The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-11
act THEM GOVERN THEMSELVES.
Congressman Bland gainst Annexation of
Any Territory.

Springfield, 60, August 10.-It be-
c;:me evident early today that Congress-
man Bland and his followers had broken
away from Ex-Governor Stone on the
question of territorial expansion and had
declarged against such a policy. Before
She delegates from the eight (Bland's)
Congressional district adopted resolu-
lions favoring the Bland foreign policy.
Chairman Cook called the convention
to order at noon, Congressman Bland
introduced as temporary chairman, was
received with great applause. In the
course of his address, Chairman Bland
said: "What we do here today will have
its influence on the whole country, so
that we shall make no declaration of doc
trines respecting recent issues until we
have carefully deliberated upon them"
Mr.. Bland referred to the Chicago, plat
form. recalling the financial plank and
declaring anew the arguments with
which the people are familiar.
This domestic issue" he said, must
remain in paramount until it is settled
and settled right. We propose to make
the campaign upon this issue. We do
not propose that plutocrats shall en-
tangle and confuse our minds with for
eign issues. We propose first to make
free and independent the people of the
United States. (Applause.) We have
been drawn into war which has already
cost millions of dollars and put upon the
common people the burden of a tax
which Congress refused to put upon the
wealth of the country"
He said the sentiments expressed i'll
the declaration of war were unparalleled
in the history of the world, and that no
party ought to survive which would I'M
dertake to lower that standard of uni
versal freedom of manhood.
'If l could express my personal opin-
ion in the platform 1 would declare
against the annexation of Cuba, Porto
Rico or the Philippine islands, and that
when we shall have wrested these Islands
from the Spanish government they
should be allowed to govern them
selves" Ila
Mr.. Bland declared his belief that
eventually Porto Rico and Cuba would
come into our country, but he desired
no declaration on that question until
these territories were prepared to com c
in of their own free Will and accord and
under democratic principles.
At the conclusion of Chairman BANDS
address committees were appointed and
recess was taken.
When the convention re-assembled
former Governor Stone was called upon
for q speech He replied briefly and in
referring the foreign situation, said;
81 would annex Porto Rico to the
American -union.'' He declared that
every Democratic President from Jeffer-
son to Buchanan favored territorial an
nexation and that Jefferson advised the
annexation of Cuba repeatedly. Governor
Stone also favored building the Nicara-
guam canal, a greater navy and an in
crease in the merchant marine.
Congressman NJ. e. Benton was elected
permanent chairman. He addressed the
convention saying he favored the making
of free coinage of silver the paramount
issue during the present campaign.
For judge the names of Henry NJ.
Ramsey, Noah NJ. Given. William q.
Marshall and Judge Leroy B. Kalliant,
were placed b1fore the convention.
John w. Halliburton was nominated
for the short term.
Late tonight the committee on resolu
tions agreed to platform which rein
do7ses the Chicago platform; insists or
the strict maintenance of the Monroe
doctrine, approves acquisition OF the
Philippines and other terri itory in the
Eastern hemisphere, approves the con
sEruction of the Nicaraguan canal which
would be controlled by the United
States; declares that our navy should HI
kept equal to any emergency; demands
that Porto Rico and all Spanish terri
tory in the West Indies except Cuba shall
be taken and heldsby tho United States
Cuba to be allowed to establish its OWL
government and to he annexed only
with the desire of the people of the island