The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-09

give her products access to our markets.
NO party ex!gency or pressure could Jus
J thy departure by the president frou
the plain pathway OF duty he had here s,
clearly indicated. The law imposing tar.
, III duties upon the people of Puerto Rice
is palpahle violation OF the constitution
ana hagrant breach OF the pledged falti
J OF the Nation
The democratic platform condemns th.
policy pursued by the present administra
ton toward the Philippine islands, TIL ,
poiicy-inspired by the crest spirit Of
! commewlalism-ha embroiled our gov.
ernment IN an unnecessary war. sacrlhcel
valuable lives and placed the American
Republic in deadly antagenism to our
former allies In their efforts 10 secure
4 their liberties. For the nrst time In our
history we are boldly confronted with tn,
question OF "impcrislbsm--the spirit OF
empire"
! This Is indeed the supreme question 10
] which all others are OF secondary impor-
lance. Before we break irrevocably with
the past and abandon the doctrines OF tho
/ fathers. 1t is well that we deliberate upon
the consequences OF permanent depar-
ture from the settled governmental policy
OF more than a century The success OF
the imperlalistic policy
FoREsHADowS THE EMPIRE.
Shall the closing hours OF the century
witness the American people abandonin ing
the sure pathway in which past genera
tions have found prosperity aud happi-
ness, and cmbarking upon that of agrees
sion and conquest, against which we are
warned by the wrecks that lie along the
entire pathway of history? Standing out
against the new policy OF conquest. With
an mat IL involves Of European complica-
uons,' are tho warnings of the founders of
Vne Republic. Out OF fashion as II NAV
appear, ! quote the last words Of Wash
inglon TO the oncoming generations Of hi.
countrymen: The great rule OF condun,
lor us In regard to foreign nations is. in
extending our commercial relations TO
nave with them as little political connec-
| 'lon as possible Ii was the author of
the Declaration of Independence who sai1.
our hrst and fundamental maxim should
De never to entsngle ourselves in the
orols OF Europe" Is Il not well TO ponder
tneSe warnings before permanently en-
parking upon an untried pathway beset
win fofeign jealousies, complications and
antagonismS?
inc democratic party has over been the
advocate OF wise territorial expansion. n
was In control Of the government durinr
forty years OF the nrst h.lf OF the preyent
century During that period new state,
were admitted into the Federal Union, and
our western border extended beyond the
mississippi Out of the Louisiana conn.
try-acqnired under the first dcmoeratIc
admlniSlration--have been carved fourteen
magnificent States. Under later dem
ocratic adminztration-an MS the result
OF inc treaty which terminated our war
"Itn MeNlco-we acquired California and
heiehboring States and Territories. thus
Na ~.
the vast expanse stretching TO the Pacific
ocean
The policy Of aggressive expansion- of
fubjuEation Of distant lslands-plIrsued nv
me present admnistrat on-fnds no pre
cehcht IN the peaceable cegsion OF tho
l.ouisiana country by Napoleon thsi Of
flafids by Spain, nor that vet later of
the vast western area by Hexico The
TERRITORY acquired under demor-a,ic ad-
MINIS ration was with favorable climatic
conditions, tho N abode for men IF or
own race. At the t'mo Of annexation II
passed under the rule ~ tho Anglo Saxon
Wru carried with him mr. language ami
cur lave. II was TERRITORY continuous 10
our own. and occurred with the declared
intention when the conditions and nonu.
latlon would iusiiy-of carving r. into
states The result Millions Of Amer
lcan homes our National wealth Increased
neyond the dream OF avarire. and mo
United States chief among the nations OF
he earth
Can II be that the new polloy ~ forclbIe
hneNatlon Of distant islands nnds no
edeni in the historic events have men
'oi' ! nc answer is fornd in the
BARE STATEMENT OF FACTS
The territory acquired under democratic
dm'nis'rdtion Is contiguous -+ho Pbilip-
INC Islands eight thousand miles distant.
ne acquisition of territory upon our own
eminent added little 10 the National ex-
ehse~-fo maintain permanent soverciprty
yer the distant islands ueeegsi'aios I'M
tense expenditures upon or amy ami
wy More than that Il coatemglltes
lathots of administration hat pertain,
Of 10 me republic, but 10 The empire
an IL be doubted that the atteup. 20
lille the spirit of liberty viii iinlerlI
overnment at home?
What is proposed hy the Har;y IN ;.pwer
n the government oil. these islands Il
be intended TO establish there our pc
ticd institutions. what then becomes Of
'e Monroe doctrine? This vial inter-
ational policy annDIaced by the ir5s,-
mt of the United States seVenty-saYen
ears ago was 1--WE eve IL therefore |
canjor and to the amlca5le relations .
listing between the United states and
nsider any attempt on their par; to
tend their system TO any por'ion Of this
'misphore as dangerous to orr peace and !
fety" This was supplemented by "a b
sclaimer in substance upon aur patty 7
any intention 10 force plr institutions
,on the nations of Europe. mr. their de- I
ndencies. The Monroe docufne Is :
holesome and enduring Il is the faith {
Americans OF every 'ro'd aai party-
OF the very warp and woof of our po- b
ical being. II was promu gated ar the
itical moment when the Holy Alliance"
as attempting to stine the republican y
lTit and re- establish the despOHsm OF
,ain upon her reyoltes colonies in South b
nerica and in Mexico The essence Of s
e doctrine as then understood By the
,rld was. while we forbid the establish 0
emit OF despotlc government Iaol this
nerican continents. we recognize 'he A
obligations to refrain from Il
y attempt to force our political system b
on any part Of he old word. This II
S been our settled rule OF alta and p
actiee for more than three-aulrte.s OF &
century. Its oromplg tion defeate TIE a.
rpose OF the holy Alliance" and de- n
dyed forever the power o, Spain rpon s,
is continent. Under it Louie Nal cleon ii
third of a century AFRO vas compelled to F
.hdraw the French army from Mexico .
leave the all-starred Macmillan 10 D
fate. Under II he e.apire estG bligh- =.