Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1900-07-12
The Platform. Concluded From Ist PAGE.

are not willing to surrender our
civilization or to convert the Re-
public into an empire, we favor an
immediate declaration of the ma
tons purpose to give to the Fill
pinOs:
First-A stable form of govern
mcnt.
Observation-Disclosures; and
Third--Protcction from outside
interference such rs has been Civ
on for nearly century to the Re-
publics of Central and South A.
merica.
The greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy of
the Republican administration at
tcmpts to justify it with the plea
that it will pay, but even this sor-
did 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 millions, has al
ready cost more than any possible
profit that can accrue from the en-
tire Philippine trade for years to
come. Furthermore, when trade
is extended at the expense of lib
erty, the price is always too high.
EXPANSION.
We are not opposed to territori-
al expansion, when it takes in de-
sirablc territory which can be cree
ted into States in the Union and
whose people are willing and fit to
become American citizens. We
favor trade expansion by peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are
unaltcrably opposed to the Selling
or purchase of distant islands to
be governed outside the Constitu-
ton and whose people can never
become citizens.
We are in favor of extending
the Republics influence among
the nations, but believe that inllu-
cncc should be extended not by
force and violence, but thru the
persuasive power of II high and
honorable example.
PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
The importance of other qucs-
tions now pending before the a
merican people is in no wise di-
minishcd and the Democratic party
takes no backward step from it's
position on them, but the burning
issue of imperialism growing out
of the Spanish war involves the
very existence of the Republic aud
the destruction Of our free insttu-
tons. We regard it as the para
mount issue of the campaign.
MONROE DOCTRINE.
The declaration in the Republi-
can platform adopted at the Phila-
delphia convention, held III June,
1900, that the Republican party
steadfastly adheres to the policy
announced in the Monroe Doctrine,
is manifestly insidious and decept-
i've. This profession is contra
dicted by the avowcd policy of that
party in opposition to the spirit of
the Monroe Doctrine to acquire
and hold sovereignty over large a
reas of territory and large numbers
of people in the Eastern Henri
sphere.
We insist ON the strict mainte-
nance of the Monroe Doctrine, and
in all its integrity, both in letter
and in spirit, as necessary to pre-
vent the extension of European
authority on this continent, and
us essential to our supremacy IN
American affairs. At the same
time we declare that no American
people shall ever be held by force
in unwilling subjugation to Euro
pcan authority.
MlllTARlSM.
We oppose militarism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation
and oppression at home. 1t means
the strong arm which has ever been
fatal to free institutions. 1t is
what millions of our citizens have
fled from in Europe. 1t will inn
pose upon our peace-loving people |