The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-07-14
The DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Declaration 81 Principles Adopted
BY the National Convention
at Kansas City.

the official text OF the platform as
agreed nrcnS by the. committee on res
o%lations and adopted by the conyenn-
tion:
we. the Representatives OF the demo-
cratic party of the United States. assem-
blcd In national convention IN the ami
versary of the adoption of the declara-
ton Of independence, do reaffirm our faith
in that immortal proclamation of the In
alienable rights OF man and our allegiance
to the constitution tramed@in harmony
herewith by the fathers OF the republic.
! We hold with the United States supreme
court that the declaration Of indepenG-
ence tssthe spirit of u government. of
which the constitution Ia the form and
letter. We declare again that all govern
fments Instituted among men derive their
Just powers from the consent of the gov
erned; that any government not based
upon the consent OF the governed Is a
tyranny, and that to- impose upon any
people a government of force Is to substt-
tutes the methods of imperialism for those
OF q republic. We hold that the constt-
tuition follows the nag n denounce the
doctrine that an executive or congress
deriving their existence and their powers
from the constitution can exercise lawful
authority beyond 1t, or in. violation OF 1t.
We assert h a no nation can long endure
half republic and half empire, and we
warn thessAmcrican people that imperial
ism abroad will lead quickly and inevita-
bly, to despotisn at home.
DenOunce Porto Rico Law.
Believing In these fundamental prin-
ciples. we denonnce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by q republican congress against
the gnrot not = q nd r,,,ocltVa,. - %ho 13n-,oy
cratic minority, as a bold n open Viola
ton Of tho nations organic law and a
fragrant e Of the national good faith.
It imposes upon the people of Porto Rico
q government Without their consent Ii
taxation without representation, 1t dis
honors the American people by 3repudiat-
Ing q solemn pledge made in their be-
half by the commanding general of our
army, which the Porto Ricans welcomed
to a peaceful n unrestricted occupation
OF their land. 1t doomed to poverty and
distress a people whose helplessness ap-
peals with peculiar force to our justice
and m~agnanimity. In this, the first act
OF Its imperialistic program, the repub-
States to q olonial policy, Inconsistent
with republican institutions and con-
demned by the supreme court In numer-
Gus decisions
Good Faith With Cuba.
We demand the prompt n honest full
fllment of our pledge to the Cuban. peo-
pie and the world that the United states
has no disposition nor Intention to exer-
else sovereignty, Jurisdiction or control
over the island of Cuba, except for It's
pactficntion. The war ended nearly two
years ago. Profound peace reigns over
all. the island. and still the administration
keeps the government of tie Island from
Its people. while republican carpet-bag
officials plumber Its revenues and exploit
the colonial theory to the disgrace of the
American people.
Duty TO Philippines.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy of the present administration.
1t has embroiled the republic in an UNI
necessary war. sacrificed the lives of
many of It's noblest sons, and placed the
United States. previously known and APP
plauded throughout the world us the
champion of freedom, In the false and un-
American position of crushing with milf
tary force the efforts of our former allies
to achieve liberty and self-government.
The Filipinos canno be citizens without
e~ndangering our civilization; they cannot
be subjects n importing our form
of government, and as weSnrc not willing
to surrender our civilization or to con-
vert the republic into an empire, we fa-
$vor an Immediate declaration of the ma
TONS purpose to give the Fllipinos. first:
Asstable form of government; second, In
dependence. and third protection from
outside interference, such as has been
given for nearly a century to the repub-
lies of Central and South America.
The greedy commercinlism which die
70 tod aU1Dnftt,,r,f u, ,N1trHyg x ~ ~ rN-,,H
lican administration attempts to Justify,
with the plea that 1t will pay, but even
this sordid and unworthy plea fails when
brought to the test of facts. The war
of criminal aggression against the Fill
ipinos, entatling an annual expense of
many millions, has already cost more
than any possible profit that could nc
crue from the entire Philippine trade for
years to come. Furthermore. when trade
Is extended at the expense OF liberty, the
price is always too high.
The Tsnrnlnonnt Issue.
We are not opposed to territorial Gex-
pansion, when 1t takes in desirable terri
tory which can be erected into states in
the union and whose people are willing
and ut to become American citizens. We
favor trade expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are unal-
terably opposed to the Selling or pur-
chasing of distant islands to.be governed
outside the constitution and whose peo-
pie can never become citizens.
We are an favor of extending the re-
pu5lic's influence among the nations, but
believe that influence should be extended
not by force and violence. but through,
the persuasive power OF high and hon
orable example. gS5s
The importancerof other questions now
pending before the American people is In
no wise diminished, ard the democratic
party takes no backward step from Its
position on them. but the burning issue
of Imperialism growing out of the Span
ish war involves the very existence OF the
republic and the destruction of our free
institutions. We regard 1t az the para
mount issue Of the campaign.
Monroe Doctrine.
The declaration OF the republican Mat
form adopted at the Philadelphia con
ventton, held in lure, 1900, that the re-
publican party nsteadfastly adheres ia
the policy announced In the Monroe
doctrine,"is manifestly insincere ana de-
|$ceptive. This profession is c~ontradicted
by tho avowed policy OF that party Iii
opposition tofsthe spirit of the Monroe
doctrine. to acquire and hold Sovereignty
over large areas OF territory and large
numbers OF people In the eastern hemis.
phere. We insist on the strict mainte-
nance Of the Monroe doctrine and In ali
Its integrity, both in letter and In spirit,
as necessary to prevent the extension
of European authority on this continent
and essential to our supremacy manner
lean affairs. At the same time we de.
clare that no American people shall ever
be held by force In unwilling subsection
to Europen authority.
b Danger OF Milttarism.
We oppose militarism. It means con.
quest abroad and intimidation and OBJ
preston at home. II means the stronp
arm which has ever been fatal to free in.
situations. It Is what millions or our cit.
liens have fed from In Europe, It will
impose upon III p~eace-loyinE people q
large standing army. an unnecessary
burden OF taxation ana q constant men.
ace to their liberties. A small standing
army aadsa well-disciplined state militia
arc amply snfficient IN time of peace,
This republic has no place for a vast mil
ftary service and; CONSUMPTION. When the
nation is In danger the volunteer soldier
is his country's best defender. The ma
tional guard OF the limited States should
ever be cherished In the patriotic hearts