The copper era., 1900-08-16
Democratic Platform.
Following is the declaration of principles of the democratic party:

quickly to despotism at home. Believing in these fundamental principles, we denounce the Porto RiCan Law enacted by a republi- can congress, against the protest and opposi- tion of the democratic minority as a bold and open violation of the nations organic law and fragrant breach of the national good faith.
 We demand the prompt and honest fulfill ment of every pledge to the Cuban people and the world, that the United States has no disposition or intention to exercise sovereign ty, jurisdiction or control over Cuba, except for it's pacifcation.
 We condemn and denounce the. Philippine policy of the present administration.
 We favor an immediate declaration of the nations purpose to give the Filipinos, first, state government; second, independence; and third protection from outside interference.
 We are not opposed to territorial expansion when it takes desirable territory, which can be erected into states in the union, and whose people are willing and fit to become Ameri- can citizens We favor trade expansion by every peaceful and legitimate means. But we are unalterably opposed to the seizing or purchasing of distant islands, to be governed outside the constitution and whose people cannot become citizens.
 We insist upon the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine.
 We oppose militarism. It means conquest abroad and intimidatiop and oppression at home.
 We pledge the democratic party to an un- ceasing warfare in the nation, state and city against private monopoly in every form. The existing laws against trusts must be en- forced and more stringent ones enacted.
 The tariff laws should be amended by put ting the products of trusts upon the free list to prevent monopoly under the plea of pro- lection. We condemn the Dingley tariff law a trust-breeding measure, skillfully de- vised to give them few favors, which they do not deserve, and to place upon many the burdens which they should not bear.
 We reaff1rm and endorse the principles of the national democratic platform adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand of that platform for an American financial system made by the American people for themselves which shall restore and maintain a bi-metallic price level and as part of such system, the immediate restoration of free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. We denounce the currency bill enacted at the last session of congress.
 We favor an amendment to the federal constitution providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. We are opposed to government by injunction; we denounce blacklists and favor arbitration a means of settling disputes between corporations and their employees. In the interest of American labor and the upbuilding of the working men, a corner stone of the prosperity of our country we recommend that congress establish depart ment of labor, in charge of a secretary, with a seat in the cabinet
 We favor the immediate construction own ership and control of the Nicaraguan canal by the United States. We denounce the fail ure of the republican party to carry out it's pledges, to grant statehood to the territories of Arizona New Mexico and Oklahoma. We favor an intelligent system of improving the arid lands of the west, storing the waters for the purpose of irrigation. Believing in the principles of self-government and rejecting did our forefathers, the claim of the monarchy we view with indignation the pur- pose of England to overwhelm with force the South African republics.
 We denounce the lavish appropriations of the recent republican congress which have kept taxes high and which threaten the per nat 1aif <,f