The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-08

| Why INSIST upon l6 10 /, they ask? reply.
first because 1t is the best ratio. and. sec
ona because its opponents have No other
(, enacted until ratio is agreed upon. be-
cause the ratio is part OF the law Sup
| pose we had majority in congress favor
able TO bimetalism. but differing as to the
ratio. Some would favor 16 TO /, some "a
to l. some 81 to !, and some even higher
, ratios how could we make progress under
such conditions? Affirmative relief Is
| necessary ana those who favor remedial
legislation must secure majority In both
house and senate for some definite proposi-
ton. The goldbugs understand this: they
know that an ambiguous platform is
equivalent TO gold standard platform. MIR.
Cleveland was elected In 1892 upon plat
form which declared for the use OF gold
ard silver as the standard money Of the
country, and for the coinage OF both gold
and silver without discrimination against
either metal or charge for mntage, and yet
Mr.. Cleveland found no difficulty in sup
porting the single gold standard.
The democratic party will not return to
the days of uncertainty and evasion When
the opponents of 16 to agree upon another
rata il will be time enough 10 compare
the merits OF the new ratio with the merits
of the old ratio. But they viii not b. per-
miied to suspend the party in midalr, out
of the reach OF. 16 TO l aud out of sight of
anything else. To surrender the ratio is to
a.,
The Chicago platform was good when 1t
was adopted; 1t grows better with age. 1t
was strong In 1898; it is stronger now.
But enough of old issues; what OF the
new questions? Our party can not ignore
the issues raised by the war. 1t must speak
its peace. large stardlng army is not
only an expense to the people, but IL is
menace to the Nation and the democratic
party viii be a unit in opposing it.
wotii in regard to Imperialism. Those
who advocate the annexation of the Philip
pines call themselves expansionsts. but
they are really imperial!sts. The word ex-
parsion would describe the acquisition of
territory to be populated by Homogeneous
people and 10 be carved into States like |
those now in existence. An empire sug-
geSts variety in race and diversity In gov
eminent The imperialists DO not desire |
to clothe the PHILIPPINES with all the rights |
they want TO exercise sovereignty over an |
alien race and they expect to rule the new
subjects upon a theory entirely at variance |
with constitutional government Victor
is queen OF Great Britain ard Empress Of |
India shall we change the title of our
executive and call him the president Of the
United States and emperor OF the Philip
pines?
Tho democratic party stood for the money
Of the constitution in 1896; II stands for
the government OF the cons tut on now
1t opposed an English financial policy In
1896; it oppofes an Engish colonial policy
row. Those who In 1886 were In favor OF
turning the American people over to tn
greet OF foreign fnanciers and domestic
trusts may now be willing 10 turn the
Philippines over to the tender mercies of
military governors and carpet bag officials.
These who in 1896 thought the people
Of the United States too weak to attend
TO their cwn business may now think them
strong enough TO attend to the business
Of remote and alien races; but those who In
1886 fought for independence for the Amer
lean people will not now withhold inde-
pen1ence from those who desire II else
where.
We are told that the Philippines are not
capable OF self government; that has
familiar ring. Only two years ago heard
the same argument made against very re-
spectacle minority OF the people OF this
country The money loaners. who coerced
borrowers did 1t upon that theory; the en-
ployers who coercai their employees did It
for the same reason. Self-goyernmsnt is
} constant education; the capacity for self
government increases With participation In
government. The PHILIPPINES ara not far
enough advanced IN the government OF
the people OF the United States. but they
are competent to govern themselves. 1t Is
not far to compare them with our own
because the American people
have been educating themselves In the
science OF government for nearly three
and while we have much 70