Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-07-13
The Platform.


ocratic party of the United States,
assembled in national convention on
the anniversary of the adoption of
the Declaration of Independence, 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 repub-
lie. 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
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed; that any gov
ernment not based upon the consent
of the governed is tyrrany, and
that to impose upon any people a gov
ernment of force is to substitute the
methods of Imperialism for those of
a republic.
We hold that the constitution fol-
lows the flag and denounce the doc
trine that an executive or congress
deriving their existence and powers
from the constitution can exercise
lawful authority beyond it, or in vio-
lation of it. We assert that no ma
ton can long endure half republic
| and half empire, and we warn the
American people that Imperialism
| abroad will lead to despotism at
home. Believing in these fundamen-
tai principles, we denounce the Porto
Rico law enacted by a republican con-
gress against the opposition of the
| democratic minority as bold and
open violation of the nations organic
law and fiagrant breach of the ma
tion's good faith. 1t imposes upon
| the people of Porto Rico a govern
ment without their consent, and taxi
tion without representation. 1t dis
honors the American people by re-
pudiating a solemn pledge made in
their behalf by the commanding gen.
eral of our army, which the Porto
Ricans Welcomed to peaceful and
unresisted occupation of their land.
1t doomed to poverty and distress a
people whose helplessness appeals
with peculiar force to our justice anil
magnanimity. In this, the first act OF
its imperialistic program, the repub.
lican party seeks to commit the Uni
ted States to a colonial policy incon-
sistent with republican institutions
and condemned by the supreme court
in numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and homes,
fulfillment of our pledge to the Cuban
people and the world that the United
States has no disposition nor inten.
ton to exercise sovereignty, iurisdic
tion OF control over the island oi
Cuba except for its pacification. The
war ended nearly two years ago, pro
found peace reigns over all the islant
and still the administration keeps the
government of the island from its
people while republican carpetbag of
ficials plunder it's revenues ard eX
ploit the colonial theory to the dis
grace of the American people.
We condemn and denounce the Phil
ippine policy of the present admins
tration. 1t has involved the republi,
in unnecessary war, sacrificed tn,
lives of many of our noble sons, ant
placed the United States, previousl,
known throughout the world as tn,
champion of freedom, in the false am
un-American position of crushing
WIN mlllIaTy 1Orce JHe e1IOfLS OF on
former allies to achieve liberty an,
self-govcrnment. The Filiptnos can
not be citizens without endangerins
our civilization; they cannot be sub
iects without imperiling our form o
government, and as we are not will
ing TO surrender our civilization no
to convert the republic into an em
pire, we favor an immediate declara
tion of the nations purpose to Civ
the Filipinos-first, n stable form o
government; second, peace, and third
protection from outside interference
such as has been given for nearly
century to the 'epublics of Contra
and South America.
The greedy commercialism whicl
dictated the Philippine policy of th
republican administration attempt
to justify IL with the plea that it wi
pay, but even this sordid and un
worthy plea fails when brought t
the test of fact The war of criminu
aggression against the Filipinos, er