The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-07-12
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


This is the text of the platform
adopted by the democratic party in ma
| tional convention assembled at Kansas
| City, July 5, 1900:
I'VE, the Representatives of the dem
| ocratic party of the United States, as
sembled in national convention on the
| anniversary of the adoption of the Dec
! laration of independence, do reaff1rm
| our faith in that immortal proclama-
| ton of the inalienable rights of men,
and our allegiance to the constitution
| framed in harmony herewith by the
| fathers of the republic.
I'VE hold chat according to the Unit
| ed States supreme court tie Declare
ton of Independence is the spirit Of
| our government, of which the consti-
tuition is the form and letter.
IMPERIALISM DENOUNCED.
1--WE declare again that all govern
ments 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 a tyranny; and to impose
| upon any people any government or
| force is to substitute the methods OF
Imperialism for those of republic. We
| hold that the constitution follows the
| flag and denounce the doctrine that an
executive or congress deriving their OK
| istence and their powers from the con-
stitution can exercise lawful authority
| beyond it or in violation of 1t. We as
sert that no nation can long endure
half republic and half empire and we
warn the American people that 1mpe-
rialism abroad VIII lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home.
PORTO RICAN LAW.
Believing in these principles, we de-
nounce the Porto Rico law, enacted by
a republican congress against the pro-
| test and opposition of the democratic
minority, as bold and open violation
| of the nations organic law, and ma
! grant breach OF the national good faith.
1t imposes upon the pee pie OF Porto
| Rico a government without their con-
sent and taxation without representa-
| ton. It dishonors the American people
| by regulating a solemn pledge made
| in their behalf by the commanding
| general of our army, which the Porto
Ricans welcomed t peaceful and I'M
resisted occupation of their land. IL
! doomed to poverty and distress people
whose helDlessness appeal with pecu-
! liar force to our justice and magma
nimity
I'm this the first act of it's impe-
realistic program, the republican par
| ty seeks to commit the United states
! to a colonial policy inconsistent with
/ republican institutions, and condemned
| by the supreme court in numerous de-
! cisions.
1--WE demand the prompt and honest
! fulfillment of our pledges to the Gu
! ban people and the world slat the
! United States has no disposition nor
intention to exercise sovereignty, jul
risdiction or control over the Island of
| Cuba. except Tor it's pacincation. The
war ended nearly two years ago, pro-
I found peace reigns over all the Islands
and still the administration keeps the
government of the island from its peo-
pie while republican carpetbag officials
| plumber it's revenues and exploit the
| colonial theory to the disgrace OF the
American people.
| PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
eve condemn and denounce the Phil
ippine policy of the present administra-
ton. 1t has involved the republic I'M
necessarily in war, sacrificed the Ives
I of many of our notlest sons and placed
the United States, previously known
and applauded throughout 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
self-government.
"The Filipinos cannot be civilized
, without endangering our civilization;
they cannot be subjected without i'm
periling our form of government, and
as we are not willing to surrender our
! civilization or to convert the republic
into an empire, we favor an immediate
declaration of the nation purpose to
give the FiliDinos, first, stable form
of government; second, independence,
and third, protection from outside ID
reference such as has been given for
nearly a century to the republics or
Central and South america.
tine greedy commerci@lism which
dictated the Philippine policy of the
republican administration attempts to
Justify it with the Flea tnat it will pay,
but even this sordid and nworthy plea
fails when brought to the test of facts.
! The war Of criminal aggression against
the Filipinos, entailing an annual ex-
| DelSe Oh many lullllOEo, Leho al SoNy
cost more than any possible profit that
could accrue from the entire Philip
| pines trade for years to come. Further
| more, when trade is extended at the
expense Of liberty the price is always
too high.
EXTENSION OF REPUBLICS IN
FLUENCE.
eve are not opposed 70 territorial
expansion when it takes in desirable
territory. which can be erected into
states in the union and whose people
are willing and fit to become American
citizens.
I'VE favor trade expansion by every
peaceful and legitimate means. But We
are unalterably opposed 10 the Selling
or purchasing of distant islands to be
governed outside the constitution and
whose people can never become citi-
zens.
Eve are in favor Of extending the
republics influence among the nations,
but believe that influence should be ex-