Page 163 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

144 Future in Relation to

the less repulsive means of compassing an
end in itself both desirable and proper; nor
does the attempt, by strained construction,
to wrest West Florida into the bargain give
a higher tone to the transaction. As a matter
of policy, however, there is no doubt that our
government was most wise ; and the transfer,
as well as the incorporation, of the territory
was facilitated by the meagreness of the popu-
lation that went with the soil. With all our
love of freedom, it is not likely that many
qualms were felt as to the political inclinations
of the people concerning their transfer of alle-
giance. In questions of great import to na-
tions or to the world, the wishes, or interests,
or technical rights, of minorities must yield,
and there is not necessarily any more injustice
in this than in their yielding to a majority at
the polls.
While the need of continental expansion
pressed thus heavily upon the statesmen of
Jefferson's era, questions relating to more dis-
tant interests were very properly postponed.
At the time that matters of such immediate
importance were pending, to enter willingly
upon the consideration of subjects our concern