The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-10
FOR A WAR ON TRUSTS
Sixteen to One Declared fer Specifically
Senators by Direct Vote.
PRESENT FOREIGN POLICY CONDEMNED
Pledges TO Cuba Should Be a. Once Redeemed.
Sympathy for the Beers oppressed. De-
mocracy's Position on the Philippine
Question Made Clear.
(By the Associated PressO

(By the Associated Press)
Kansas City. Mo, July Follow
ing is the Official text OF the plat
form as agreed upon by the Committee
on Resolutions and presented 10 the con-
vention:
We, the representative OF the Demo
cratic party Of the taited states, assem-
bled in National convention on the ami
Versary of the adoption OF the DeulaT2-
ton of Independence. do reaffirm our
faith in that immortal proclamation OF
the inalienaDle rights of man, and our 81
legiance to the Constitution. framed in
harmony herewith BY the fathers Of the
repubiic. We hold with the United States
Supreme Court, that the Declaration OF
Independence is the spirit of our govern
ment, Of which the Constitution * the
form and letter. We declare again that
all governments instituted among men
derive their just powers from the consent
OF the gOyerned, that any government not
based upon the consent of the governed
is a tyranny; and that to impose upon any
people a government of force is to su5sti-
tute the methods of Imperialism for thoSa
of a republic. We hold that the Constitlt-
ton follows the flag and denounce the
doctrine that an Executive or Cong 'eE5
| ttllNluS JIGlE existence ana l1elF towers
from the Constitution can exercise law
full authority beyond it or ir violation OF
il. We assert that no nation can long
endure half republic and half empire and
We warn the American people tilat IN
perialiSm abroad will lead quicklT and in
evitably to despotism at home. Believing
IN these fundamental principles We de-
nounce the Porto Rico law enacted by a
Republican Congress against the protest
and opposition of the Democratic minority
as a bold and open violation Of the ma
tons organic law and a fragrant breach
OF the national good faith. 1t imposes
upon the people of Porto Rico q Govern
ment without their consent and taxation
without representation. 1t dishonors the
American people by repudiating a solemn
pledge made in their behalf by the COM
manding general of our army, which the
Porto Ricans welcomed to q peaceful and
urresisted occupation of their land. 1t
doomed to poverty and distress a people
whose helplessness appeals with peculiar
force to our justice and ~magnanimity. In
this the first act of its imperialistic pro-
gramme, the Republican party seeks to
commit the Unued States to a colonial
policy, inconsistent with Republican in
stitutions and condemned by the Supreme
Court in numerous decisions.
CUBA AND OUR PLEDGE.
We demand the prompt and honest full
fllrnent of our pledge to the Cuban peo-
pie and to 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 pacification. The war ended nearly
two years ago, profound peace reigns over
all the island; still the Administration
l<pnnc tho uoyarnyla,t of tho lola nd from,
its people while Republican carpet BAG
officials plumber its revenues and exploit
the colonial theory to the disgrace Of the
American people.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy of the present administration
1t has involved the Republic in unneces-
sary war. sacrificing the lives Of many
of cur noblest sons and placed the Uni
ted States, previously known and APP
plauded throughout the world as the
champion of freedom. in the false and un-
American position Of crushing with mill
tary force the efforts of former allies to
achieve liberty and self-government. The
FilipinoS cannO be citizens without en-
dangering our civilization; they cannot
be subjects without irnperilling our form
of government and as we are not Will
ing to surrender our civilization or &c
convert the Republic into an empire, we
favor an immediate declaration of tbs
nations intentions, first a stable form OF
government, second independence. and
third protection from outside interference
such as has been given for nearly q cen
fury to the Republics OF Central anj
South America.
The greedy commercialism which die
tated the Philippine policy of the Repub-
lican administration, attempts to justif!
it with the plea that it Will pay, bu'
even this sordid and unworthy plea fails
when brought to the test OF facts. The
war of criminal aggression against tht
FilipinCS, entailing an annual expense 0
many millions has already cost more thar
any possible profit that could accrue from
Z the entire Philippine trade for years t.
come. Furthermore. when trade is eX
tended at the expense of liberty, the pric,
is always too high.
POSITION ON EXPANSION.
We are not opposed to territorial eX
pansiOn when it takes in desirable terri
tory which can be erected into States il
the Union ard whose people are Willing
and fit to become American citizens.
We favor expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are unal
terably opposed to Selling or purchasing
of distant islands to be governed OutSid
the Constitution and whose people ca
never become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the Re
= public's influence among the nations, bu
believe the influence should be eXtende
not by force and violence, but throug
J. the persuasive power Of a high and hon
orable example.
The Importance of old questions no.
pending before the American people IS !
no wise diminishing and the Democrat
party takes no backward step from it
position on them but the burning lssu