The copper era., 1900-10-25
Democratic Platform.
Following is the declaration of
principles of the democratic party:

half republic and half empire, and we warn
people that Imperialism abroad will lead
quickly to despotism at home. Believing in
these fundamental principles, we denounce
the Porto Rican Law enacted by a republi-
can congress- against the protest and opposi-
ton of the democratic minority as a bold and
open violation of the nations organic law
and a fragrant breach of the national good
faith.
We demand the prompt and honest fulfill
ment of every pledge to the Cuban people and
the world, that the United States has no
disposition or intention to exercise sovereign
ty Jurisdiction control over Cuba, except
for its pacification.
We condemn and denounce the Philippine
policy of the present administration.
We favor an immediate declaration of the
nations purpose to give the Filipinos, first,
state government; second, independence; and
third. protection from outside interference.
We are not opposed to territorial expansion
when it takes desirable territory, which can
be erected into states in the union, and whose
people are willing and fit to become Ameri-
can citizens. We favor trade expansion by
every peaceful and legitimate means. But
we are unalterably opposed to the Selling or
purchasing of distant islands, to be governed
outside the constitution and whose people
cannot become citizens.
We insist upon the maintenance of the
Monroe doctrine.
We oppose militarism. 1t means conquest
abroad and intimidation and oppression at
home.
We pledge the democratic party to an I'M
ceasing warfare in the nation, state and city
against private monopoly in every form.
The existing laws against trusts must be en-
The tariff laws should be amended by put
ting the products of trusts upon the free list
to prevent monopoly under the plea of pro-
lection. We condemn the Dingley tariff law
as a trust-breeding measure, skillfully de-
vised to give them few favors, which they
do not deserve, and to place upon many the
burdens which they should not bear.
We reafirm and endorse the principles of
the national democratic platform adopted at
Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand
of that platform for an American financial
system made by the American people for
themselves which shall restore and maintain
a bi-metallic price level and as part of such
system, the immediate restoration of free
and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of Is to 1, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any other
nation. We denounce the currency bill
enacted at the last session of congress.
We favor an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the election of
United States senators by direct vote of the
people. We are opposed to government by
injunction; we denOunce blacklists and favor
arbitration as a means of settling disputes
between corporations and their employees.
In the interest of American labor and the
upbuilding of the working men, as a corner
stone of the prosperity of our country, we
recommend that congress establish depart
ment of labor, in charge of a secretary, with
a seat in the cabinet.
We favor the immediate construction, own
ership and control of the Nicaraguan canal
by the United States. We denounce the fail
ure of the republican party to carry out its
pledges, to grant statehood to the territories
of Arizona New Mexico and Oklahoma. We
favor an intelligent system of improving the
arid lands of the west, storing the waters for
the purpose of irrigation. Believing in the
principles of self-government and rejecting
as did our forefathers, the claim of the
monarchy we view with indignation the pur-
pose of England to overwhelm with force the
South African republics.
We denounce the lavish appropriations of
the recent republican congress which have
kept taxes high and which threaten the per
petuaity of oppressive war levies.
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