Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-28
DISCUSSES TIMELY TOPIC
fros Albert Eu hnell Hars Talks of the
Leu ana Furc Are.
Comparison Of Arguments Used by It's
Now Against Expansion.

A lecture CT great interes. on a timely topic
was Ceiivered yesterday aftel noon in the
Columbia Theater IL Ter the auspices of the
National Geosl lpfic Society by Prof. Al
bert bushnell H.-rt of Harvard University.
The theme was tn. Purchase of LOUISE
ana and The Requirement of iorida and
Oregon.
Illustrators thrown on ti:<- screen showed
the changes in he Rap of the country
which had been h-oLcl- about by these
acquisitions of tcrrlt-ry, and Gt3o scenes
represt ntin.; the cus.o,:.s 81 he feople in
the purchased terri .0ry. The lar audience
followed W: h in.orcst the sth1ia-iy presen-
ia ton G; tie facts in the c-iscass of the
coun:.y'S history
The speaker said Il ose of his audience
who are interes ed ii he expansion ques-
ton need hardly read the editorials in the
nc Ks. IS of today, nor follow the relig-
'ois .Tgsc.s of reading the daily Congress
-ioHGt ICcords. but you need only look at
TIE cd debates of 1902. Which of the two
parties U-ts = 5ht? One hundred years of
American his 2~y have answered that ques-
ton Tie S.ateS formed out OF The LouiSi-
ana territory have developed into great and
integral parts of the sisteIhood of states in
the American Union, a worthy and import
ant part of the whole and all a part of our
common country.
At the time when Jefferson was confront
ed with the problem of the Louisiana terri
tory. the speaker said. the American people
were called upon to decide whether or not
the United States should be an enlarging
country and in 1903 they settled the ques-
ton. They settled it, according to the habit
of the Anelc-Saxon race, which had always
desired the territory occupied by feeble
races and within Il few years after the
American common wealth had been formed
| this habit was already asserting itself.
ltrouses Anxiety.
| He said that as long the territory
about the mouth of the Mississippi was in
| the hands of Spain, which, at that time.
| was looked upon as a nation of waning
power. the American people showed no spe
cial concern.
| But when the land passed into the possess
| sion of France the anxiety of the people
! was aroused. In 1902 the proposition for
| the purchase Of all the territory by the
| United States from France was preached,
| and jefferson became an ardent advoca, e
! of the project. The deal was arranged be-
| tween Livingston, the American minister at
| Paris, and Napoleon. for the sum of SD
| n0O,Goo. III the French chambers great OPP
| position was expressed, but ignored by Ma
| poleOn. while the American Congress agreed
to it after a weeks debate. Thomas JEFF
! ferson was characterized by the speaker as
| the great apostle of annexation.
| The audience We're much amused by the
arguments advanced in the debate on the
purchase of the territory.
Arguments Against Expansion.
| The argument of eXpediency was then
used, which the lecturer observed, suggests
that of the present day. One senator said
that the acquisition of this vast stretch of
territory would Be the greatest curse that
could befal this country Another declared
it would be unsafe to have citizens living
1000 and 5000 miles from the national cap
ital, and others said the purchase price, at
any rate, too high.
Others asserted that 1t would be Il dan
gerous experiment to take all this territory
with population totally unlike our own
and perhaps incapable of understanding the
principles of our government. Again, one
senator intimated that the President could
not be trusted; the administration. he
thought, should at least be watched. Then
it was urged that the climate would prove
uncOngenial, and that the western soil
would be the cemetery of the bodies of
Americas citizens War with the Indians,
it was argued should be avoided, and final
ly the argument was put forward that
charity begins at home that we should first
cultivate our own territory and bring the
blessings to our posterity.
The lecturer attributed the credit for the
acquisition Of Oregon to Jefferson The
President, he said, was fond of exploration
and it was mainly through his efforts that
tie expedition under Lewis and Clark was
sent out.
In giving the history of the purchase of
Florida the lecturer related the part taken
by General jackson in lighting and defeat
ing the allied bands in Florida before Flor
ida had become a part of the United States.