The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-10-06
THE ACQUISITION OF LOUISIANA.
NOT SIMILAR TO THE PHILIP
PINES
SO Contends a New England Editor
in Reply to Theodore Roosevelt's
Letter of Acceptance

zine, has reviewed critically Mr.. Roosevelts
letter of acceptance, with its appeals TO cur
history in support of the Administrations at
titude in the present expansion issue, and
that his ''exact parallels" are not
parallels at all. Following are extracts from
Mr.. Mead's criticisms
'Mr Roosevelt's letter of acceptance is
mainly devoted to the discussion of imperial
ism. 'He presents here, says one of his lead
ing supporters, 'an argument based upon the
history of the former expansions of the coun-
try, which, although not absolutely novel. has
not been elaborated before with so much force
aud cleverness. His own extensive studies
in American history make him at home here.
Ii Mr.. Roosevelt is at home in American his
tory, and, especially, in the history of the
Louisiana purchase, which is the chapter of
history which he chiefly discusses, he has con
cealed the fact in his letter with cleverness
which is certainly conspicuous. A historical
scholar Mr.. Roosevelt is; and if were sure
that readers would turn 10 his own chapter
upon The purchase of Louisiana, in his work
upon 1.-The Winning of the West, where he
has treated the subject as historian. instead
of as IA reckless partisan, | would gladly stop
here for | should prefer TO let him refute him
self There is no better account of the Louis
lana purchase and the events following it than
that there given by Mr.. Roosevelt, save only
the account of Henry Adams in his great his
tory of Jelferson's Administration; and the
account makes shipwrcck of the impression
given iii his letter OF acceptance.
"The parallel between our relation TO Lou
isiana and our relation to the Philippines fails
at every point of controversy, or of significance.
A condition of the cession of Louisiana was
the distinct provision that the inhabitants
shall be Incorporated in the Union of the
United States, and in due course admitted to
Statehood. A regular territorial government,
with an elected Legislature and a delegate to
Congress, was given the portion Of Louisiana
which contained almost the entire French and
Spanish population of the territory, March 2,
1906, less than fifteen months after we took
possession, with clear understanding that
Statehood was to follow in few years, as it
did. There was no such degree of disaiiection
of the people to the change us Mr.. Roosevelt
intimates. There was no danger at any time
of insurrectioa against the United States Gov
ernment, springing from such disatfeciion,
and no hasty sending of troops TO Louisiana
'for exactly the same reasons that President
Mckinley has sent troops TO the Philippines
nothing whatever that can truthfully be so
described. The Spanish Minister at Washing
ton, four months after the purchase, protested
against it, declaring that we had bought stolen
Soous, 'hu 'ni' SPAN wac '''o S",'"'
ana MS protests were 50 ehereeuc 'h',. "ene
son sent strong DoGy OF troops 10 Natene|.
'Ihe Government OF SPAN, ne wree, mas
protested against the right of France to trans
fer, and it is possible she may refuse posses
sion, and that may bring on acts of force
Some of the militia thus assembled, together
with volunteer company of horse, accom-
panied Wilkinson and Claiborne to New Or
leans, as an escort, to take possession; but
this was with no thought oil q popular lhsnr-
rection. Jefferson sent his troops to Lousl-
ana, not to subject the people OF the territory;
but to meet the threats OF the Government OF
SPAN.
AS soon as ihe present revolt III tHe
Phliipples IS put down, says Mr.. hooseVeii,
1t Will undoubtedly be possiDie 70 give 'he
islands larger measure oil seit-goVefnmeht
than jefferson originally gave LOUISIANA.
