The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-18


men have said and have done
we would then know the mos
valuable and most instructive
IA part of American history. Inc
man or men who made the Lou
isiana treaty and the statesmen
who were behind that prodigious acqui-
stion. are in the first group OF the
-bcncfactors of their country
The most significant act or utteranco
by Washington along the line of this
large subject is found in the farewell
address, that greatest ol all state pa
pers, unless we except the COnstitu-
.tion itself. This lofty patriot declares:
zone of the cxpedients which the par
tisans of faction employ towards
strengthening their influence by local
determinations, is to misrepresent the
opinions and views of rival districts.
The people at large cannot be too much
on their guard agains, the jealousies
which grow out of these misrepresenta-
tiunS. They tend 10 render alien TO
each other those Who ought to be tied
together by rlatcrnal affection. The
people of the western country have
lately had a useful lesson ON this sub
iect. They have seen in the negotia-
ton by the executive, and in the unani-
lnous ratification of the treaty with
Spain by the senate, and in the un-
usual satisfaction at that event in all
parts OF the country, decisive proof
how unfoUndcd have been the suspi-
cions instillcd in them of policy in
the Atlantic states, and in the different
departments OF the general govern
ment hostile TO their interests in re-
lation to the Mississippi"
In theso parting words the first presi-
dent refers 10 the San Lorenzo or
Pinckncy treaty of 11a5. Although is
sued from Philadelphia. like all of
Washington official papers, it is dated
from the United States" TO show the
uachangins nationalism of the man.
The statesman that the Father of his
Country most leaned upon and most
loved and who was placed nearest to
himself in way and in peace, was Alex
ander Hamilton. On page 5l4 of Ham
ilton'S Works. Volume 4, issued by the
Putnams, we find these pertinent OBJ
scrNationS "Who can say how far
British colonization may spread south
ward and down the west side of the
mississippi northward and westward
into tho vast interior regions towards
the Pacific ocean? Can we view it as Il
matter of indifference, that this new
world eventually is laid open to our
enterprise, to AIN enterprise seconded
by immense advantage already mem
toned, of Il more improved state of in
dustly? Can we be insensible that
the precedent furnishes us with Il CO.
gent and persuasive argument to bring
Spain to 81 similar arrangement? And
can we be blind to the great interest
we have in obtaining free communi
cation with all the territories that en-
viron our country, from the St. Mary's
to the ST. CroiN?''
On Jan. &c. 1899. Hamilton writes a
letter from New York to Harrison Gray
Otis, in which these remarkable
thoughts occur: "As it is every mo-
mcnt possible that iii" project of talk
ing possession of the FlOridaS and
Louisiana long since attributed to
France, may be attempted to be put
in execution, il is very important that
the executive should be clothed with
power to meet and defeat so dangerous
an enterprise. Indeed, IL it is the pol
icy Of France 10 leave us in IL state of
Sclni-hostility. It's preferable to termi-
nate ii, and by taking possession of
those countries for ourselves. to obvi-
ate the mischief OF theig falling into
the hands o. m active foreign power.
and at the same time to secure to the
United States the advantage of keep
ing the key Of the western country. I
have been long in the habit of Consid-
ering the acquisition of those countries
al essential To the pcrmantncy of the
Onion, which | consider as very impor-