The age-herald., 1900-07-06

yersarv of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, do reafirm our faith In that immortal proclamation of the inailena- ble rights of men, and our allegiance to the constitution framed in harmony herewith by the fathers of the republic
 We hold that according to the United States Supreme Court the Declaration of Independence is the spirit of our govern ment, of which the constitution is the form and letter.
 Imperialism Denounced
 'We declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that any government not based upon the consent of the governed is a tyranny; and to impose upon any people any government of force Is to substitute the methods of imperialism for those of a republic. We hold that the constitution follows the flag, and denounce the doctrine that an execu- tive 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 em- pire, and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism at home.
 Porto Rican Law
 Believing in these principles, we de- Republican Congress against the protest and opposition of the Democratic minority as bold and open violation of the nations organic law, and fragrant breach of the national good faith. It imposes upon the of their consent, and taxation without repre- sentation. It dishonors the American peo- pie by repudiating a solemn pledge made in their behalf by the commanding General of our army, which the Porto Ricans vel comed to a peaceful and unresisted occu- patton of their land. It doomed to poverty and distress a people whose helplessness appeal with peculiar force to our justice and magnanimity.
 Tn this the first act of its imcerialistic programme, the Republican party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy inconsistent with republican insti- tutions, and condemned by the Supreme Court in numerous decisions.
 We demand the prompt and honest full fillment of our pledges to the Cuban people and the world that the United States has no disposition nor intention to exercise sovereignty, Jurisdiction, or control over the island of Cuba, except for its pacifica- tion, The war ended nearly two years ago, profound peace reigns over all the islands, and still the administration keeps the gov ernment of the island from it's people While Republican carpetbag officials plunder It's revenues and exploit the colonial the ory to the disgrace of the American people. Philippine Question
 We condemn and denounce the Philip pine policy of the present administration. It has involved the republic unnecessarily in war, sacrificed the lives of many of our noblest sons, and placed the United States, previously known and applauded through out 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 Fflipinos cannot be civilized without endangering our civilizations; they cannot be subjected without imperilling our form of government and as we are not willing to surrender our civilization or to convert the republic into an empire we favor an immediate declaration of the nations pur- pose to give the Filipinos, first, a stable form of government; second, independence, and third, protection from outside interfer- ence, such as has been given for nearly a century to the republics of Central and South America.
 'The greedy commercialsm which die tated the Philippine policy of the Repub- | lican administration attempts to justify it with the plea that it will pay, but even | this sordid and unworthy plea fails when brought to the test of facts The war of criminal aggression against the Filipinos, entailing an annual expense of many mil lions has already cost more than any pos sible profit that could accrue from the en- tire Philippines trade for years to come. Furthermore when trade is extended at the expense of liberty the price is always too high