill appropriating
the sum OF ST. 200, 900, the amount OF purchase
money for Alaska agreed upon by the treaty,
the minority report on that bill quoted ap-
provingly article which characterized Alaska
as terra incognita,' and that persons well
informed to Alaska are ungrateful enough
to hint that We could have bought much su-
perlor elephant IN Siam or Bombay Tor one
hundredth part Of the money, with not a ZEN
thousanith part Of expense incurred IN keeping
the animal in proper condition.
The minority report proceeded to say that
the committee having considered various ques-
tiOns involved and the evidence in regard to
the conclusion that the possession of the coun-
try is of no value to the Government of the
United States; that it will be source of weak
ness instead of power, and a constant annual
expense, for which there Will be no adequate
return: that it has no capacity as an agri-
cultural country; that 1t is known that II has
no value as a mineral country; that its trade
is of Insignificant value to nation and
viii speedily come to an ned: that the fisheries
are of doubtful value and that whatever the
value OF its fisheries, its fur trade, its timber
and its minerals, they were all open to the
Tr,Nr fa4a ~ f=tt nc
treaties; that the right to govern the nation or
nations Of savages in climate unit for the
habitatiou of civilized men was not worthy OF
purchase" They therefore reported the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved. That it is ineXpedient to appro-
pirate money for the purchase OF Russian
In the debate in the House a distinguished
Representative from Massachusetts said:
If We are to pay for Russia s friendship this
amount, l desire to give her the 81, 100000 and
let her keep Alaska l have no doubt that at
any time within the last twenty years could
have had Alaska for the asking. providing we
would have taken it as gift, but no man, ex-
cept one insane enough to buy the earthquakes
Of St Thomas and the ice fields of Greenland,
could be found to agree to any other terms for
its acquisition to this country"
To this treaty the opponents in the
minority and that great rich territory, from
its purchase price, and with phenomenal
wealth yet undeveloped, Is ours in spite OF their
opposition.
tory of the United States the territory of the
Hawaiian Islands, one Of the gems of the Pa
cifc Ocean containing 6724 square miles; Porto
Rico, containing $500 square miles; Guam, con-
tanning fifty square miles and the Philippine
archipelago embracing approximately 143, 600
square miles. This latest acquisition is about
one-sixth the size of the original thirteen
States. This is larger than the combined area
of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and the District
of Columbia. 1t equals in area all of the New
Washington and Oregon combined and greater
than Ohio, Indiana and Illinois united. Three
times larger than New York. and three and
a half times larger than the State of Ohio.
The treaty of peace with Spain, which gave
us the Philippines, Porto Rico and Guam, met
with some opposition in the Senate. but was
ratified by that body by more than two-thirds
vote; while in the House the appropriation Of
$40 600 900 was made with little no opposition.
Alaska, the opponents of the treaty were in the
minority and the star Of hope to an oppressed
people not extinguished-
The future of these new possessions IS in the
keeping of Congress. and Congress Is the serv
ant of the people. That they will be retained
under the benign sovereignty OF the United
States 1 do not permit myself TO doubt. That
feel assured That Congress Will provide for
them a government which will bring them
blessings which Will promote their material
interests well as advance their people in the
path of civilization and intelligence, l conf
IDENTIFY believe. They Will not be governed as
vassals or serfs or slaves-they will be given
government of liberty regulated by law, hon
estly administered, without depressing or ex
acting. taxation without tyranny. justice with
out bribe education without distinction of
cial conditions, freedom of religious worship
and protection in life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness.
Attorney General Griggs was next in
troduced. In a brief address he praised
the volunteers for their gallantry in ac-
ton and complimented them on their good
appearance.
Secretary Long of the Navy was the
closing speaker.
q am one with ,youi" said Secretary
Long, 'in love and admiration for the
President of the United States, who
stands before you, the representative of
that great country whose, citizens you are.
/ am one with you also in your love
for your own great State. And 1
am one with you in your appre-
citation CT the navy. of the United
States. 1 thrill through and through in
admiration for it's achievements. 1 recall
the fall of Santiago before the guns of
Sampson"
At this point hundreds of voices in the
crowd interrupted the Secretary's re-
marks with shouts Of "Schley! Schley!
Schley" The Secretary paused a mo-
ment and then said:
my friends, there is glory enough for
ALL If ] were to attempt to enumerate
the names of all those who took part in
the great naval achievements you would
never have your dinner before 1 had con-
cluded."
General Summers. responding to calls of
the soldier boys, came forward and bowed
his acknowledgements amid frantic cheers.
1--WE left Old Glory floating in LuZon,"
he said, land If necessary we will go back