The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-03-08
Hnnerica's Expansion.

Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
w .THEN the Declaration OF In
\N/ dependence was signed this
v vast country of ours was
bounded on the West by
the Alleghenies, and would have re-
NAMED so had the wishes of those op-
posed to expansion been needed. 1t is
true that the United States has never
acquired new territory without great
deal of opposition from some Of her
people.
In 1887, through President Jefferson,
the vast region between the Mississippi
River and the Rockies, extending from
Texas to the southern boundary of
British Columbia, was purchased from
France. This added over 100000 square
miles to our territory. Out of this have
been formed Louisiana, Arkansas, In
dian Territory, Oklahoma, Missouri,
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming,
Montana, North and South Dakota
and part of the state of Minnesota.
The Constitution gave no express
power to the president to add new ter
ritory, and great many persons con-
demned the purchase. What great
possession this would have been to
France, or to any other European
power, and without which our greatness
today would seem small.
During Monroe's administration, in
1919, Andrew Jackson invaded Florida
and took possession. This was caused
BY the Seminole Indians invading the
frontier of Georgia. This excited such
hot debate in Congress that the mat
ter was finally adjusted by the United
States paying Spain, who at that time
owned Florida, five million dollars.
In 1916, through agreement with
Great Britain, the United States gained
title to land now comprising the states
of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
a part of Montana and Wyoming,
and thus added more area tC this vast
domain. After our war with Mexico,
in 1848, territory equal in area to Ger
many, France and Spain was acquired,
and.through conquest. This caused a
great deal of opposition among some
who thought the trouble could have
been settled in other ways.
Again, in the year 1867, the vast
of 1o 1o hoc FRI
Russia for seven million dollars, and
again we find the same opposition to
expansion by people who could not see
how we would be benefited by such
purchase. 1t is needless to say that ouI
government today would not sell
Alaska for any sum. Should the
United States expand and keep all the
possessions? And does the labor and
cost of keeping them hurt her people
Or does it give her a prestige
among the nations of the world?
On account of the treatment of tht
Spanish towards her subjects in Cuba
more especially on account of the dis
truction of the Maine, which will
always remain a mystery-the govern
ment declared war with Spain, ant
overthrow the Spanish rule on thos'
Islands. At the close of this war tn
United States had possession of tn
Philippines and Cuba. But, again, tn
opposition to expansion, and the grea
cry of Imperialism, was raised.
Many people believe that if tn
United States had foreign possessions
it would weaken her power, and in tim
be the cause of her downfall Thes
people forget that today the two great
est and progressive nations on eartl
England and Germany, owe their great
ness, in a great degree, to their foreig
possessions; and Emperor William
reason for the large navy which he
now building, is for the express purpos
of creating Greater Germany, and
help him in founding colonies. Eng
lands greatness, both as q nation an
as world power, is due to her vast po
sessions, and surely no one willsay the
these possessions will be the cause {
her downfall
A Canadian manufacturer, of MOI
treal, In speaking Of the markets