The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-06
DEMOCRATS
DECLARE FOR
FREE SILVER.
Platform Adopted Calls for Free
Coinage Of the White Metal
at Ratio Of 16to 1.
ONE OF THE LEADING ISSUES.
Condemns so-Called Imperialism and
Trusts-opposed to Expansion and
Aggression Against Filipinos.

the platform adopted without I dis
senting voice by the Democratic nation
al convention to-day:
We, tha representatives of the De-o-
cratic party OF the United States, as
sembled in nationa! convention on the
anniversary OF tho adoption OF the de-
clarat!on of independence, do reafIirm
our faith in that immortal procIama-
ton Of inalienabla rights OF man and
our allegiance to the constitution
framed in harmony herewith by the
fathers OF the republic. We hold with
the United States supreme court that
the declaration Of Independence is the
spirit OF our government OF which the
constitution is the form and letter. We
declare again that all governments in
stituted among men derive their just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed. that any government not based
upon the consent OF the governed Is n
tyranny; and that to impose upon any
people government OF, force Is to sub
stitute the methods OF Imperialism for
those of 4 republic We hold that the
constitution follows the flag anu de-
nounce the doctrine that an executive
or Congress deriving their existence
and their powers from the constitution
can exercise lawful authority beyond It,
or in violation Of It. We assert that no
nation can long endure half republic
and half empire. ana we warn the
American people that Imperialism
abroad will lead quickly and inevitably
to despot!sm at home.
Denounces the Porto Rico Law.
Believing in these fundamental prin-
cipies. wc denounce the Porto Rico law
enacted by 4 Republican Congress
against the protest and opposition OF
the Democratic minority as i bold und
open violation of the nations organic
law and iiagrant branch Of the na-
tional good faith. 1t imposes upon the
people of Porto Rico :; government
without their consent and taxation
without representation. 1t dishonors
the American people by repudiatIng a
solemn pledge made In their behalf by
the commanding general OF our army,
which the Porto Ricans welcome to 4
peaceful and unrestricted occupation of
their land. 1t doomed to poverty anu
distress n people whose helplessness ap-
peals with peculiar force to our justice
and magnanlmity. In this the first act
of its imperiallstlc progtoiame, the Re-
publican party seeks 3 commit the
United States to colonial policy In
consistent with republican institutions
and condemned by the supreme court
in numerous decisions.
Clause Relating to Cuba.
We demand the prompt and honest
fuliillmcnt OF our pledge to the Cuban
people and the world that thu United
States has no disposition nor intention
to exercise Sovereignty. Jurisdiction or
control over the island OF Cuba except
for its paciiication The war ended
nearly two years ago. profound peace
rcigns all over the island and still the
administration keeps the government
OF 1t, and from Its people, while Rppub-
lican carpet-bag officials plunder it's
revenues and exploit the colonial theory
TO the disgrace of the American people.
We condemn and denounce the Phil
ippine policy OF the present adminis-
tration. II has involved in unnecessary
war sacrificed the lives of many OF
our noblcst sons and placed the United
States previously known and applauded
throughout the world as the champion
Of freedom. In the false and uH-Ameri-
can position Of crushing with military
force the efforts of former allies to
achieve liberty and self government.
The Filiplnos cannot be citizens with
out cndanSering our civilization; they
cannot be subjects without imperIlllng
our form OF government, and US We are
not willing to surrender our civilization
or to convert the republic into an en-
pirc.we favor an immediate declaration
or the nations purpose to give to the
Filipinos first. n stable form Of govern
men'' second, indepcndencc and third.
protection from outside interference
such 'as has been given for nearly n
century to the republics Of Central aud
SCUM America,
Iouches philippine Annexation.
The greedy commerciallsm which die
tated the philippine policy of the Re-