The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10

lnCiuent was the beginning ol tue va.
When 1t came the democratic partT went
into the conflict with uniiiching patriot
ism and our boys poured out their blood
on every battlefield. The roll OF 1eroes
g mode rich by the names OF F.tzhuga
Lee. Joe Wheeler, Bagby. Hobson and
Admiral Schley--Southern democrats. ana
Maryland. my Maryland, the home or the
gallant admiral, was the only State re-
trievsd by the democrats in the recen;
election. The war ended the democratic
rand OF JOHN Bassett Moore, the greatest
International lawyer on this continent,
penned the treaty OF peace. AS democrat,
| am proud of the record of my party in
this war and while l claim our share in
the glory of Its splendid achievements,
propose to share fully In the responsibility
iinicsed on the American people IN the
solution OF the vexatlous and trouble
some problems concerning these new ter
ritorial acquisitions, We are invited by
some democrats to pursue negative
policy and to cast upon the republican
party the entire responsibility OF settling
these questions and TO content ourselves
with making constant and harassing OPP
: position TO everything proposed by that
party--this bushwhacking policy may pass
for good politics, but to my mind II is
, n'ither patriotic nor statesmaniGe. 1t
the democratic party is to dwindle into the
position OF a mere party OF opposition,
then its future history can be written
: down as that of minority party. There
r is room for such a party in every gov
eminent, II serves useful purpose in
keeping the ruling party on its guard.
Such party may retain control of States
and keep districts solidly democratic Tor
generations. but It will never be entrust-
ed with the administration OF the gov
eminent. Against tho effort to place the
democratic party in this degraded posi-
, ton enter my earnest protest. To me
d. artt 4e "a
principles and crowned and gorifed by
achievements. No great issue has ever
, arisen on which it has failed to propose
an affirmative line of action. 1t might be
/ that 1t would relieve us of trouble and
difficulty IL we could undo the events
! OF the war of 1898, but now that we have
= these Islands and these peoples on our
hands, l for one, DO not favor Sinking
responsibility by casting them back into
the great oceans without anchorage, COM
! pass or rudder, derelicts upon the highway
: OF civilization, a prey to the cormoraut
nations that trouble the main But he
/ leve that the democratic party with
' its old time authority, should come up
a 10 the mark ana propose a plan In accord
4 ance with the traditions and proceed snts
, OF the party in dealing with territorial
questions. At this critical time the party
4 could render no better service to the
| country than to formulate a rolicv in
%
the spirit and genius OF our institutions
= whereby We may honorably discharge our
{ duty TO ourselves. to these islands and
I to civilization.
i. The democratic party OF Texas at its
S last state convention considered this ques-
t ton IN accordance with the immemorial
4 usages OF the party and, after the fullest
n ana tairest discussion and the most ma
r lure elaboration, declared its judgment
: TO be that an affirmative policy Should
ne followed and pledged its faith TO the
ioiioWlnS! propositions which were en-
a bodied IN its platform by majority of
n more than two-thirds of the delegates 10
" that convention, viz.
=, 9 That We favor carrying out the let
's ter and spirit of the resolutions under
~ which we interviewed in Cuba and we in
y sist that the Cubans shall be permitted
. TO establish an independent government
:, or their own, but in the event that the
II people of that island shall hereafter desire
y to be annexed TO this country and the
terms of annexation can be satisfactorily
u arranged between the two countries, we
y will welcome Cuba as a part OF the terri
g tory of the United States.
u 10 We favor the acquisition of Porto
Rico and all other Spanish possessions in
e the Western hemisphere
& IL That we reafflrm our faith in the
!, Monroe doctrine and oppose the annexa-
# ton or the continued retention OF the
u Philippine Islands or. any territory upon
ID the Eastern hemisphere"
IS 1t must be remembered that this ex-
/ preston OF democratic policy by the DEM
y ocratic party OF Texas was prior TO the
d drafting or the ratification of the treaty
e of peace between the United States ANA
= Spain. ] had the honor of addressing that
1t convention in favor of the adoption o.
these resolutions and gave to them then
y and give to them now my unqualified
10 support. These resolutions embrace four
II propositions:
l. J. The democratic party is pledged 20
10 carry out the letter and spirit of the
= resolution OF congress of date April 20,
p 1873, under which The United States iu-
s tcryened In The Cuban war That re5ou-
l. ton is as follows.
a "Frst--That the people Of the island
# Of Cuba ara and oil right ought to be free
"A and independents"
" "Fourth--rhat the United States hereby
dsclaims amy disposition or intention to
exercise sovereignty jurisdiction or con-
= troll over said island except for the paci-
~ Gcation thereof and asserts its determl-
nation, when that is accomplished, 70
leave the government and control OF the
island TO its people"
e o II after the government and control
1, of the island have been turned over 10
the Cubans and the United States has
Withdrawn from the island. they desire to
N be annexed 10 the United States, that we
Il would welcome such annexation provided
n terms alike satisfactory to both parties
/, could be agreed upon.
F." s. We favored the acquisition OF the
> island of Porto Rico and the other smaller
s. Spanish West Indian islands
i 1. We opposed the annexation or per-
y manent retention, OF the Philippine Is
Of lands, for the reason that 1t might be con-
= trary to the spirit OF the Monroe doc
rs trine. / do not believe there is a demo
j. crat in the United states who can no,
Se subscribe to these propositions.
l. More than a month before the adoption
as OF the platform at Galveston ! had the
% honor to present to the county democratic
l., convention OF Milan county resolution
ct embodying my views on this question as
= 1t then presented itself. At that time
h the battle of Santiago had not beer
Of fought. Cervera's fleet had not been de-
es stroyed Manila had not surrendered and
~ Porto Rico had not been occupied, bu
ID the resolution was intanded 4
~ present what conceived TO be the
"a true democratic position on the purpose
N of the war and the method OF dealing
~ with territorial accessions. The resolu.
s. ton was adopted by the convention, ant
as Is as follows
70 Eve further declare that said war 4: