Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-08-03
A Libel on the Great jefferson.

A Libel on the Great jefferson.
tn" EIpdnSionist is the name of
a neatly printed monthly periodical,
the second number Of which has
reached our table, devoted as Is name
and motto indicates, to spreading
free institutions throughout the
world"
In this free land of ours, freedom of
speech and freedom of the press need
no constitutional guaranty to safe
guard them from abridgment, as this
publication amply shows, but we in.
sist that fanatics should not pervert
records or misstate facts to maintain
their position. The first article in the
June number Of The Erpansionia ex-
PLOTS Jefferson as "the great expan-
sionist" and quotes from his second
inaugural address words which it
falsely assumes substantiate that
claim. 1t quotes:
know that the acquisition of Louis
lana has been disapprOved by some from
candid apprehension that the enlarge
ment OF our territory would endanger its
union. But who can limit the extent to
which the federative principle may op-
crate effectively? The larger our asso.
cation, the less will it be shaken by To-
cai passions; and in any view, is it not
Detter that the opposite bank of the
mississippi should be settled bv our
brethren and children than by strangers
OF another family?
When Jefferson became President
in 1901, the American republic OF the
United States extended westward to
the Mississippi river. Spain was in
control of Louisiana, and had vir-
tually closed the port OF New Orleans
to the United States. France was
about to purchase the tract from
Spain and had she been able to con-
summate the trade would have doubt.
less been a great impeachment to the
development of the young republic
Just pluming for flight. 1t was a crit
l;al time for the few and weak States
OF the Union; but vigorous and deter.
mined brains were in control. France
was at war with England, and this
fact materially aided in the battle of
diplomacy. James Monroe was sent
to purchase the island of Orleans,
but exceeded his instructions, under
the inspiration which afterwards in.
corporated the Monroe doctrine and he
bought the whole of Louisiana, which
then embraced tract of territory ex-
tending to the Pacific ocean, paying
for the concession $l5OOO,OOO. JEFF
ferson agreed to the transaction, for
reasons that ever have been cherished
by our nation as people. Along with
the slogan "America for Americans"
was outlined a policy in just as ex-
pressive and stately English, caution
to "Avoid all entangling alliances
with foreign powers" The two clauses
were parts OF q symetrical whole, mu-
tually dependent upon each other, and
were virtually a declaration of inten-
ton on part of the nation to attend
strictly to its own affairs and to insist
upon her neighbors doing the same.
Jefferson's expansion policy extend.
ed no farther than domain immediate.
ly adjacent to the new States and e.
sential for their preservation. devel.
opement and permanency. The form
OF expression in both clauses, the one
by indirection and the other very con-
cisely, impresses the idea that expan-
sion beyond the bounds established by
nature as the legitimate possession of
thrifty nation, was never contem.
plated much less the establish ment of
dependent colonies on the other side
OF the continent and maintaining a
large army to support them.
1t is impossible, by any stretch Of
meaning that can be attached to Lam
guage, to make the acts or expressions
OF Jefferson or Monroe excuse or pal
late the piratical acts of the present
administration.