The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-11-16
FUTURE OF THE PARTY.
III Is Nonsense to Talk Of Reorganization
Now, Says Vest
DEMOCRATS MUST AWAIT DEVELOPMENTS
And Renew Their Allegiance To tho
Principles of the Party ms An
nouDccd by Jefferson.
Especial to The Post,

Washington. November Ex-senator
Vest OF Missouri is out in an interview
concerning the reorganization of the
democratic party" in which he says
at is nonsense to talk OF the reorgani-
cation Of the party at this time. All that
the democrats can do is to await Develop
ments and renew their allegiance to the
principles OF the party as announced by
Jefferson We have had too much pop
ulism and too much cropping around for
alliance with people who have no SYM
patty with cur democratic doctrine. No
body can say now who will be the nominee
of the party in 1904, or from what section
he will come. A leader will be found for
the democracy at the proper time.
Then, you are not discouraged
There is really no cause for discour-
agement to democrats in the result o. tne
late election. History has simply re-
peated itself No political party In this
country has ever been able to defeat an
administration which was carrying on
foreign war. The federal party was de-
lstroyed because of its opposition to the
war of 1872, and, while the wings elected
General Taylor in 1913, NOTWITHSTANDING
their opposition 10 the Mexican war, thsy
were successful because the people te-
lieved that Taylor had been unfairly
treated by the Polk administration, AM
resented what they conceived to be an
Idnjustice to gallant soldier. 1t must be
remembered, however, that Taylor was the
last whig president elected, and Fillmore,
who succeeded him, was the last wing
president in the White House.
Thousands of patriotic citizens, who
were really opposed to the foreign poll y
of Mr.. Mckinley. voted for him al the
last election because they believe that
we should first end the war in the Phil
ippines and then settle other questions
connected with the archipelago. Nothing
was more freely heard in the campaign
from conservative men than the argument
that it would discredit our government to
withdraw troops from the Philippines
while armed opposition to the government
existed there. l believe that feeling DID
more for President Mckinley than any
other one factor in the election.
Il remember that twenty-eight years
ego it was asserted that the democratic
party was dead beyond resurrection. We
had been defeated by crushing majority
and democracy really seemed TO be past all
hope. In 1873 the Missouri Republican
remarked that the party was dead and 5
putrid carcass ought to be carried out to
the public common. But what was the
result? We elected William Allen gov
ernor of Ohio in 1874 and in the SINE
year the democrats carried the majority
of the State campaigns for governors and
elected the majority in the house Of rep
resentatives. In 1876 we elected Mr..
Tlden. In the spring of 1879, when en-
tered the senate, there was a majority OF
eight democrats in that body, and we
made Mr.. Thurman president pro tenn. /
repeat, then, that the democracy will 60
onward TO victory, despite its present d.
feat"
What will be the probable legislation
this winter"
The ship subsidy bill will be passed by
the republicans. That measure gives
100000 annually for twenty years to
the builders of ships in the United States
for foreign trade. The republicans will
also pass the Spooner bill which has
been reported from the committee on the
Philippines, and which gives to President
Mckinley the authority to appoint all OF
fcers in the Philippines, with such pow
ers as he may choos&to bestow on them
The only hope of the anti-imperialists is
in the supreme court, and our experience
as to the income tax decision does not
encourage me to expect much from that
tribunal. think also that the Nicaragua
canal bill will be passed at this session .