The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-07-12
The Democratic
Party Platform.
Principles Announced and the
Issues of the Campaign Set
Forth by the Convention
Assem- bled in kans-
as City.
Imperialism is the Paramount
Issue.

DeInOCratlC party OF the OnlteU
States, assembled in convention on
the anniversary OF the adoption of
the Declaration OF Independence do
reaffirm our faith in that immortal
proclamation of the inalienable
rights of man and Our allegiance to
the Constitution framed in harmony
Herewith by the fathers of the Re-
public. We hold with the United
States Supreme Court that tie Dec
laration of Independence is the spirit
of Our government, of which the
Constitution is the form and letter.
We declare again that all govern
ments instituted among men derive
their just powers from the consent
Of the governed; that any govern
ment not based upon the consent of
the governed is tyranny; and that
to impose on any people govern
ment of force is to substitute the
methods of Imperialism tor those Of
a Republic. We hold that the Con-
stitution follows the flag and de-
nounce the doctrine that an Exc
cutive 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, and we warn the American
people that Imperialism abroad will
lead quickly and inevitably to des-
potlsm at home. Believing i'll those
fundamental principles we denounce
the Porto Rico law, enacted by a
Republican Congress against the
protest and opposition of the Demo
cratic minority as bold and open
violation of the nations organic law
and fragrant breach Of the national
good will.
GOVERNMENT OF PORTO RICO.
1t imposes upon the people Of
Porto r co 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 well
coined to peaceful and unresisted
occupation of their land. 1t doom
ed to poverty and distress a people
whose helplessness appeals with pc
culiar force to our justice and mag
nanimity. III this, the first act Of
its imperialistic programme, the Re-
publican party seeks to commit the
United States to a colonial policy,
inconsistent with Republican insti-
tutions and condemned by the Sup
rene Court in numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and hon
est fulfilment of our pledge to the
Cuban people and to the world that
the United States has no disposition
nor intention to exercise sovereignty
jurisdiction or control over the Is
land of Cuba, except for its pacifca-
ton. The war ended nearly two
years ago, profound peace reigns
over all the island, and still the ad
ministration keeps the government
Of the island from its people, while
Republican carpet bag officials
plunder its revenues and exploit the
colonial theory to the disgrace OF
the American people.
We condemn and denounce the
Philippine policy of the present ad-
ministration. 1t has involved the
Republic in unnecessary war, sacri-
feed the lives of many of our
noblest sons and placed the United
States, previously known and ap-
plaudcd throughout the world as
the champion Of freedom, in the
false and un- American position OF
crushing with military force the
efforts of our former allies to achieve
liberty and self-government. The
Filipinos cannot be citizens without
endangering Our civilization; they
cannot be subjects without imperil-
! ing our form of government, and as
we are not willing to surrender our
civilization or to convert the Repub
lie into an Empire we favor an i'm,
mediate declaration of the nation 5
purpose to give to the Filipinos first
a stable form of government, second
independence, and third, protection
from outside interference, such a,
has been given for nearly a century
to the Republics of Central ant
South America.
PHILIPPINE POLICY.
The greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy Of the
Republican administration attempt,
to justify it with the plea that it vii
pay, but even this sorbid and un
worthy plea fails when brought tc
! the test Of facts. The war Of Grim,