Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-08-23
DEMOCRATIC INCONSISTENCY


Extracts from a speech In the ITnited
states senate by Senator Cullom ~
Illinois on April 2:
ne opposition to this puerto Ri
.an1 OIL Is the result of the usual tao
.ical operations for advantageous posi-
.lohs X a presidential year. The Cal
mum theory of the Constitution and
Tue ce~ntury-old fight of free trade 70
uestroy protection have made a united
anu desperate charge upon the policy
anu provisions of this measure. The
democratic position in regard to our
island territories is clearly defined.
lhey will claim that the moment any
Ieriitory becomes the property Of the
ohited states by conquest, purchase,
cession, or discovery it is under our
constitution and laws: that its people
ana products have the same rights and
are entitled TO the same freedom of
movement all over the United States as
the people and products of any state In
the Union; that statehood must speed
ny come n can not be denied: that
thls would break down every protec-
tive barrier against pauper labor and
admit free into our ports the Thugs
by people working in our
tropical possessions for a few cents a
day and would degrade our citizenship.
and, therefore, If they get In power
they Will at ono abandon these ISL
ands.
The Republican party stands upon
the action of Jefferson, Monroe, Jack
son, Polk, Pierce and Seward, that con-
gress has the power to govern these
acquisitions subject only to the prohi-
billions of the constitution.
was very much pleased in listening
to my friend the distinguished, senator
from Tennessee (Mr. Bate to find him
advocating what Jefferson did and
what Monroe did and Pierce did and
what Polk did, because they were all
Southerners and all Democrats. At the
same time he vigorously opposed pre-
cisely the same legislation for our new
possessions which they had enacted for
territories acquired by them. We
stand where Jefferson did and legis-
late as he legislated; where Monroe
did, and legislate as he legislated;
where Pierce and Polk did, and legis-
idtc dS IHcy lC6laldlcu. DuL NY lIiCIu
and his associates have wandered far
from these old leaders of their party.
| recall for the consideration and adj
monition of my Democratic friends
that story of General Jackson's COVER
norship of Florida. to which he was APP
pointed by President Monroe, under
the act Of congress Of March 3, 1921,
providing that all military, civil and
judicial powers shall be vested in such
person and persons and shall be exer-
cised in such manner as the president
Of the United States shall direct" He
claimed and exercised the executive,
legislative and judicial functions of
government under this commission,
and was sustained in them all. AS
legislature he enacted laws which
brought him, as governor, in conflict
with the ex-governor under Spain. AS
governor he promptly arrested and i'm
prisoned that ex-oficial, and a judge
proceeded to punish for contempt the
federal district judge, who had issued
a writ of habeas corpus for the Sp9N-
iard's release. 1t was after all this
that he became and has since continued
to be claimed as leader, counselor and
inspiration for the Democratic party.