The Washington herald., 1910-12-04
By CHARLOTTE NJ. cONGER.


the United States and will the Stars and
Stripes eventually have dominion over
all OF the country from our present
southern boundary to the Isthmus Of
Panama?" is a question that Americans
have been asking themselves and each
other for more than a century. The in
crease OF slavery, the establishment Of
new slave holding States, the prime rea-
sons that Influenced the filibusterers Of
the early and middle part of the last
century, no longer exist.
Slavery belongs to the past. It was
destroyed by the army OF progress That
that army was composed OF men from
the northern part of the United States
and that the fighting took place on this
soil is interesting. but incidental only.
Slavery had fallen into disrepute gener-
atoms before our civil war; the cause
was ripe for the final blow. We struck
il. Let ours be the glory, though If we
had not played the role OF fate II would
stiH have been played, for the time
had come for its destruction. If the
Knights of the Golden Circle and the
members of the Order OF the Lone Star
had been successful in acquiring Mexico
and establishing, as they had hoped.
slave empire there, it would have been
only temporary. The doom of slavery
had been pronounced and the dOomsmen
would have followed it 10 the end of the
earth
Although the desire to establish a slave
empire no longer exists there are many
loyal Americans who still hope 10 see
Mexico annexed and who are just as
anxious for it as was Burr or the
Knights OF the Golden Circle or the Or
der of the Lone star and the hlibusterers,
little and big, who have had dreams OF
conquest from the beginning OF our gov
eminent Great Americans have been
concerned in the acquisition of territory
in the South. Alexander Hamilton en-
couraged Miranda's filibustering eXpedi-
tons against the Spaulsh-Ameriean pos
sessions which helped along our project
of acquiring Florida. jefferson bought
Louisiana and Burr made a futile at
tempt 10 conquer Mexico.
Wanted Huge Areas.
The early Americans became accus-
toned to a boundless area. All of the
first settlers OF any consequence owned
territories with larger boundaries than
many Of the Independent states of Eu-
rope. We like to think of our great
country reaching from ocean 10 ocean;
Of Alaska stretching across 10 Asia, Of
the Philippines of Porto Rico. and some
Of US like 10 dream OF a united North
America, with the Stars and Stripes
floating over il from the arctic 20 the
isthmus. This passion for possession Is
English: we inherited II with our English
blood and we are no more responsible
for II than for the color Of our eyes or
i ffezTs anna
you will, we want territory; we cannot
have enough of II. and let the imperial
list shout as he may, we have always
wanted IT,
Draper. the historian. born an English
man and naturalized an American, drew
this tempting picture:
las the Romans, basing their political
life on a slave system, and awaiting
themselves of the advantages OF an in
terror sea, soon brought their feebler
neighbors into subsection, solidly estab-
fishing themselves all around the Medi-
terranean. so the Gulf and the Caribbean
will be a Mediterranean for us. Feeble
communities, such as those of Mexico
and Central America. can be easily con-
uuered by arms or still more easily by
gold. They viii submit 20 the fate OF
Egvpt and Syria and Greece. Cuba, ia
maica, Hayti will follow the fate Of
Cyprus. Sardinia. Sicily. Across a mar
row isthmus is the Pacific ocean, and
where the West merges into the East are
the venerable empires and the wealth OF
Asia 3"
Burr Greatest Adventurer.
Such is the dream that inspired Burr
and those who came after him. But of
all those who sought to establish
Southern empire Burr was the greatest
adventurer. Governments listened to his
project and gave him aid. He had only
10 speak 10 gain allies to his cause.
Popularity regarded as a traitor 10 his
country, Burr was tried for treason, but
his friends and defenders looked upon
him as a patriot who wished 10 extend
the boundaries or the United States and
thus add TO her glory and increase her
supremacy On his death bed Burr was
asked whether in the expedition TO the
Southwest he had designed a separation
OF the Union No" ne answered. II
would as soon have thought of taking
possession Of the moon and informing
my friends that l intended 10 divide II
among them" A man is apt to speak
the truth with death facing him and
those who are fascinated by Burr's bril-
liancy. who still feel his magnetism, the
compelling force OF him. like TO think
that It was for the glory of the country
he had faithfully served. and not for It's
undoing. his project against Mexico was
formed.
Burr invoked the aid of England and
Spain, financiers and discontents in every
part OF our country and that his project
took the shape that would most attract
and seduce his auditors must be admit
ted Spain was told that a projected at
tack on her territory in America could
only be prevented by contributions of
money, while England was deceived
with a promise that a new government
would be established on the Gulf of Mex
leo which would be friendly TO British
commercial interests. Burrs Western
adherents were deluded by prospect OF
great wealth and an opportunity 20
avengue themselves on Spain, and so 1t
went Gen Jackson Endorsed Burr in
the beginning II he did not abet his
plans. bat Burrs greatest dupe and most
devoted follower was the Irishman, Har-
man Blennerhassett.
Island Near Ohio.
This picturesque character had ac-
CURED an island in the Ohio River which
he had converted into what was his idea
OF a wonderful estate. squandering a
comfortable fortune on II. He was ro-
mantle enough, ambitious enough, and
sufficiently avaracious TO fall an easy
victim TO Burr's seductive eIoquence, and
his story reads like fiction. Ii Is impos-
sible to believe that an intelligent person
could be so deuded by the tales Burr
poured into his ear. and Mrs Blenner-
hassett was equally creduiOus, equally
enthusiastic She saw in imagination her
husband, possessed Of enormous wealth.
American Minister at the Court Of St
James, which Office had been promised
lin when the empire should be estah-