The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-10
BOURNE ON EXPANSION.
ALASKA, WEST INDIES, HAWAII
 AND THE PHILIPPINES.
Concluding Lecture of Series i'm Con- nection With University Extension

Concluding Lecture or Series in Con-
 neot,on with University Extension
 Center.
 There are two principles which regu-
 late human action and underly--or
 should underly-all kinds of govern
 ment There is the retrospective or
 wisdom of the past, and the prospective
 or provision for the future. In the na-
 ture of things the latter relies a great deal on the former. In fact, as the past
 affects the present, so does the present affect the future. The good of the past, instiled and broadened to the fneeds of the present, becomes broader and better adapted for use in the future As in philosophy, so in government. The law of right and wrong may not change, but the essential human laws defining right and wrong change as fashions do. In the principles of government we be- lieve as our grandfathers did, but the external usages are different. Time was when the Monroe doctrine was as sacred to the American citizen as his Bible and as irrevocable as jthe laws of the Medes and Persians. To-day that doctrine is practically obsolete. As a child grows beyond leading strings so does a people outgrow> any form of restrictive govern ment.
 For several weeks Professor E. G. Bourne has been enlightening the mem- bers of the University Extension center on "The Expansion of the United States
 -17S2-1S99.' Beginning with the thir- teen original states he has in four lec- lures traced the expansion of the repub- lie until at the present day the United States number forty-five, besides six territories. These lectures were, of course, retrospective Just how many new states or territories may soon be added to the Union Is political prob- lem of the near future.
 Last evening in College street hall Professor Bourne essayed the larger task of prospective expansion. Dealing with the causes which led to the pur- chase and annexation of Alaska, the lecturer stated that in 1923 attention in Washington was called to the extension of Russian territory in America Rus sia intended, so alarmists said to ex- tend her coast line down the Pacific and probably take possession of California. JOHI NkulJCy AudluS plOlSolCu oliOiSiJ against this Russian aggression. And by and by the question of acquiring this territory was developed. There is no record of how the proposition start ed, though it is conceded to MT. Seward | The result of negotiations was that Alaska was purchased from Russia for $7,2O0,OO on March 29, 1S67 and the trea- ty was ratified April g. While MT. Sew ard was in New Haven Professor Brew CT and he had some conversation on the | acquisition of Alaska The professor | thought the purchase desirable for three reasons: First, to get control of the fisheries of the northern Pacific; second, that Alaska would make an excellent ice-house for California Gin these early days ice was selling at fifty cents a pound in California;, and, third, when the west got as thickly populated as the east people would want a nice, cool place to go in summer.
 As to our management of Alaska, the lecturer declared that it had been al- most a national scandal. After detail- ing some of the more glaring points of maladministration he said such things cast doubt on our government being able to manage extended colonial terri tory.
 Turning to the West Indies, the pro- lessor first attacked the expense prob lem If we are to establish an effective administration after the European plan it will be much more expensive than the people of America would care for. The governor of Alaska gets $3,000 year, it is proposed to give the governor of Puerto Rico sS,OOO, while the governor of Jamaica gets $3O,0O0.
 From the days of Jefferson till 1898 Americans looked upon Cuba as an in heritance we were to acquire when the proper time came. Because we would not permit Spain to dispose of Cuba to France or any other country, that coun- try retained possession of the island. Whether we acted for the best in 1898 there is grave reason to doubt, as now 1t would seem as if we had tied our selves by our promises of that year. It will be impossible to tell accurately till the correspondence between Spain and the United States comes to light. Peo- pie believe that the annexation of Cuba must come ultimately through either peace or war Our organization of the government of Puerto Rico will determine in no