Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-08-24

saio IN opposing the acquisition OF
Louisiana:
fear the effect of the vast extent Of our
empire fear 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 thlther
] fear that this Eden OF the New World
Q4ouislaua Territory VIII prove Gene
terry for the bodies of our citizens,
There we find fear Of the evil Of
fects of imperialism; the evil effects
on labor and the evil effects of the
climate on our citizens all of which
are now urged against the acquisition
OF the Philippines.
Representative Josiah Quincy of
Massachusetts argued vehemently
against the acquisition of Louisiana
on constitutional grounds going so far
as to say that in doing so, the bonds
of the Union are virtually dissolved
In discussing the matter he said:
Why sir ! nave already heard of six
states aud some say there viii he more
| have also heard that the mouth of the
Ohio viii be far to the east of the center
of the contemplated empire You have
no authority to throw the rights and lib.
critics aud property of this people luto
"holch pot" with the wild men on the
Missouri. nor with the mixed. though more
respectable race of Anglo HiSpanO- Gallo,
Americans who hnsli on the sands in the
mouth of the Mississippi. DO you sup
pose &C. prople OF the northern and Allan
ria states will, or ought to. loo;, on with
Patience. ana see representatives and sen
ptors from the Ted river ana the Missouri
j hon ln
floor managing the concerns of a scaboard
/ 1i.UOO miles, at least from their residencef
what o harmless bogy this has
proved to be! 1t is difficult to sup
press a smile as we read these prophe-
cies and contrast them with American
history from the acquisition and an
neyation Of the Louisiana territory
| till today. 1t seems like q huge joke
10 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 ami return to us the $l5OOO0OO
given for it. The objections proved
to be more imaginary than real. The
United States periodically and wisely
grappled with the problems involved,
and solved them in a 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 unwiso.
Since then we acquired, in 1919 the
60 600 square niles Of Florida, in 1915,
Texas. with 37G,1G} square miles; in
1918, New Mexico and California with
2GS,242 square miles; in 1853, tie Gads-
den purchase from Mexico of 1895
square miles; in 1861, Alaska with
531 400 square miles.
The Philippines today are nearer in
poirt of time and ease of communica-
tion than were those territories then.
Fifty years ago California was dis
tant from Washington a three months
journey by land, and six months by
water, while Manila can be reached
from the national capital in less than
a month, and when a line of fast trans
pacific steamers, similar to the present
transatlantic lines, is established, as
it is certain to be shortly, the capital
of the archipelago viii 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 We're
first put forward by the original OBJ
structionists 20 national development
and progress over 80 years ago The
people wisely decided in favor Of eX
panson then; and there is no reason
to believe the old spirit and enterprise
and patriotism of Americas sons will
not take the same broad view today,
and support the Republican admins
tration in its expansion policy.