The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-04-26
TWO KINDS OF EXPANSION.

TWO KINDS OF EXPANSION.
Admitting for the sake Of argument
that the Mckinley plan Of expansion is
good thing, it will be instructive to
compare what the republican president
has done with what was accomplished
by democratic executives.
Facts concerning The history of terri.
torial growth arc found in little book
just published in Boston under the title
Of "Territoral Aggrandisement of the
United Stales.'' This work is simply
historical and entirely nonpartasian.
Following are same of the interesting
statistics to be found in this been:
"Louisiana purchase in ls03-By jet.
1. rson-Area sG4 1881 acres. Population
at date of acquisition $4,000. Popula-
ton in 1890, IL 100000, inhabiting the
states of Arkansas, Iowa. Missouri, Ne
braska, North and South ,Dakotas,
nearly the whole Of Louisiana, the
whole of Indian Territory, and the
greater part Of Kansas, Minnesota, Mon
tana and Wyoming and parts of Colo
RADIO and Oklahoma.
ssFlorida purchase in lSl9-Area 3d.
2S6 acres. Population at date of pur-
chase 1000; population in 1890, 100000,
including Florida, and small parts Of
Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
sTexas annexation in 1S45-Area 375,-
2s9 acres. Population at date of acqui-
si,ion 100000; population in 1890, q
100000, including Texas, and small
parts of Colorado, New Mexico. Kansas
and Oklahoma.
"Mexican cessions in 1876 and 1855
Area, 59l, ,3l3. Population at date Of
acquisition, $4,000; population in 1890.
| 600, 900. including Arizona, California,
Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado
and New Mexico and small part Of
Wyoming
All of these acquisitions were secured
by democratic presidents, Jefferson,
Monroe, Polk and Pierce. Commenting
on this sort of expansion, the Pittsburg
Post says:
sThey comprise an area of 1880, ,752
acres, as against S27 ,s44 acres, which
constituted the area Of the Union when
the constitttiar vas fosp Sd
q Population Of 81 600 at the time Of
1 their acquisition. They have now !
population Of not less than 10000, 900,
occupying TWENTY states and territories
Of the American Union. They are self.
governing states constituting the back.
bone of the republic, with anintelligent
patriotic and progressive population.
They have become the granary Of the
world and supply large proportion Of
of the worlds yield Of gold, silver cop
per and other metals. No imperialism
or colonialism among any of them
They were acquired with the intent they
should become states, and free and
equal states they are. They have
aided vastly to the natural wealth and
power. This was democratic expaI
SON."
Now, what has Mckinley done? BY
the acquisition of Hawaii, Porto Rice
and the Philippines, he has acquired 8
total area Of 124, ,75S acres and popula
ton Of 7,s64,7OS of every complexion
known to sunshine, save the pure, un
adulterated Caucasian; they are black
brown and copper colored, and the Nc
Kinley administration is now loudly
proclaiming they are incapable of self
government, or fitted to enjoy the
rights..and privileges Of American citi.
zens, or the benefits and guarantees O
constitutional government
Is it nece ssaIy TO argue on the merits
of the two kinds of expansion? AS
suredly not. The facts are more elo
quent than Words Chicago Democrat