~ pna,,a, S;n,,,
ny orlgi,lay ,,t MI noooete ~ S To,,;s;an9
ine pi3t apd;n,aIn nagJ;na tbe orssan;zat;nn of n
nammfar tor.;, ,Ir;aI p noSernmonf. ba saws no,b.
sor,han so,o nr ,,ro,,;So avd ;s 81;
ins y; ''iS j' up " poraIIol "hor, ,Ia
ien' III uia"ns nls 80. IL,
great pieuse anu u,',lii''e 81
tioh' IN lhe l!ght on willcn every Eau? auu
provisioil;alI a ACT IN LOUISIANA %.'S 70 De me
preteu' ing tiiiIu "aiio'. III .ns ~ o
cessi9" pIotiueu tna' n,, 'ie nc :a",.J 80
CeueI .erili.ory Su'i.l pe ineo I:,.aJ
.ne oniol Vi .ng on,.eu "a ,, 49, r;o;
''S soor 40 PTseioi PT So.'a.;..;5,; r. ~,
pies oi tiie Teuerai r. Oons'itu'ion, ~ 'ne
Joymeht oi an the lusa1'tses ~ ''',. Nc
OF cit'zens OF the oniteu n'ites. Does M,
hooseSeit rhI an eAaG' Paraiiei d, ~ .n;s ~
the treaty 9l IariS, py mnlen G tue h''ip pi''"eS
were Geueu 10 @ 1he c olil.eu o'a.es ac ;,,, :;
.;a;n.,. g., Eraroa 20 ,ho TTn;ted states
l1ouis''i'itl iicni ~" =. -, tonJor
was va. tne oIea'o :an1 fse,,. H. e,as h., ,ba
Ies may pe Juuseu hI Ianto5 @ -, 10 .,o,,,,
daea 'n e. Snan;sbi ifaur uears The news
ys, y ",'e. " - - Lad Laan mol
oand ~ .a1 a. Nv 0yIoons With General re;o;c;ng
ooneu ~ ~ th 80, ".,n g. ,,'ore Eronch
~ was natuia'' ~ ine eisy a;t;aa.,s
,han opa'iish' pue 'iie III s'4
hasteheu 10 assure l4ause't ,ha' .ney nav no
cause OF complaint against the 1panish uos,
eminent DOM opahisii anu rrench @ou'9
doupt,ess' ior .he most part, nave pIe'erteu
frenen sovereignty 70 hmerlcani pds L., res,s,
lance 10 ine transfer vi tne pIori''ce was
none, ig anu mere was 'aIse a, Inna Univ
Inc frehcnuieh diu NOT ioVe u.s. Thy
shouia theyi lney "ere siiene si, enosn WI ,d
their nag went down ana ours went up, anu
we 10 hot .nihk the "orse oi tneni III IL nat
=, Iees.I ...:..:S..a. a. 800
menace 10 ,helr pollicai asPiin.,Gns' has .he,e
was no parallel Whatever 10 Lhe ieeil1s w. ~nirn
drove the people Oh Lnzon 70 war our amo
oommls:,ohers' seii' .g o,..,'iNe '"p pua,;Jent
as unsni.'pie anu o'TnSi Tns - AZ hoan ;n,aIi;'
ochurhnau anu ouus tI isla MY NJ pen.naol,'s
gent anu courteous. ne j ni' isoo,o ,o n,,,
paraiiei iaiis agaih-'gu M ioI on1e :" oui
credit. oehnrman anu d lait nave pe1u NJ. Hoou
men on Daa business; olal5ofne J h anu WILL Whnt
son were Iiu men 9I go9%u ous,ieas. 10,
trouble mere was ~ H. Eem t oIie,"S hed aarg
rom pau pona, Da. ,,'i~;.n ~ H. A,nor'
was the arrogance anu Vs'galrity Vi iiie nle ;ia
lcan, contrasting SO ruuely WIN Tue cNiiit
and refinement OF LauseaI, ,hat eNaspera'eo
the better people OF new orleans
As matter OF iact, Loulslana was auiilllsu IIai
TO Stalehood De.oIe ei,aer anui'a','t una "a Inns
anu 'wo otne. s ",.s;'a p,raasa
were conslilulea iloni 'Ty W:A:a r. ~ ,t III
Mhile Micn,gan anu Mihconsin' ~ o. ne e. oiu
Northwest lerri'oiy' sun "a''eu iol o.aee