Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-07-11
PLATFORM OF THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

ocratlc party OF the = nlteu States, as
sembled In national convention on
the anniversary of the adoption
of the Declaration of Inde-
pendenoe, 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 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 governed; that any
government not based upon the con-
sent of the governed is n tyranny;
and that to impose upon any people
government of force is 10 substi-
tute 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 or congress deriving their exis-
tence and their powers from the Con-
stltution can exercise lawful author
lty beyond 1t or IN violation of it.
We assert that no nation can long en-
dure half republic and half empire,
and we warn the American people
that Imperialism abroad will lead
quickly and inevitably to despotism
at home
believing IN these fundamental
principles, we denounce the Porto
Rico law, enacted by a Republican
Congress against the protest and op-
position of the Democratic minority,
as bold and open violation of the
nations organic law and a fragrant
breach of the national good faith.
1t imposes upon the people of Porto
Rico a government without their con.
sent and taxation without representa-
ton. 1t dishonors the American
people by repudisting a solemn
pledge made In their behalf bv the
commanding general of our army,
which the Porto Ricans welcomed to
a peaceful and unreslsted occupation
of thier land. 1t doomed to poverty
and distress a people whose helpless
ness appeals with peculiar force to
our justice and magnanimity. In
this, the first act of its imperialistic
program, the republican party seeks
to commit the United States to a CO.
lonial policy inconsistent with repub-
lican institutions and condemned by
the Supreme Court in numerous de-
cisions.
eve demand the prompt aud honest
fulfllment of our pledge to the Gu
ban 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 pacifcation.
The war ended nearly two years ago,
profound peace reigns over all the
island, and still the administration
keeps the government Of the island
from its people while republican
carpet-bsg officials plumber It's reven-
ues and exploit the colonial theory.
to the disgrace of the American peo-
pie.
eve 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 applauded
througout the world as the champion
of freedom in the false and un-Amer-
lean position of crushing with mill
tary force the efforts of our former
allies to achieve liberty and self-gov.
eminent. The Filipinos cannot be
citizens without endsngering our civ
ilization; they cannot be subjects
without lmperilling our form of gov
eminent, and as we are not willing to
surrender our civilization or to CON
vert the republic into an empire, we
favor an Immediate declaration of
the nations purpose to give the Fill
plnos first, stable form of govern
ment; second, independence, and
third, protection from outside inter
ference, such as has been given for
nearly century to the republics of
Central and South America.
"The greedy commercialism which
dictated the PHILIPPINE policy of the
republican administration attempts
to Justify it with the plea that 1t will
pay, but even this sordid and un-
worthy plea falls when brought to
the test of facts. The war of crimi-
nal aggression against the Filipinos,
entailing an annual expense of many
millions, has already cost more than
any possible profit that could accrue
from the entire Philippine trade for
years to come. Furthermore, when
trade is extended at the expense of
liberty the price is always too high.
eve are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it takes in desirable
territory which can be erected into
States in the Union and whose people