Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-07-20
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Imperi"iisn the Main Issue, hut Six
teen TO One Is Stiu u
Party slogan.

We. the representatives of the Demo-
cratic party OF the United States. assem-
bled in convention on the anniversary OF
the adoption of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. do reaffirm our faith In that i'm
mortal proclamation of the inalienable
rights OF man and our allegiance to the
constitution framed in harmony there
with by the fathers of the republic. We
hold with the United States supreme
court that the Declaration of Independ-
ence is the spirit OF our government, OF
which the constitution is the form and
letter. We declare again that all govern
ments instituted among men derive their
Just powers from the consent of the gov
erned; that any government not based
upon the consent of the governed is
tyranny; and that to impose on any peo-
pie n government of force is to substitute
the methods of Imperialism for those of
a republic We hold that the constitution
follows the fag and denounce the doctrine
that an executive or congress, deriving
their existence and their power from the
constitution, can exercise lawful author
ity 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 imperial
ism abroad viii lead quickly and newt
ably to despotism at home.
Relieving in these fundamental prip-
ciples, we denounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by Republican congress, against
the protest and opposition of the Demo-
cratic minority, as n bold and open vio-
lation of the nations organic law and u
ilagrapt breach Of the national good
raith. 1t imposes upon the people OF
Porto Rico a government without their
consent and taxation without representa-
tion. 1t dishonorS the American peo-
pie by repudiating solemn pledge made
In their behalf by the commanding gen.
eral OF our army, which the Porto RicanS
welcomed to a peaceful and unreSiSted oc-
cupation of their land. 1t doomed to
poverty and distress n people whose help
|esSnesS appeals with peculiar force TO
our Justice and magnanimity. In this,
the first act of its imperialistic program.
the Republican party seeks to commit
the United States to a colonial policy, In
Consistent with republican institutions
ana condemned by the supreme court In
numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest fuls
nilment OF our pledge TO tho Cuban peo-
pie and the world that the United States
has no disposition nor intention to exer-
else sovereignty, jurisdiction or control
over the Island of Cuba except for It's
pacthcation. Tho war ended nearly two
years ago. profound peace reigns over all
the island, and stin the administration
Keeps the government OF the island from
its people. while Republican carpet bag
officials plumber It's revenues and exploit
the colonial theory to the disgrace OF the
American people.
Philippines Policy Denounced.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy OF the present administration
1t has involved the republic I'm unneces-
sary war, sacrificed the lives or many of
our noblest sons and placed the United
States. previously known and applauded
throughout the world as the champion OF
freedom. in the false and unamerican po-