Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-07-13
THE PLATFORM.
Imperialism, Trusts and Militarism
the Principal Planks.

assembled In national convention on
the anniversary OF the adoption OF the
Declaration OF Independence, do reaf-
hrm our faith in that immortal proc
iamation Of the constitution framed in
harmony Herewith by the fathers OF
the republic. We hold, with the
United States supreme court, that the
Declaration of Independence is the
spirit OF our government, OF which the
constitution IL 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 gov
erned Is tyranny; and to impose up.
on any people government Of force
is to substitute the methods of impe
Tialism for those OF o republic. We
hold that the constitution follows the
flag and denounce the doctrine that
an executive or congress, deriving
their existence and their powers from
the constitution can exercise lawful
authority beyond 1t or in violation Of
1T. We assert tiat no nation can long
endure half republic and bali empire,
and We warn the American people
tbst Imperialism abroad will lead
quickly and inevitably to despotism
at home. Believing in these princi-
pies, We deuounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by a Republican congress
against the protest and opposition Of
the Democratic minority, as bold
and opsn violation OF the nation g
organic law and flagtant breach Of
the national good faith. It imposes
upon the reople of Porto Rico gov
ernment without their consent and
taxation without representation. 1t
dishoDors the American people by re-
pudiating q 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.
It doomed to poverty and distress a
people whose helplessness appeals with
peculiar force to our justice and mag
nanimity. In this the first act OF its
impsrialistic program the Republican
party seeks tn commit the United
Stntos to colonial policy inconsist-
ent with Republican institutions and
condemned by the supreme court in
numerous decisions. We demand the
prompt and honest fullHlment Of our
pledges to the Cuban people and the
world that the United States has no
disposition nor intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction or control
over tho island nf Cuba. except for Its
modification. The war epueu nearv
two years ago. profound peace reigns
over all the island and still the ad.
ministration Keeps the government OF
the island from its people wtils ke-
publican carpet bag officials plumber
lie revenues and exploit the colonial
theory to the disgrace Of tho Ameri-
can people.
PHILIPPINE POLICY DE-
NOUNCED.
Ws condemn and denoupce the Phil
ippines policy of tnc present admins
tratiop. 1t has involved the republic
unnecessarily in war, sacrificed the
lives Of many Of our noblest CONS and
placed the Unitod States, previously
known and applaudpd throughout the
world as tho champion OF freedom, In
the false and name an position OF
crushing with military frrce the
efforts OF our former allies to achieve
liberty and sslf-Rovel nment.
The Filipinos cannot he citizens
without cndangering our civilization !;
they cannot be tjects without i'm.
periling our form OF government and
as We are not willing to surrender "ur
civilization, or to convert the republic
into an empire, we favor an imne-
diate declaration Of the nations pur-
pose to give tho Filpinns first
stable form Of government, second, in
dependence, and. third, protection
from outside interference such as has
been given for nearly century to the
republics OF Central and South
America.
The greedy. commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy of the
Republican administration attempts
to Justify 1t with tho plea that it will
pay, but even this sordid and uu-
worthy plea fails when brought tn the
test oil facts. The war 0f criminal
aggression against the Fili2inos en-
tailiug an annual expense OF mary
millions, has already cost more than
any possible profit that could acc' ue
from the entire tra1o for years to
come. Furthermore, when trade rs
extended at the expense OF liberty, the
price is always too high. We are not
opnosud to territorial expansion when
it takes in desirable territory which
can be erected into states in the
Union and whose people are willing
and tit to become citizens.
FAVOR TRADE EXPANSION.
We favor trade expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means. But
We are unalterably opprsed to the
seizing or purchasing OF distant ISL
ands to be governed outside the con-
stitution an. whose people can never
become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the re
public's influence among The nations
Int believe that influence should he
attended, not by force and violence,
but through the pursuasive power o., OF :
hiph and honorable example. Inc
imnortance OF other questions now
psrdinq before the American people u
in no wise Diminished and tue penn.
cratic party takes no backward s.et
frem its position on them, put tne
burning issue Of imperialism growing
out II the Spanish war involves tht
-s.v a~istanca NJ the republic ana tns