The Anaconda standard., 1899-10-13
A CENTURY Of PROGRESS
CONTINUED from Page one.)


of our empire (He 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
who should migrate thither) l fear
thoush this, land was represented as
flowing with milk and honey) that this
Eden of the new world will prove a
cemetery for the bodies of our citizens
imperialism had chief place in
the catalogue of disaster which would
follow the ratification of this treaty,
and 1t was alleged it was the first and
sure step to the creation of an empire
and the subversion of the constitution.
The phrase which is now employed
by some critics, SO far as I have been
able to discover, first appeared here.
Jefferson was made the subject of sat
irical verse:
See him commence, land specu-
lator,
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 was
brought under the flag Of justice, free
dom and opportunity.
"In 1881 we added 69.749 square miles,
which now comprises Florida and parts
Of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
In 1S45 we received the cession of Tex
as. 1t contained 376931 square miles
and embraced the state of Texas and
parts Of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado,
Wyoming and New Mexico. The next
cession was under the treaty of 1S4S,
containing 522,56S square miles, embrac-
ing the states of California. Nevada,
Utah and parts of Colorado and Wyom
ing and of the territories of Arizona
and New Mexico.
In 1853 we acquired by the Gadsden
purchase 1886 square miles.
The next acquisition was that of
Alaska in 1867, containing 599,446 square
miles. This treaty, like that of the
Louisiana purchase was fiercely re-
sisted. When the house had under
consideration the bill appropriating the
sum Of $7,200,000 the amount of pur
chase money for Alaska agreed upon
by the treaty, the minority report on
that bill quoted approvingly an article
which characterized Alaska as a terra
incognito' and that persons well in
formed as to Alaska are ungrateful
enough to hint that we could have
bought a much superior elephant in
Siam or Bombay for a one-hundredth
part of the money, with not ten
thousandth part of the expense incurred
in keeping the animal in proper condi-
tion.'
THE minority report proceeded to say
that the committee has considered the
various questions involved and the evil
dence in regard to this country under
consideration, and are forced to the
conclusion that the possession Of the
country is of no value to the govern
ment of the United States. That it was
a source of weakness instead Of power
and a constant annual expense for
which there will be no adequate return.
hnf nlr ~ n n n II J..
tural country. That it is known that
it has no value as a mineral country.
That its fur trade is of insignificant
value to us as nation and will speed
lily come to an end. That the right to
govern the nation or nations of saw
ages in a climate unfit for THE habita-
ton Of civilized men was not worthy
of purchase. They therefore reported
the following resolution:
" Resolved, That it is inexpedient to
appropriate money for the purchase of
Russian America
In the debate in the house a distin-
guished representative from Massachu-
setts said:
III we arc to pay for Russa's friend
ship this amount, I desire to give her
the $7,200,000 and let her keep Alaska
I have no doubt that at any time with
in the last 20 years We could have had
Alaska for the asking. providing we
would have taken 1t as a gift, but no
man except 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 it's ac-
QUESTION to this country
ITO this treaty the opponents were
in the minority, and that great. rich
territory from which we have drawn
many and many times over its purchase
price and with phenomenal wealth yet
undeveloped, is ours in spite of their
opposition.
I'm the last year we have added to
the territory of the United States the
territory of the Hawaiian islands, one
Of the gems of the Pacific ocean, con-
tanning 6.726 square miles: Porto Rico,
containing 5000 square miles; Guam,
containing so square miles. and the
Philippines, embracing approximately
114,000 square miles. This latest acqui-
sition is about one-sixth the size ofthe
original 13 states This is larger than
the combined area of New Jersey, Del
aware, Maryland. Virginia, North Car
olina, South Carolina and the District
Of Columbia. 1t exceeds in area all of
the New England states. 1t is almost
as large as Washington and Oregon
combined and greater than Ohio In
diana and Illinois united, three times
larger than New York and three and
'N'NNN
of Ohio.
THE treaty of peace with Spain,
which gave us the Philippines, Porto
Rico and Guam, met with some oppo-
sition in the senate. but was ratified
by that body by more than a two
thirds vote; while in the house, the
appropriation of $20,000.000 was made
with little or no opposition. AS in the
case of the Louisiana purchase and
Alaska, the opponents of the treaty
were in the minority and the star of
hope to an oppressed people was not
extinguished.
The future of these new possessions
is in the keeping of congress and con-
gress is the servant of the people. That
| they will be retained under the benafi-
cent sovereignty of the United States
| I do not permit myself to doubt. That
| they will prove a rich and invaluable
| hostage l feel assured. That congress
| will provide for them a government
| which will bring them blessings, which
| will promote their material interests
| as well as advance their people in the
| yatb oF oi1-i1iyotinp and iptelli