The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-05-26


the two candidates for senatorial
honors, to state their views on the
burning questions Of the hour. This
has been the custom for years past,
and it is a good one for the people Of
the State ought to know how a sem
atoriaI candidate stands on national
questions, especially at this time,
when grave problems are confronting
the American people, and when DEM
ocratic union of thought and purpose
is essential to. Democratic success,
Both Of sthe senatorial candidates
seemed perfectly willing to state
their views before the Democratic
caucus composed of members of the
Legislature, and it developed that
both we're in full accord with the
national Democratic party, and will
aid it in every particular in the great
battle that that party is now waging
in its herculean effort to distroy the
evils that are threatening the over
throw of our republic.
Mr.. Foster has been misrepresented
more than any statesman that Louisi-
ana has produced and it is therefore
quite natural that his political enc
mics misrepresented him in asserting
that he was not in line with the
national Democratic party and the
Chicago platform.
Mr.. Foster makes plain that he is in
accord with the great leader of the
Democratic forces W. J.. Bryan, in
his vigorous war against Imperialism
and trusts. In the following decla-
ration he shows how far wrong his
enemies have been in CHASING him as
an obstructionist who would prove a
thorn in tbs side of the Democratic
party
"AllOw me at the outset to state that
I am a Democrat, and stand upon the
platform ofmy party. When the money
question was brought to the front in 1896
and made the leading issue of the nation
al contest of that yeas / did not believe
in, nor did / advocate the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to
l, Independently of other nations. When,
however, the party spoke on this subject
at the Chicago conventional in common
with thOusands,Of other Democrats inand
out of the state who, felt as L did, abided.
BY its action and gave loyal support: to
the nominees of that convention. and l
expect to-aOt in the future as / have done
1D,the past"
Touching on the subject of imperi-
alism Mr.. Foster says:
"Drawn by the course of events into
the occupancy of foreign islands, we
have been turned from the role of hber-
ators Of an oppressed people to that of
CUnquerOrs, and are now holding these
possessions by the use of the sword. So
seductive is the lust of power that the
basic principles Of our government are
being ignored, and the people are being
lured by the dreams of empire. Colonies
and dependencies are being considered
as part of our republican system. and
subject nations held under the flag over
whom u constitution throws not its
protecting shield. A constitutional re-
pablo like ours cannot stand such dis,
t]OrtionS of the principles upon which it
was founded. The splendid galaxy .ot
states which fixed their ~forty-fve stars
in the nations flag cannot ind fit com
pany in subject colonies. The right OF
self-gOvernment and the right of state
hood which has heretofore gone with the
flag, cannot give place to relations Of
subject and vassal without tearing away
the cOrner-stOne o .the structure. All the
growth and progress. Oftho past has been
on logicallines and in proper paths.
1.-THE original thirteen colonies have
extended down to the Mexican gulf, and
the Rio Grande, and out to the Pacific.
No greater act of craftsmanship is record
ed on the pages Of history Sthan the purp
chase from Napoleon by Thomas jefferson
of the vast Louisiana territory. This
purchase and all other extensions of
territory were simply acquisitions OF
lands. The people that inhabited these
territories were 30 few and so widely
scattered that whatever their nationality
or their training they could not stand in
the way ofthe new system, orpreyent the
upgrOwth Of republican institutions. 1t
remained for our day to go across the sea
and purchase nations. By the treaty OF
Paris we bought some 100000 people,
more than three times the number which
inhabited the American colonies when
they took up arms against Great Britain,
and these 100000 of Wlipinos belong
to that race which has never shown
capacity for free government, and a ma
/ iOritv of them are but half civiHzed. II