The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-06
Using Obsolete Weapons.


mentabie lack OF knowledge Of politi-
cal history, In respect TO the position
taken by former Democratic statesmen
on the question OF acquiring new terri
tory in other respects they show COM
parative familiarity with the obso-
lete weapons once used and dis
carded when the Democrats were fight
ing the Republican party on issues
which they are willing now should be
left in oblivion. The Democrats refuse
to remember the few occasions In the
political history OF the country when
the Democratic party was right, but
with Bourbon-like tenacity cling to the
arguments-the old controversial weap-
ons-in use when the Democratic party
was on the side which It is now ad-
mitted, even by the Democrats them
selves. was the wrong one.
Thus in the present campaign no
Democratic speaker ever alludes TO the
manner in which Jefferson governed
Louisiana. or Jackson Florida. They
refuse to recognize that Buchanan,
Soule and Mason, ministers to London.
Paris and Madrid. recommended to the
Pierce administration the forcible seiz-
ure Of Cuba, to forestall the possible
setting up of a republic in that island:
or that Buchanan. in three messages
to congress. advocated the annexation
OF Cuba. They deliberately close their
ears TO the fact that Marcy ardently
advocated the annexation of the Ha-
waiian islands nearly nifty years ago.
and that Douglas glowingly anticipated
the day when American sovereignty
should be extended lover the islands Of
the sea-
The Democrats Of the present day
prefer to overlook these instances OF
Democratic craftsmanship. and they
choose their arguments at the present
time from those which were In use
against Lincoln. when he was endeav-
oring 10 bring the Southern states back
into the Union. The Democratic
speeches OF 1894 with very slight verbal
changes. are doing duty in the mouths
OF Democratic speakers on the stump
today. as quotations from those
speeches abundantly prove.
Read a few extracts from the speech
Of Alexander Long, q representative In
congress from Illinois. made on the
floor OF the house on April 9. 1854. and
observe the startling resemblance to
the speeches made by Mr.. Bryan today:
Are we In Constariinopie. In Vienna.
in Rome, or In ParIs7 Military govern
ment and their provost marshals over
ride the laws, and the echo OF the armed
heel rings forth as clearly now In Ameri-
ca as in France or in Austria"
Three years experience In attempting
by numerical preponderance and military
prawess OF one section, exerted 20 coerce
the other into submission. has convinced
me more thoroughly that Il is as self-con-
iradictory II is dangerous: because II
violates the great principles OF free gov
ernments which derive their Just powers
from the consent Of the governed aud
dangerous because by its exercise. es-
peclaily when welded by a weak. vacil-
iating and interruptions man uslncoin).
II destroys instead Of maintaining the
Union"
III we canno, rise above the Austro-
Russian principle Of holding subject
provinces by the power OF force and CO..
ercion, what becomes % the Declaration
OF Independence and all OF cur teaching
for eighty years. After ali. Mr.. Chair
man. Il Il not the extent 81 territory
nf<h ahr 80 ha All ~ tatF Aazf
land IL nothing compared 70 lib
erty. . Pride OF territorial ambition
Is vulgar and Low ambition OF national
greatness
!, was for the use Of language like
this that the proposition was made TO
expel Long from congress as a traitor.
This question did not come 10 n vote.
but the house did pass resolution re-
citing that ne was IAN unworthy mem
Der Of the house"
People are more tolerant in this day.
Nobody cares 20 charge Bryan with be-
ing a traitor. although his speeches do
carry aid and comfort 20 the armed
enemies 81 the country I, is no, likely,
however. nat any persons save those
who synpafhiSed with the copPerhead
utteranres ~ thirty-four years ago viii
be much impressed BY precisely the
came utterances in the mouth of Mr..
Ryan. and applied 90 the situation II
the country today.
The Democrats newspapers deny that
strikes for advanced wages are more