The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-08-23
DEMOCRATIC INCoNsIsTENCY,

Extracts from speech in the United
States senate by Senator Culom of
illinois on April 2:
The opposition to this (Pue.to Ri
cam bill is the result OF the usual tao
tical operations for advantageous posi-
tlons In a presidential year. The CAL
noun theory OF the Constitution and
the century-old fight of free trade to
destroy protection have made 4 united
and desperate charge upon the policy
and provisions Of this measure. The
democratic position In regard to our
Island territories Is clearly defined.
Ihey will claim that the moment any
territory becomes the property of the
United States by conquest, purchase,
cession, or discovery it is under our
Constitution and laws; that its people
and 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
lily come and can not be denied; that
this would break down every protec
tive barrier against pauper labor and
admit free into our ports the things
produced by people working in our
tropical possessions for a few cents
day and would degrade our citizenship,
and, therefore, IL they get in power
they will at once 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 Ia listening
to my friend the distinguished senator
from Tennessee (Mr. Bate to find hi
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-
late as they legislated Butlmy friend
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 ap-
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-official, and as Judge
proceeded to punish for contempt the
federal district judge, who had issued
a writ of habeas corpus for the Span
iards 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