The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-02-01
THE HISTORY OF EXPANSION.

THE HISTORY OF EXPANSION.
For all those who object to, and find
unusual circumstances in the present
expansive policy of the United States,
we subjoin few facts in history which
will go to prove that the same ground
has been gone over time and time again.
That the policy of our forefathers was
one of Territorial expansion; that, with
but one exception among the nations
OF the world, our original thirteen States
have annexed more territory unto them
selves than any other nation, are facts.
The man who wrote the sentence now
so much quoted, Governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned'' was himself the arch expan-
sionist of his time. Thomas Jefferson,
the statesman and scholar, was perfect
IL willing TO acquire territory by con-
quest or purchase and trust to the
strong arm to govern the inhabitants
thereof, with or without their consent.
From the day of the landing of the col
onists at Plymouth and jamestown,
territorial acquisition commenced, and
with musket in hand they conquered
hill and valley without scruple, asking
no ones consent where their power was
sufficient to hold From that day to
this there has been a steady advance in
the extension of the boundaries OF the
Great Republic, and there is not the
least probability that expansion will
end in our day.
Here are the chronological steps in
our march OF expansion. From mere
fringe of population along the Atlantic
coast, the American colonists conquered
the Indian and the wilderness to the
Appalachian mountains which consti
tuted the western boundary of the
thirteen United States in I776. The
next ten years saw the Mississippi river
the boundary on that side of the ex-
tended States; brought about by taking
advantages of the weakness OF Spain
and loud talk of war against France.
Fifteen million dollars and threats of
war induced France to make the Louis
ana cession in 1903, by which the terri
tory OF the United States was more
than doubled, and Thomas Jefferson
manipulated the deal.
In 1919 when the Spanish ceded Flor
ida, parts OF Alabama and Mississippi
the consent OF the inhabitants of this
region to be governed was never
thought of being asked.
In 1915 the revolving Texans were
taken into the fold, against the wishes
OF Mexico, who held rightful sovereign
ty over Them
By waging an unjust war against de-
waste region now divided into California,
Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New
Mexico and Wyoming this country
was inhabited, their consent to be gov
erned was not asked.
Mr.. Gadsden expanded us again by
his purchase in 1853.
We expanded so in 1867 with the pur-
chase OF Alaska that we bursted our
belt and have since ruled colony.
And here of late the naughty trick
has been done again and we have scoop
cd in Porto Rico and the Philippines.
and the DIRECTORS have arisen with the
same old arguments raised on each and
every occasion that we have expanded:
that the territory was too remote and
too unhealthy, the inhabitants half or
wholly savage and altogether undesir-
able; and great deal of other such
stuff that was asserted and reiterated
at every stage in our history-it is the
same old talk OF the anti-expansionist
of to-day.
Have we ever expanded except for
the general good of all concerned? VIII
the Filipino be wronged If we give him
justice for the first time in his exist
ence; give him free schools, tax him
less, show him way to thrive, enhance
the value OF his property, and extend
him charity to cover the want bred of
his thriftlessness? Nobody doubts that
ali these things will be done, yet ac-
cording to the anti-expansionists we are
perpetrating an outrage. The ethical
standard of these gentlemen is too finely
drawn for practical use. History will
continue to repeat itself and in our sue
cessiye struggles for national dom
nation victory viii be for the per-
manent good of ourselves and OF those
We annex and protect.