Arizona silver belt., 1900-07-12
REAFFIRM TIE PRINCIPLES OF FREE
 GOVERNMENT.

GOVERNMENT.
 We. the representatives of the democratic party of the United States, assembled in national convention on the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration ot Independence, do reafiirm our faith in that immortal proclamation of the inalienable rights of man, and our allegiance to the Con stitution formed in harmony there with b, the fathers of the republic.
 I've hold, with the United states supreme court, that the Declaration of Independence is the spirit of our government, of which the Constitu- tion is the form and letter We de- clare again that all governments in- stituted 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 to impose upon any people government officer is to sub stitute the methods of imperialism for those of a republic. We hold that the Constitution follows the flag, and de- nounce the doctrine that an executive or congress deriving their existence and powers from the Constitution can exercise unlawful authority beyond It or in violation of it. We assert that no nation can endure half republic and halt empire. and we warn the people that imperialism abroad VIII lead quickly and inevitably to despot- ism at home.
 PORTO IIcAN LAW DENOUNCED.
 .Belieyiny in these fundamental principles, we denounce the foro Rican law enacted by republican congress against the protest ana oppo- sition of the democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the na- tion's organic law, and hagrant breach of the national faith. It i'm poses upon the people of Porto Rico government without their consent, and taxation without representation' It dishOnors the American people ny repudiating a solemn pledge maoe III their behalf by the commanding gen eral of our army. which the Porto Ricaas welcomed to peaceful and unresisted occupation Of their ian1' It doomed to poverty and distress people whose helplessness appeals with peculiar force to our justice ana mag nanimity. In this, the first act of US imperialistic programme, the repuoli- can party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy, incon- sistent with republican institutions and condemned by the supreme court in numerous decisions.
 FREEDOM FOR CUBA.
 We demand the prompt and honest fultillment of every pledge to the Cuban people and the world; that the United States has no disposition or in- tention to exercise sovereignty, iurls- diction or control over the island of Cuba, except for it's pacitication. The war ended nearly two years ago, pro found peace reigns all over the island. and still the administration keeps the government of the island from US people, while the republican carpet bag officials plunder its revenues and exploit the colonial theory to the dis grace of the American people. CONDEMN THE PHILIPPINE POLICY.
 We condemn and denuunce the Philippine policy of the present ad- ministration. It has embrOiled the re- public in an unnecessary war, sacri- iced the lives of many of its noblest sons. and placed the United States, previously known and applauded throughout the world as the champion of freedom, in the false and un-Amer- ican position of crushing with mili- tary force the efforts of our former allies to achieve liberty and Self-gov- ernment. The Filipinos cannot he citizens without endangering our civ ilization: they cannot be subjects without imperiling our form of gov ernmcnt, 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 na- tion's purpose to give to the Filipinos, first. state of government: second, independence, and third, protection from outside interference, such as has been given for nearly century to the republics of Central and South Amer ica.
 "The greedy commercialism which dictated the Philippine policy of the republican administration, attempts to justify it with the plea that it will pay, but even this Sordid and un- worthy plea fails when brought to the test of facts. The war of criminal aggression against the Filipinos, en- tailing annually an expense of many millions, has already cost more than any possible profit that could accrue from the entire Philippine trade for