The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-26
MORE EXPANSION.

A Washington dispatch states that the
treaty ceding the Danish West India
islands to the United States was signed by
Secretary Hay and the Danish minister on
Friday. and now only awaits the approval
Of the Senate and the Danish Rigsdag.
There be reasonable doubt that 1T
Will be approved by both bodies, and that
the House will make an appropriation for /
the purchase money, which is understood to /
De about $5OOO,O0O The circumstances are
such that there is no room for factious OPP
position to the transaction, and failure to
approve the treaty might lead to embar
RAISING results. Briefly the situation is that |
Denmark is determined to get rid of the |
islands. and if the United States does not |
take them Germany would doubtless gladly |
do So This would not be agreeable to the !
United States, but the latter could not af- |
ford to assume the position of refusing to /
take over the islands itself or permit any |
European power to do so. and as we have |
been given the first chance to acquire the /
islands it seems plainly the part Of wis
dom TO do so. When the isthmian canal is |
completed the islands will have great stra-
tegic value. and they ought to become val |
liable in a commercial way. A treaty for
their acquisition signed in 1867, during
Andrew Johnson's administration, but ii
was never acted on by the Senate. Presi-
dent Johnson had broad views on the sub
ject. but the Senate at that time was not
disposed to harmonic with him on any
question. In his annual messages of 1867
and 1868 he gave strong reasons why the
treaty of cession should be ratified. but
they did not prevail. His reasons were of
the same general character as those which
caused General Grant, when President, to
favor acquisition of the Island of San
Domingo, a treaty for the annexation of
which was concluded in 1869 but rejected by
the Senate. No President has ever stated
the West Indian question more clearly than
Andrew Johnson did in the two messages
referred TO. He said:
Comprehensive national policy would seem
10 sanction the acquisition and incorpora-
ton into our Federal Union of the several
adjacent insular communities as speedily
as II can be done peacefully, lawfully and
without any violation of national justice,
faith or honor. Foreign possession con-
troll Of these communities has hitherto him
dered the growth and impaired the influ-
ence of the United States. Chronic revoiu-
ton and anarchy there would be equally
injurious. Each one of them, when firmly
established an independent republic, or
when incorporated into the United States,
would be new source of strength and
power. L agree with our early
statesmen that the West Indies naturally
Sravitate to, and may be expected ulti-
mately to be absorbed by the continental
states, including own. L agree with
them also that it is wise to leave the ques-
"A n of
natural political gravitation. The Islands
of st. Thomas and st. John seemed to offer
us advantages Immediately desira ble while
their acquisition could be secured in kar-
mony with the principles TO which L have
alluded.
But these views, and other arguments to
the same effect, had no weight with the
Senate. The war with Spain gave us Porto
Rico and increased the probability that
others of the West India islands will event
ually gravitate to the United States The
| acquisition of the Danish islands seems to
be in the line of manifest destiny as we'll
as almost necessary under the circum-
stances. The Washington dispatch an
nouncing the conclusion of the treaty says.
THE initial efforts to secure them were
begun by the United States during Presi-
dent Grants administration" That is
mistake. The unsuccessful negotiation
above referred to was conducted under
| Johnson's administration and was not re-
newed until within a few years past. The
negotiation during President Grants term
related to the acquisition of San Domingo,
concerning which he said. in a special mes
| sage to Congress. in 1870: 1T is a measure
| of national protection; it is asserting our
| just claim to a controlling influence over
| the great commercial traffic soon to flow
/ from east to west by way of the Isthmus
of Darien; il is to build up our merchant
marine; il is to furnish markets for the
| products of our farms, shops and factories.
/ The doctrine promulgated by President
| Monroe has been adhered to by all political
! parties. and l now deem 1t proper to assert
the equally important principle that here
! after no territory this continent shall be
regarded subject to transfer to Euro
pean power" In communicating to the
| San DOMINICAN Congress the rejection of the
annexation treaty by the United States Sen
ate. the President Of San Domingo said:
THE measure will, nevertheless succeed
! in the end, for it is a necessity in the
progress of humanity, whose unseen agent
I is Providence ITSELF The acquisition of
the Danish West Indies. made almost COM
course Of events, seems to confirm this
view.