The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-01
Expansion History.

may be we'll at this time to refreshen
the memory upon the history OF our
country in this particlar. The fol
lowing is taken from the speech OF
Congressman H. R. Gibson, OF Ten
nessee, recently in the House, and
in the Sioux Falls Argus
sIn 1853, France owned twenty
twenty-fifths of North America, Spain
owned four twenty-fifths, and Eng
land owned one twenty-fifth. The
area of original thirteen colonies
was 35S. 900 square miles, less than
the area of Texas, on it's annexation.
Since that time there have been ten
different expansions, which have in
creased the area OF the United States
from 35S, 900 to 3,7S9.900 square
miles, and with the exception OF the
first expansion, every step OF prog
ress has been opposed by the non
progressive elements, who predicted
disasters which never ca me. and fore
told evils which now read like jokes
n ere is the list of our expansions:
1. The acquisition from France
in 1863 of the vast territory west OF
the Allegheny mountains, and east
of the Mississippi, Tennessee, Ken
tucky, West Virginia, Ohio. Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and
the western part OF Pennsylvania.
The leader OF this exp ansion move
ment was George Washington.
2. The acquisition OF Oregon,
through the discovery by Capt.
Gray, in 1892, the title to which was
quieted by our treaty with Spain in
1919. By this expansion, we added
900, 900 square miles to our ter
ritorv.
3. The Louisiana purchase in
1903 by which we secured of France
for $15, 900, 900 vast tract of land
out of which have been made the
states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Minnesota, North Da-
kota. South Dakota, Montana,
Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Color
ado, the territory of Oklahoma and
the Indian Territory. This acquisi
tion comprised $4,000 square
miles, and was the work OF Thomas
Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration
of Indepe ndence, and who founded
the Democratic party. This expan
sion was bitterly opposed by thu
aunties of that time, who declared it
meant 1.-THE subversion of our union
4. In 1910 we acquired Florida
by treaty with Spain. This treat,
was ratified in 1921. We paid $6,
500, 900 for the 10000 square miles
of territory, and the aunties said il
meant ruin; but it didn't.
S. In 1S45 we acquired Texas by
treaty with the Republic OF Texas
and as the result OF conquest. Thi
| added 377,O 900 square miles to on
expanding domain. Daniel Webste
| and Henry Clay opposed this expan
| sion but events ha We proved tha
they were wrong, and that the ex
pans sionists OF / S45 were right.
G. In lS4S, California with 523
600 square miles of fabulous riches
came as the result OF conquest an
! purchase. This acquisition cos
thousands of lives, hundreds OF mil
lions OF money, spent in war, an
| SIS, 100000 as a cash payment.
Z. BY the "Gadsen purchase
1853 we added part OF Arizona, wit
46, 900 miles OF sagebrush, for whic
we paid $40, 100000. This was dor
under Democratic administration
and was for the purpose of roundin
out our southwestern boundary. i
this case we paid dehrly for on
whistle, but public man who woul
today advocate the surrender ofor
| foot OF this sterile land. would be i
ANONYMOUSLY and quickly retired I
private life.
8. In 1867 we bought Alaska
Russia for $1,000, 900. This Wa
called Stewards Folly The terr