The genius of America is progressive, and the pluck and activity of the average American is unsurpassed.  Who shall say, then, that Central America shall never become part of this Republic, which now increases its population over a million each year?  What statesman shall now in the light of experience seek to bind this nation within the limits of a treaty, that these United States will not annex, occupy, or colonize any new territory?  If the Nicaragua Canal shall ever be constructed, will not American citizens settle along its line, and Yankee enterprise colonize, and build Yankee towns, and convert that whole section into an American state?  Will not American principles and American institutions be firmly planted there?  And how long will it be before the laws of progress shall require us to extend our jurisdiction and laws over our citizens in Central America—­even as we were obliged to do in Texas?  Perhaps not in our day and generation, but in the words of the lamented Douglas, “So certain as this republic exists, so certain as we remain a united people, so certain as the laws of progress, which have raised us from a mere handful to a mighty nation, shall continue to govern our action, just so certain are these events to be worked out, and you will be compelled to extend your protection-in that direction.  You may make as many treaties as you please, to fetter the limits of this great republic, and she will burst them all from her, and her course will be onward to a limit which I will not venture to prescribe.  Having met with the barrier of the ocean in our western course, we may yet be compelled to turn to the North and to the South for an outlet.”

With a distinctly American policy, such as the Father of his Country foreshadowed and advised, when in his farewell address he warned us against “entangling alliances with foreign powers;” such as President Monroe bequeathed to us in the declarations of the “Monroe Doctrine,” we shall be more likely to achieve honor and renown; national prosperity and universal respect, than can ever be ours, while fettered and bound, by the galling chains of an entangling, unwise, and unfair treaty.

* * * * *

THE DIVORCE LEGISLATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

By Chester F. Sanger.

There evidently exists just at the present time a great and increasing interest in the old and much debated subjects of divorce, and divorce legislation; an interest which is intensified as the population of our younger states with their widely varying laws governing this matter increases and the dangers and opportunities for fraud grow more apparent.  Naturally enough, therefore, public attention is invited to these different laws of the several states of our Union, some allowing divorce for one cause, others refusing it upon the same ground, and one state, at least, refusing to grant a divorce for any cause whatever.