The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-11-27
WHY LATIN AMERICA FEARS.

America are me examples OI nlSioIy. Inc pSopAc of South America know that history teaches that when powerful and rich country lies near lot of financially and physically weak countries, which often totter and frequently fall of their own weight, that a process of absorption is the natural result. Particularly is that the case if there are no other nearby powerful countries to stand guard. From the beginning the Latin countries south of the Rio Grande have feared that eventually the United States would begin absorbing them. That fear, doubtless, is only emphasized by the fact that the United States has many times had ample excuse for taking them over-particulary Mexico and the Central Am erean and West Indian republics.
 We have been several occasions forced to take possession of some of these countries, ln whole or part, but have always turned them back in better condition than found them, ex- cept in the of Mexico from which we se- cured California, Arizona, New Mexico, etc. We took this country for reasons that all must agree were justfable It would have been a crime to civilization if we had not taken it. In fact it was a crime that we did not mark the bounday line farther south and take in more of the then uninhabited Mexican territory.
 It is contrary to all the precedents of history that the United States did not long ago extend her southern boundary to the Isthmus of. Pan anna The countries south of us have not only offered us many excuses to do but at times
  been difficult South America does not under stand why we have not done it. and she feels that in the end we must get in step with the practices of other Nations and other times. The acquisition of Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Cali fornia, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii Porto Rico, the Philippines and a few other widely scattered islands disclosed enough of the expansion spirit to keep alive in the South fear of American aggression.
 In spite of the fact that the United States has made an admirably clean record in her dealings with other countries have had oul expansionists who would have made different record They came to the front usually, how ever, when people were perplexed over do- mestic matters and refused to be diverted from them. Jefferson, the greatest of our expansonists had his heart set getting Cuba, and long afteward Buchanan and others wanted to buy the island, or take it.
 But, strangely inconsistent with his hatred of war and his habit of getting along the easiest way Gen. Grant was probably the strongest advo- cate of expansion we have had. If he had been as adept at statecraft he in war, the story of foreign relations might have been far different After Appamattox he wanted the United States to send army into Mexico and one into Canada Maxmillan was attempting to establish himself as Emperor of Mexico, clear ly in violation of the Monroe Doctrine, and Sen ator Sumner had cooked up a bill against Great Britain of more than two billions of dollars on account of the depreda tions of the Alabama and other English built Southern cruisers, which he suggested could be balanced by the cession oi Canada Gen. Grant wanted the United States to square accounts with Naximillian and Eng land and cement the reunion of the North and South by sending the Union and Confederate armies lately engaged in the Civil War into Mexico and Canada. He proposed that Long ctr wit Inio Arm and Sheridan al the head of a Southern cavalry corps be sent into Mexico and that Sherman and Joe Johnston, with atcombined Union and Confederate army be sent into Canada-unless Great Britain would mmed lately liquidate Summers bill
 Several things intervened to distract atten tion from Grants proposal The Congressional majority leaders were hot on the trail of a re- construction program that would give them the Senators Representatives and electoral votes oi the South and continued control of the Ma tional Government. But more important was the wise statesmanship of Secretary Seward, who had developed beyond the idea of foreign war as ar antidote for domestic difficulties. He thought wt could settle troubles with England ant France through negotiations, and he right We did.
 However, Gen Grant had hardly been in augurated President until he again began thinking of extending the American empire Woodward, in his recent biography of Gen Grant, says
 From the beginning of his Adminis-
 traton he had territorial expansion of
 the United States in mind. He had con-
 vinced himself through process of
 esoterc reasoning, that large and pow
 erful country, with bulldog tendencies,
 ought to be happier than a smaller
 He thought of far-fung posses
 sions, and of the American drumbeat
 being heard around the world.
 However the refusal of the United States Senate to ratify President Grants treaty of an- nexation with Santo Domingo dulled his ardor and convinced him that he was qualified to match wits with politicians and statesmen.