The Taney County republican., 1898-08-11
ment, without the Intervention of a
commission or any other device to
let spain down easy.
Democrats Torn Up On Expansion.

Democrats Torn Up On Expansion.
Confusion reigns in the Democrat.
camp. Each convention of the part,
is a law unto itself OH the territorial
results of the war. No two Demo.
cratic conventions are of The same
opinion. and their platforms represent
| both sides of the expansion question:
| Florida democrats in state convention
have just declared against The rn-
| largcmcnt of the ,tcrrtory of the
United States. In the state Demo-
cratic platform adopted in Vermont
| opposition to any annexation takes a
radical form. "We oppose" says one
plank, ''t:e proposed imperialist pol
icy of tie Republican party in the
! annexation or colonization of any
territory won from Spain by our
arn-.' L: is also declared in the same
resolutions that Sthe annexation of
Hawaii was an unwise departure
from our traditional policy." Some of
the Democratic and fusion conven-
tiOus are afraid of the subject and
are silent. 1t is plain t!a: the Demo-
Gratis and fusionists will have des-
perate time in f.cing both ways on
the future of Cuba, Porto Rico, tie
Philippines and Hawaii. Their views
are already as varieyatcd on auncx-
alton as on the currency. On every
leading issue of the day the Dcma-
Gratis are in II state of absurd Ii.cor,i
and contradiction.
The Texas Democrats in their
state convention have Lad hard
struggle over annexation, aud. after
defeating determined minority,
managed to take ground opposite to
that occupied by their fcllow-Dcmo-
Gratis III Florida and Vermont. Mr..
Bailey, the Democratic leader in the
House, offered a resolution against a
colonial policy and the acquisition of
any territory ncccssitatlng an in
crease in the standing army. The
vote went against MIR. Bailey b.: 334
697, showing that third of the Tex
aas Democrats stand with him. The
resolutions adopt, q favor the annex
alton Of Cuba if the CubaAs want il,
and the acquisition of all other Spain
ish territory in America, but are IL
gainst 'the annexation or continued
retention OF the Philippine Islands or
any territory upon the Eastern hem
isphere." So the Texas Democrats,
willie willing to absorb Porto Rico
ut once, are III favor Of Withdrawing !
from the Philippines entirely. Ind
to the ownership of amy ter
ritory outside of America.
State conventions will succeed each
other rapidly during the pres Mt
month, and it will be destructive to
watch the deepening of the Demo
cratic musI,ie That party is incap-
able of dealing with any public qurs-
len without getting on both sides Of
t. The Pennsylvania Democrats
nave cve.n rcpudiated silver aud
Bryan. n man mag sdv with eX-
Senator Hill, 81 am IL Democrat but
when he has made the statement. no
me can guess lis views on finance,
an ANYTHING else. In a la
,aina the Democrats rejoice because
he popdlist are showed under; in
Nebraska the Democrats are the tail
nd of the PopulIst procession; in
the Democrats are dickering
With the Popuh>ts for another deal
II fusion. Tie Democratic party, as
low conducted, IS without Il single
dearly de fined principle of any kind,
nd yet asks the people to give 1t a
'ote of confidence i'm November. 1t
will experience instead one of the
Iardcs, jnlts in its whole carecr.-tx.