Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-07-07
The Platform Adopted by the Ma
tiOnal Convention.
IMPERIALISM FIRST.
II WIN BE the Leading Contention In
the Coming Campaign-silver
l. still 10 10 Freedom
for the Philippines.

OlhiiN thhN'uNihu NJ hhhsas Oltyt
We, the representatives Of the Demo.
cratic party Of the United states Assem-.
BLEED IN national convention ON the AN.
niyerary Of the day Of declaration Of in.
dependence do reaiiirm our faith in that
immortal proclamation Of the constitu.
ton 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
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
tyranny; and that 10 impose upon any
people "A government Of force Is to sub.
stitutc the methods OF imperialism for
those Of a republic.
We hold that the constitution follows
the flag and denounce the doctrine that
an executive or congress. deriving their
existence and their powers from the con.
stitution, can exercise lawful authority
beyond Il or IN violation Of H. We as.
scrt 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
% despotism at home.
Believing in these principles. we de.
nounce the Puerto Rico law. enacted by
II Republican congress against the pro-
test and opposition Of the Democratic
minority, ~ bold and open violation
OF the nations organic law and fla.
grant breach Of the national good faith.
IL imposes upon the people Of Puerto
Rico government without their con.
sent and taxation without representa-
ton. IL dishonors the American people
by repudiating a solemn pledge made IN
their behalf by the commanding general
Of our army, which the Puerto Ricans
welcomed 20 a peaceful and unrtssted
occupation of their land. IL doomed to
poverty and distress people whose
helplessness appeals with peculiar force
10 justice and magnanimity. In this
the first act Of its imperialismic pro.
gramme the Republican party seeks to
commit the United States 20 colonial
policy inconsistent with republican insti.
tutions and condemned by the supreme
court In numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest
fulfllment Of our pledges to the Cuban
people aud the world that the United
States has no disposition nor intention
20 exercise sovereign jurisdiction or con.
troll over the island OF Cuba, except for
It's pacihcation. The war ended nearly
two years ago, profound peace reigns
over all the island. and still the admin
istratiou keeps the government Of the
island from its people, while Republican
carpetbag officials plumber its revenues
and exploit the colonial theory IN the
disgrace Of the American people.
We condemn aud denounce the Phil.
ippine policy Of the present administra-
ton II has involved the republic un.
necessarily in war. sacrificed the lives
Of many ~ our noblest sons and placed
the United States. previously known and
applauded throughout the world as the
champion Of freedom in the false and
unamerIcan position of crushing with
terrible force the efforts of our former
allies to achieve liberty and selfgoyern
ment. The Filipinos cannot be citizen.
without endangering our civilization
they cannot be subjects without imperil
ing our form Of government, and as W,
are not willing u surrender our ciyiliza
ton or TO convert the republic into M
empire. we feyor an immediate declara
ton Of the aations purpose 20 give IN,
Filipinos first stable form Of govern
ment. second Independence and thirC
protection from outside interference
such as has been given for nearly cen
fury TO the republics Of South and Cen
trial America.
The greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy Of tn
Republican administration attempts d
justify II with the plea that Il will pay
but even this sordid and unworthy plei
fail, when brought to the test Of facts
The war of criminal aggression agains
the Filipiuos, entniling An annual OK
pense OF many millions, has alread
cost moro than any possible profit tina
could accrue from the entire trade 70
years to come. Furthermore, whel
trade is extended at the expense ~ lih
erty the price is always too high. W
are not opposed 10 territorial expansion
when It takes in desirable territor
which can be erected into states in IN
Union and those people willing and Il
10 become American citizens,
We favor trade expansion by ever
peaceful and legitimate means, but W
are uualtcrably opposed to the soizin
OF purchasing Of distant islands to b
governed outside the constitution an
whose people can never become citizens
We are in favor of extending the r,
public's influence among the nations
but believe that influence should be ~
tended not boy force and violence, bJ
through the persuasive power Of a hig
and honorable example.
The Importance Of other question
now pending before the American pc,
pie il In no wise diminished and IN
Democratic party takes no backwar
step from its position on them. but ii
burning issue Of imperialism CROWN
out Of tho Spanish war involving th