The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-07-14
DEMOCRATIC CREED.
Full Text of Platform Adopted by
the National Convention.
Imperialism Made the Paramount Is
sue-specinc Declaration for Sill
yer Coinage Mt 10 10 1-Strons
Denunciation of Trusts.

2 Kansas Cit,', No., July 6.-Following Is
r the Official text of the platform unanimous
ly adopted by the national democratic con-
, | vention:
We the representatives OF the democrat
ic party of the United States assembled
in national convention. on the anniver-
| sary OF the adoption of the declaration OF
independence, do reafiirm our faith In
that immortal proclamation OF the In
alienable rights of man, and our alle-
glance to the constitution framed in har-
. mony Herewith by the fathers of the
republic. We hold. with the United
States supreme court, that the declara-
J ton of independence is the spirit of our
government, OF which the constitution Is
the form and letter.
We declare again that all governments
Instituted among men derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed
that any government not based upon the
consent of the governed is tyranny,
and that to impose upon any people
| government of force is to substitute the
methods of Imperialism for those of
republic. We hold that the constitution
| follows the flag and denounce the doc
| trine that an executive or congress- de-
fivng their existence and their powers
| from the constitution, can exercise law
! full authority beyond it, or in violation of
| IT, We assert that no nation can long
endure half republic and half empire, and
| we warn the American people that i'm
| perialism abroad will lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home.
Believing in these fundamental prin-
| ciples, we denounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by q republican congress against
| the protest and opposition of the demo-
cratic minority, as bold and open vio-
latlon OF the nations organic law and a
fragrant breach of the national good
faith. 1t imposes upon the people OF
! Porto Rico a government without their
| nd without rpnrpspnt-
| alton 1t dishonors the American people
by repudiating a solemn pledge made in
their behalf by the commanding general
of our army, which the Porto Ricans
| welcomed to n peaceful and unresisted
| occupation of their land. 1t doomed to
poverty and distress a people whose help
lessness 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 United States to colonial
policy, inconsistent with republican in
stitutions and condemned by the supreme
court in numerous decisions.
Pledge to Cubn Must De Kept.
We demand the prompt and honest full
| nllment of our pledge to the Cuban people
and 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 pacifica-
ton. The war ended nearly two years ago,
profound peace reigns over all the island,
and still the administration keeps the gov
eminent of the island from its people,
while republican carpet bag officials plum
der its revenues and exploit the colonial
theory, to the disgrace of the American
people.
/ The Philippines.
We condemn and denounce the Philippine
, policy of the present administration. 1t
has involved the republic in unnecessary
war sacrificed the lives of many of our
noblest sons and placed the United States,
, previously known and applauded through
out the world as the champion of freedom
, in the false and un-American position of
| crushing with military force the efforts of
our former allies to achieve liberty and
citizens without endangering our civiliza-
ton; they cannot be subjects without inn
, periling our form of government and as
we are not willing to surrender our civil
ization or to convert the republic into an
empire we favor an immediate declaration
! of the nations purpose to give to the Fill
| pinos first stable form of government,
, | second, independence and third, protec-
ton from outside interference, such as has
been given for nearly century to the re-
, publics of Central and South America.
The greedy commercialism which die
tated the Philippine policy of the repub-
| lican administration attempts to justify
| IL with the plea that 1t will pay, but even
.
brought to the test of facts. The war OF
criminal aggression against the Fill
pinos, entaiing an annual expense OF many
millions, has already cost more than any
possible profit that could accrue from the
entire Philippine trade for years to come.
Furthermore, when trade Is extended al
the expense of liberty the price is always
too high.
We are not opposed to territorial expan-
sion when II takes In desirable territory
which he erected into states in the
union and whose people ore willing and fit
to become American citizens. We favor
trade expansion by every peaceful and
legitimate means. But we are unalterably
opposed to the selling or purchasing of dis
tant islands to be governed outside the con-
stitution and whose people can never be-
come citizens.
We are in favor of extending the repub-
lies influence among the nations. but be-
lieve that influence should be extended,
not by force and violence, but through the
pursuaive power of a high and honorable
example.
The Paramount Issue.
The Importance Of other questions now
pending before the American people is In
no wise diminished and the democratic
party takes no backward step from its po-
sition on them, but the burning Issue of i'm
perialism growing out of the Spanish war
involves the very existence OF the republic
and the destruction of our free institutions.
campaign.
Republican Platform Deceptive.
The declaration in the republican plat
form, adopted at the Philadelphia conven-
ton, held in June 1900, that the republican
party "steadfastly adheres to the policy
announced In the Monroe doctrine" is man
ifestly insincere and deceptive. This pro-
fession is contradicted by the avowed pol
icy of that party In opposition to the spirit
of the Monroe doctrine to acquire and hold
sovereignty over large areas of territory
and large numbers of people In the eastern
hemisphere. We insist on the strict main
tenance OF the Monroe doctrine and In all
! its integrity, both In letter and In spirit
as necessary to prevent the extension of
European authority on this continent and
as 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 subsection to European
authority.
MiIitarism Opposed.
We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and oppres-
sion at home 1t means the strong arm
which has ever been fatal, to free institu-
tons. 1t is what millions OF our citizens
have fed from in Europe. IL will impose
upra our peace-loving people a large
standing army and unnecessary burden of