Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-21
THEN AND now.

In order to create q issue for
1900 that is big enough to force the silver
question into the background, the demo-
cratic leaders have been compelled to re-
verse the past policy of their party and
institute new ines of action. 1t was an
innovation of the most pronounced type
when the national convention in 1896 de-
gold at a ratio of 16 to /. 1t was the
enunciation of an entirely new article in
democratic faith, having been borrowed,
or seized, rather, from the political treas
ury of the peoples party. The newissue
served the purposes of the memorable
campaign of that year, only to be dis
credited by the leaders of the democracy
after it failed to win a victory at the
polls. 'N5f
To retire it from it's position as a lead
ing issue. it became necessary for the
moulders of public opinion in democratic
circles to again do violence to the tradi-
tons of their party, in the creation of a
substitute for it in the Forthcoming
presidential campaign. In OPPOSING the
policy of expansion they have lone SO at
from the inception of the organization to
the days of Bryan. For more than two
thirds of it's existence the democratic
party has been the advocate of radical
expansion ideas. M
The Louisiana purchase was made by
a democratic administration; Florida.
New Mexico, Texas. Arizona and Califor-
MIA were secured while the reins of gov
eminent were in democratic hands. The
most ardent ~expansionists which this
country ever produced, prior to the acqui-
sition of Alaska, were democrats, Stephen
A. Douglass being among the number
Mr.. Douglass was one of the brightest
lights in the armament of democracy. a
man who, next to Jefferson and Jackson,
has endeared himself to his country by
conspicuous ability in the discussion of
great questions of infinite concern to the
people. In 1858 Mr.. Douglass said:
When it becomes necessary in our
growth n progress to acquire more ter
ritOry, I am in favor of it. It is idle to
tell me or you that we nave territory
enough. Our fathers supposed that we
had enough when our territory extended
to the Mississippi river, but a few years
; growth and expansion satisfied them that
We needed more, and the Louisiana ter
ritory from the west branch of the Mis-
sissippi to the British possessions was ac-
quired. Then WI acquired Oregon, then
California and New Mexico. We have
enough for the present, but this is a
! young and growing nation. It swarms as
often as a hive of bees, and as new
sWarrns are turned out each year, there
must be hives in which they can gather
II make their honey. I tell you, in
crease and multiply and expand is the
law of this nations existence. You can
not limit this great republic by mere
boundary lines, saying thus far Shalt
thou go and no further. Any one of yor
gentlemen might as we'll say to his sof
twelve years old that he is big enough ant
must not grow any larger, and, in order
to prevent his growth, put a hoop around
him to keep him to his present size. VIVA
WOulu De liz ISSuAt lIS thC Lool
must burst and be rent asunder, or The
child must die. So it would be with this
great nation. There is a constant tor
rent pouring into this country that re-
quires more land, more territory on which
to settle; and just as fast as our interests
and our destiny require additional terri
tory in the north, in the south. or in the
islands of the ocean, l am for 1t.
Were the Little Giant of the nationa
democracy alive today, advocating sucl
doctrines as the foregoing, he would b.
forced out of the organization made grea
by his influence and strengthened by hi:
fame, by the new test of party fealt.
prescribed by William Jennings Bryan
and the Anaconda Standard. For a dem
ocrat to advocate the acquisition of isl
ands of the ocean, would be to invit
a bowling mob of modern bourbons t
tear him into shreds. 1t is a good thinI
for the peace of mind of such men as JEFF