The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-06-18
CONGRESSMAN BROUS-
.S4RD'.S SPEECH.

Congressman Broussard made his
maiden speech in Congress last
Wednesday. He spoke against the
annexation Of the Hawaiian Islands.
He showed in a well-prcpared argu-
ment that the annexation of these
islands would result in great injury
to the sugar and rice culture in the
United States. The annexation Of
Hawaii, he argued, would be fol-
lowed by the acquisition of the
Spanish possessions, which, being
all sugar producing countries, would
destroy the sugar industry in Louis
lana and the beet culture in the
West, at the same time, dealing
death-blow to the cultivation Of
rice. Mr.. Broussard exposed the
hypocrisy of the Republicans who
pretend to be the champions OF pro-
lection, but who in reality, are con
cocting a scheme which, if success
full, will drive the sugar and rice
growers to the wall, and at the same
time place American labor in com
petition with the poorly paid Kan
akas of the Sandwich Islands and
the half-starved Malays Of the
Philippines. When it is known that
the Republicans have talked them
selves hoarse about the protection
of American industries ai.d the
pauper labor of Europe, the present
dastardly policy of territorial con
quest inaugurated by the Republi-
can administration appears all the
more reprehensible.
Mr.. Broussard's able plea for
those who have invested large for
tunes in the manufacture of sugar,
and for the thousands of American
laborers who are earning a liveli-
hood in that industry, will win for
the brainy young congressman
host of admirers in Louisiana.
Says Mr.. BrOussard:
s.VVe ir Louisiana felt that the beet sugar
would at distant time suppplant cane
sugar, because it can be produced cheaper;
bat welcomed our neiShbors in this field
of operation. Thei. competition was to be
can citizens-white man competing against
white man. We were glad to meet them,
and we would have rejoiced at their success
but what do you propose to do with this
''Suffocate it, stifle it, strangle it, to-
gether with Its older brother of the south;
and for what, and for whom For trade
in which the American people lose three
times as much as they gain. For a race of
kanakas of Chinese - halfbrced and
lepers.
s'What have these done that they should
be paid to receive better treatment at our
father house than we, the children, should
have ?''
The Gazette regrets that it can
not quote more of Mr.. Broussard's
mastery arguments in opposition to
the annexation scheme OF the sugar
trust and the Republican party.
After showing by irrefutable ar
guments and stern and stubborn
facts that the policy of conquest of
the Republican party will infict an
irremediable wound on our indus
tries, Mr.. Broussard proceeded to
take broader view Of the situation
and quotes the words of wisdom ut
tered by the fathers of the republic.
He advocated the good old Demo-
cratic doctrine of attending to our
own business and of letting others
shift for themselves. He pointed
out the dangers of departure
from the teachings Of Washington
and Jackson and concluded his
speech as follows:
..The day we depart from the wise policy
that have been trying to picture, disaster
must overtake us. Foreign complications
must arise: we must maintain immense
navy and standing army we must divert
from the Pursuits Of peaceful occupation
and production OF wealth vast nnn.bsr of