Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-05-04


Of dominant European nations. II is
their law Of life For them, battling
alternately for existence and domi-
nance, conquest is not wicked. But
America cannot afford TO adopt their
destructive system nor standard OF in
ternational morals.
With the foregoing digression, ex-
| lplanatory OF the conditions OF interna-
tional relation, we return TO final
consideration of steps whereby the |
| United States Of America has grown |
from small nation, restricted TO a rela-
lively unimportant maritime area TO n |
great continental power, capable Of
swaying the destiny of the world for |
good or for evil.
The close Of the Revolutionary War
found the United States invested by
treaty with England with territory ex-
tending west along the Great Lakes to
1.-THE Mississippi and south TO Florida.
But neither England nor Spain wished
TO see the new nation possess this vast
territory. The winning Of this west
forms the initial step in the expansion
Of the United States to its present
ample borders. First. England with
drew her western posts. Alarmed,
Spain withdrew her claim to land be-
tween the Alleghanies and the Missis-
sippi, conceding navigation Of the great
; waterway heretofore denied-a vital
. privilege to the development Of the
valley.
: Spain yielded Louisiana to France in
1900 and the Mississippi was closed.
/ The anger Of the Americans rose TO n
: white heat and the threatened confla-
! grafton disposed Napoleon to sell Lou
{ islana to the Union, thereby doubling
its area. But the Unsuitable pioneers Of
? the north coveted Canada and the south
5 looked longingly toward Florida. The
. War of 1872 extended western terri
p tory along the 18th parallel to the dis
a puted Oregon territory. West Florida
Twas annexed in 1910 and 1912 and Gen
eral Jackson "stole" the rest i'm 1918,
{ gaining title in 1919.
: The recognition of the seeding
n Spanish colonies in 1923 eliminated the
Ii contest with Spain until the Spanish
4 American war of 1898 saw the last Of
h the great Spanish possessions I'm the
new world pass under the control Of
d the United States.
= With the ceding of Florida, Mexico
Y became the heir to n contest over
I. Texas. which the United States claimed
J. as part Of Louisiana.
Il Russia retired from her claims on
d the Pacific Coast south Of 81 deg. a
e min. in 1924 and the Monroe Doctrine
n effectively put a stop to further Euro
n pean pretcnsions in the New World
II Texas and Oregon were now the sensi
e tive spots on the rear epidermis Of the
IS American nation. Texas revolted and
American settlers occupied Oregon
e European Intervention was still active
II and the foreshadows of the contest
Is over slavery retarded for a brief periot
It the tendencies to further expansion
N The election Of Polk. an ardent eX
y pansiOnist, as president and his am
le biiion to carry the Union to the Pacifi,
L came with the annexation Of Texas IN
t, 1915 and the fixing of the Oregon
n boundary at the 49th parallel in 1916
" The Mexican war opened the SAINT
year and at its close in 1SiS California
If and the land between this territory ant
~ Texas north of the Gial river fell int,
ii the hands of the United States. Shortl.
T. afterward the small strip south Of tn
le ella was purchased from Mexico.
Then came the interruption Of th
20 Civil war, due to rivalrieS Of the north
~ ern and southern sections Of the coun
le try But i'm 1867. shortly after TN
y close of the civil strife. the expansion
x ist tendency reasserted itself I'm tn
ic purchase Of Alaska.
" After brief respite the policy of eS
IN pansion again emerged with the an
ncxatiOn Of the Hawaiian islands Il
II 1898. The Spanish-Americau war Il
II, 1895 was really the renewed expression
Of of American desire for expansion an
Of brought under American sway the fal
n flung island possessions Of Spain i
Of the far Pacific and the caribbean. Tn
acquiring OF the Philippines. SamoI
IL Porto Rico and the virtual protectorat
w. over the Cuban republic was rather
nd sport development, hut illustrate
n. the law Of American life"
II Under Roosevelt. herr OF the grea
~ American policy. the Canal Zone wa
a acquired in 1903 through a virtua
r- seizure Of Colombian territory.
Later development is the purchase O
rs sion OF influence In I3iyti. Santo Dc
- mingo and other insular "derelicts."
10 Even the ascendency of Presiden
81 Wilson. the first TO advocate a passiv
w attitude Of non-intervention and noT
IL annexation, together with the interruI
I'd ton OF the World War, has not alt,
he gether succeeded IN repressing IN
a great national tendency TO expand
N Is scarcely likely that the urgent nece.
he sity for American expansion will yer
al long be held in check by mere idcali
or however beautiful 10 contemplate. Tn
e Anglo-SaxOn race Is too virile, to
III practical by nature to long delay tai
C ing possession OF the vast and rich d,
no main that is ready to fall from tn
BY palsied grasp Of scattering barbarian
r. scOurged by revoluti and banditr,
r. To do less is wicked and Grim
a. against humanity. that needs all its r,
or sources.
Id But right or wrong. the Graph
OF points out the "cosmic urge" that wi
carry the American flag 10 tho hortlpr