The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-20
TERRITORIAL
GROWTH
OF THE u. S.

Before the Providence Franklin society
last night L. II. Meader. principal OF the
Lexington avenue grammar school and
president of the society. gave an inter-
esting talk on the territorial growth
OF the United States. He was listened
60 with a great deal Of interest by the
audience, which included both young and
old folk OF both sexes. Among them
were a number who made their first visit
20 the curio-h hlled rooms
a The report of the last meeting was read
by the secretary and approved and then
President Meader announced that Edwin
Stanley Thompson would speak Dec. goth
on Through Italy with a Camera"
Mr.. Meader then spoke on Our Terri
torial Growth lie started in by saying
that ths territorial growth OF the United
States surpassed anything that was in
the Arabian Nights" In 1900 one could
have touched at almost any settlement
here with a sailing vessel In the early
grants the English kings gave Connec-
ticut the eafeiiHas and several other
states the land from sea TO sea. II this
intent OF the king was carried out we
should have had this whole country at
once instead Of getting II by the long
series OF steps which resulted.
10 He pictured the settlements by the
French. Spanish and told OF the gradual
acquisition OF these lands up TO the revo-
luton and In l742 he said that the king
Of England, because Of his lack Of knowl-
edge OF geography. was content to have
she western boundary start at the Lake
of the Woods on the Canadian border
This lost him the greater part OF the pres
ent United States.
SORRY FOR TEXAS EPISODE.
With large map he pointed out the
early divisions showing graphically just
how the land was held. Particularly in
teresting was the story OF the Spanish
and French holdings In Louisiana and the
south and southwest. The acquisition of
Louisiana was due to Frances fear that
mgland would take IL. Neither France or
Spain would define a boundary until forced
10. but he said that II Napoleon had been
able to retain IL the boundary on the
south would have been the Rio Grande
Just where we made it finally by rather
questionable means.
One particularly interesting thing. he
said. was the smallness Of the gulf coast
allowed I'm considering the great sweep
of land inland.
There Is ono thing about our history
that always feel sorry for. and that is
the way we toOk i eNaS from tnat weak
power Mexico. which was not able 10
hold II. II was no worse than it would
have been II England had stepped I'm dur
ing the civil war and said that as We
rould not care for the cotton states she
would take them.
THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION.
by doing that wrong. however. we did
great deal Of good. and | believe the
securing OF Texas prevented Great
Britain securing the right of way 10 the
Pacific. The hand OF Providence uiu
seem 10 be manifested there"
He touched upon the acquisition Of
Alaska and incidentally referred TO ,he
rervice which tn Russian neet is said TO
have done Il have no knowledge Of such
service.
The Philippine situation was pictured
md he said the hand Of Providence seemed
TO be manifested there. for that trJISt 's
upon They arc our wards I'm a
d, sense and we must c~sc for them until
they can do for themselves. | do not
pgree with the congressman who said We
might not have been saddled with the
expense OF the islands and lost all the
brave soldier boys who gave their lives
there II the congress had thought 10 tell
Dewey TO destroy the Spanish fleet and
A.. go back 10 Hong Kong"
He said that II was getting TO be true
that the sun never set upon American
b territory az we'll as was true OF England
A vote Of thanks was extended 10 Mr.
deader for his excellent address