The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-13


one hundred years We have grown to b.
s45. BIS square miles.
How the Country Has Grown.
'"rhe first acquisition. In 1905 known az
the Louisiana purchase embraced SSs.0s2
square miles, exclusive OF the area ives; Of
the Rocky mountaina Its vastness and
value will be best understood when l say
it comprises the entire states OF Arkansas,
Missouri. Iowa. Nebraska, South and
North Dakota and parts Of the states of
Minnesota Kansas, Colorado. Montana.
Wyoming, Louisiana, all Of Indian terri
tory and part Of Oklahoma. 1t would seem
almost incredible to the present genera
ton that this rich addition to the Federal
domain should have been opposed: and yet
ii was resisted In every form and by every
kind OF assault. The ceded territory was
characterized as q malariai swamp Its
praires destitute OF trees or vegetation. 1t
was commonly charged that we had been
cheated by giving 900 for terri
tory so worthless and pestiiential that 1t
could never be inhabited or put to usA
and It was also gravely asserted that the
purchase would lead to complications, and
wars with European powers.
Ola Arguments Against Expansion.
I'm the debate in the senate over the ter
ritory a distinguished senator from Con-
necticut said:
THE vast and unmanageablc estate
which the Louisiana acquisition will give
the United States, the consequent disrer-
sion OF our population and the destruction
OF that balance which 1t Is SO important
to maintain between the Eastern and
Western states. threatens at no very dis
tant day the subversion Of our Union
"A distinguished senator from Dslawars
said: But as to Louisiana, this nav. I'm
4S syn,4
corporated into the Union, of which have
no idea and which can only be done by
amending the constitution, believe II
will be the greatest curse that could at
present befail us 1t may be productive
OF innumcrabls evils. and especially OF one
that l fear to ever look upon Thus our
citizens will be- removed to the immense
distance Of 2eoo or 3. 900 miles from the cap
itai OF the Union. where they will scarcely
ever feel the rays Of the general govern
ments. their affections will be alienated.
they will gradually begin to view as as
strangers. they will form ether commercial
connections and our interests viii become
distinct and I do say that un-
der existing circumstances, even suppos-
ing that this extent OF territory was de-
sirabie acquisition. N5.00,oO was a most
enormous sim to give.
"A distinguished representative from
Virginia said: fear the effect Of the
vast extent OF our empire (IIe feared the
effects OF the increased value Of labor. the
decrease in the value Of lands and the IN
fiuence OF climate upon our citizens who
should migrate there.)
II fear (;hough this land was represent
ed as flowing with milk and honey that
this Eden of the New World viii prove
cemetery for the bodies OF onr citizens
The Cry Of impcriaIism.
Imperialism had chief place In the
catalogue OF disasters which would
follow the ratification Of this treaty.
and II was alleged that IT was
the first and sure step to the cre-
alton Of an empire and the subverslon OF
the constitution. The phrase which Is
now employed by some critics. so far
hate been able 10 discover, first appeared
here jefferson was made the subject os
safir!cai verse:
See him commence. land specuiator.
And buy MP the realm NJ nature.
Towns. cities. Indians, STarfards. prairies.'
THE opponents. however, were I'm the
minority, and the star os the republic did
not set. and the mighty West was brought
under the nag Of justice freedom and op-
portaniiy.
I'm 1873 we added esr r4s square miles.
which now curnprises Florida and parts OF
Alabama Louisiana and Mississippi. In
Isss we received the csssion Of Texas. +;
contained aTss9i square miles and en-
eracea the state Of Texas and parts oe
Oklahoma. Kansas, Colorado. Wyoming
and New Mexico
"in KS VIC acquired by the Gaaaen pssr-
cAases 1855 square miles.
How Purchase Of Alm ka Was Secuted
The next great acquisition was that OF
Alaska in f<.. containing so. tts square
miles. This treaty, like that Of the I-o2ssi-
ara purchase was n~rcesy resisted When
the house had under consideration the bill
spprop.saaing The SUM Of r.3aso. the
aEsouns Of purchase money for Alaska
agreed Eyson by the treaty. the minority re-
pert on that bsg. quoted spproYsngiy an arti-
Gle which characterized Alaska as a terra
incosufta.' ard that persons we'll Informed
as to Alaska are uExrstsftii enough to hint
that ws eoald have bought much saps
rior elephant in sam or BOMBAY for one
hunArsith part of the F;sonty. with rot q
PENTHOUSE n1ta part q the expense ST.
cssrred in keeping the animal In proper
rNnAitiou.'
The minority report proceeded Ia say
saa, .tae committee having considered fae
various questions Involved. xaa the eyi-
,sence IN regard 20 this cossasry usder con-
sgserse9au ara forced te TIA conclusion
that tire possession of tne country ts Of
40 vassse 20 the sessrnsnsa, of the United
States Tha. IL Was q source 81 weakness.
instead Of roger, and constant aanaz.
exa~nSe far which there wifi BE- 10 Ad~-
1s.s9s return That X has no capacity as
sn Agricultural country. That u IN known
that il has 30 vasQa a mineral eount-y.
Tnas lis ssr trade is a< ssssx xnsscsns saias
70 Iss a. a ration ara xsa speedily ss.zzs
10 az end Thai the ssae.ses ars az