The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-29

and well founded expectation that the
acquired soil would be occupied by
population OF our own, or at least homo
geneous with our own, and that it would
in course of time be formed into regu-
lar states of this Union under our con-
Stitution. 1t was therefore not mere ex-
panSion of our territorial domain to be
perpetually ruled by our arbitrary will
in the course of time practical extension
of our constitutional system in entire
accord with the fundamental principles
of our democracy.
1.-THE only apparent exception to this
rule was the annexation of Alaska-but
that, too, only apparent, not real; for
Alaska may be inhabited by a popula-
ton OF our own; and when the develop
ment of that territory has sufficiently
progressed and its population becomes
numerous enough, it's claim to full con-
stitutional statehood will, no doubt. be
readily recognized.
Some Imperialists pretend that the
purchase of Louisiana by Jefferson and
the legislation connected with it furnish
of Mr.. McKinley's policy with regard to
Porto Rico and the Philippines. This I
emphatically deny. Whatever that tenn
porary legislation may have been, is
there anybody brazen enough to assert
and this is the essential, the true point
-tnar IL was the spirit and intent of
Jefferson'S act and of the legislation re-
ferring to it, to hold the acquired terri
outside of our constitutional system
subject to arbitrary rule by the presi-
dent or congress?
Does anybody dare to deny that it
was the understood intent and expecta-
ton that the territory of Louisiana
would be filled by people substantially
our own who would form out Of it
american states clothed with the full
measure of constitutional rights? Who
ever denies this or equivocates about it
only seeks to falsify history, to Islander
Ihomas Jefferson, and to deceive the
American people
Nay, so little did the American peo-
pie, until recently, mean to expand our
territory without purposing correspond
lngly to extend our constitutional sys-
tenn that, when San Domingo was Of
Tered to us, the offer was rejected by an
overwhelming public opinion, mainly be-
cause it was believed that that tropical
country and its present and prospective
inhabitants were not fit to come under
our constitution, while they could not
De permanently governed outside of it.
Expansion, then, in the historical
and truly American sense, means the ex-
tension OF our constitutional system to-
gether with the extension of our terri
torial area In this sense we are all ex-
pansiOnists, provided the expansion be
honorably effected And if in the course
OF events our northern neighbors, a peo-
pie ike our own and practiced in self
government, should express a wish to
Join this union-a contamination which
our present policy of imperialistic ad-
venture is apt rather to put off than to
bring on-we all would welcome them
with heart and hand.
But when we annex to this republic
Foreign territory, especially territory in
the tropics which, owing to climatic
conditions, can never be settled by our
own or homogeneous people, with the in
tent and expectation that such territory
shall never come into our constitutional
system, but shall as to the civil, politi-
cal and economic status permanently
depend upon the will of our central gov
eminent in which they are to have no
determining share, those countries thus
being vassal provinces, and their people
subject populations, that is not mere ex-
pansion, in the historic American sense
but that is Imperialism And when such
countries are annexed and such popula-
tions are subjected by force of arnis-by
what President Mckinley has very
properly called criminal aggression