The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26

days Post. March ~. there was publishea
copy OF an old letter written BY Judge
Richard Scurry to General Sam Houston
in 1s42, In the preliminary lines introduc-
tory to the letter the assertion was made
that "thc letter will be regarded as OF
unusual interest Just now, a. It throws
light on the position OF the pioneer states
men Of Texas concerning the question Of
expansion" | have misplaced the copy
of The Post containing tho letter and
| quote from memory, hence may not give
the exact words, but the substance is ~
l have stated.
The average reader would naturally In
fer from the assertion made by the writer
Of this article In The Post considered with
the complimentary expressions OF Judge
Scurry concerning the annexation OF Texas
and the consequent benefit Of the countrys
expansion to that extent. that the states
men OF Texas pioneer period. including
sam Houston himself. were In favor OF
expansion In the broad and unlimited
sphere as II Is understood and being dis
oussed by the press and public speakers
Of the present time. Never was holder
a thought SO inconsistent with the charac-
ter and purposes OF statesmen OF any era
more carelessly and unwarrantably sug-
gested. No idea was farther from the
minds OF the statesmen OF that day than
that the United States would some time
become involved In "en;angling alliances
with foreign nations" or seek TO extend
the aegls Of the constitution over coun-
tries remote from the shores of the West
ern world. The positive declarations con-
tanned in the Monroe doctrine were fresh
in the minds OF the people and we're cor
daily adopted BY all as the true policy
for this government to pursue In It's az
fairs with other powers with regard TO
the extension teSpanson) Of their political
influence and authority. II was uni
vcrsally understood as an established prin-
ciplo of the American republic that no
other nation would be allowed to make
oonuuests OF territory in the Western
hemisphere, and that in turn tho United
States had no intention OF expanding its
domains further than to include its nat
ural acoessiona contiguous between the
two great oceans. This was the scope aud
limit Of expansion as considered by the
statesmen OF Texas and the rest Of the
States of America fifty years ago, A con-
sistont and emphatic application Of the
Monroe doctrine was deemed sufficient for
all purposes OF government along its
line. America had not then produced a
Napoleon whose thoughts were to sub
jugatc mankind and wade through
! al q
has hundreds OF lmitators of tho great
French emperor OF emperors.
~
That Sam Houston ever contemplated
such forays into foreign chimes as Is now
advocated ana demanded by the Ameri-
can imperialists Is thought that no one
careful Of historic truth would advance.
On this subject I find that he very pos
itively and clearly stated his position in
a speech in the United states senate
in reference TO the policy OF fol.
lowing the advice Of Louis Kossuth with
respect TO the affairs OF Hungary and
the possible embarrassing OF our system
of foreign relations, Houston said II
contend that while We maintain our Ma
tional faith, It is not right TO extend our
jurisdiction beyond our own hemisphere.
Let us DO staid, quiet industrious and
reflective When subjects are presented
requiring action, let us act Holding our
selves above influences which appeal TO our
passions and our preiudices, " we must
be masters of our own destiny, let
Us act like men who feel all
Of the responsibilities OF the position they
assume, and are ready TO answer TO The
! riNiiiyHd yynrlb n nm IN
Hitherto we have evinCed "a Discrimination
10 cntangle ourselves with alliances. We
have exalted ourselves by u. We stand
alone aud are we'll able to sustain our
selves. We stand unshackled from all
connection with the nations of the earth.
We have our relations OF amity and COM
merce with them. not treaties of alliance.
offensive and defensive. While we remain
thus untramelled and unburdeDed there
are no dangers to Impede us in onr prog
ross but such as can DO guarded against.
This government should abstain from en-
tangling itself with the affairs OF foreign
countries. but confne It's policy to the
full development OF It's own resources.
~
This is enough, think, to prove Hous-
tons position on expansion--even McKin-
ley expansion, And | believe he may be
safely considered a representative states
man of his time--that time, the morning
OF our Republic, when the stars of this
grand constellation OF States hrst sang
together When liberty was new when
thought was free, when people, fresh In
the enthusiasm aud the strength OF civil
and religious freedom, purchased by ira
vail and sacrifice. GOULD read their title
clear TO the best form OF government
known 20 history and establish distinctly
the ultimate boundaries OF cultivated ass
piratIons. Then destiny was circum-
scrlptive In its sphere. The revelations
OF ST. Mckinley are mockery and a
snare IN the light OF the teachings Of the
apostles Of the constitution OF this goy-
eminent. The president, like Joan OF
Arc, hears a huzzing of voices and he
calls 1t the currents OF destiny, but It
ia only the wheels in his cerebrum space
taking a tumble to themselves.