Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-18
Go HE official text of the platform as
adopted by the Democratic national
convention MT Kansas City is ns

DO reafiirm our fnlth In that immortal proc
lamation of the inallenable rights of man
framed In harmony Herewith by the father
Of the republic. We hold with the Un.tet
States Supreme Court that the declaration
of Independence is the spirit of our govern
ment, OF which the Constitution ls the forli
and letter.
We declare ngaln that all governments in
stitutcd among men derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed; that an!
government not based upon the consent o
the governed Is tyranny, and that to i'm
pose upon any people form Of government
Of force Is to substitute the methods OF I'm
periallsm for those of republic.
We hold that the Constitution follows thu
Tag and denounce the doctrine that an ex
ecutive or Congress deriving their existence
and their powers from the Constitution cal
exercise lawful authority beyond 1t or Ii
violation Of 1t.
We assert that no nation can long endure
half republic and half empire, and we war;
the American people that Imperialism
abroad will lead quickly and inevitably tt
despotism Mt home.
Dcnouncc Porto Ricun Law.
Believing In these fundamental principles
we denounce the Porto Rico law, enacted by
Republican Congress, against the protes
as n bold and open violation of the nation''
organic law and fragrant breach of thu
national good faith.
1t imposes upon the people of Porto Rice
government without their consent, ant
taxation without representation.
1t dishcnors the American people by re
pndiating q solemn pledge made In their be
half by the commanding general Of oul
army, which the Porto RIcans welcomed t.
9 peaceful and unresisted occupation of theil
land. 1t doomed to poverty and distress /
people whose helplessness appeals with pc
culiar force to our Justice and magnanimity
In this, the first act of its imperialist!c pro
gram, the Republican party seeks TO com
init the United States to colonial policy
Inconsistent with republican institutions ant
condemned by the Supreme Court In numer
GUS decisions.
Demands Good Faith with Cuba.
We demand the prompt and honest fulfill
ment Of our pledge to the Cuban people and
the world that the United States has no dis
y, Jurisdiction, or control over the island oil
Cuba, except for Its pacificutiop.
The war ended nearly two years ago, pro
found peace relgns over all the island, and
ment of the Island from Its people while Re
publican cnrpetbag officials plumber its rev
enues and exploit the colonial theory, to the
disgrace of the American people.
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 Suites, previous
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
endangerlng our civilization; they cannot be
subjects without imperiling our form Of gov
eminent, and as we are not willing to sur
render our civilization or to convert the re
dlate declaration OF the nations purpose OF
give to the Filipinos first stable form OF
government; second, Independence. and
third. protection from outside Interference
to the republics of Central and South
America.
Scores Philippine Policy.
The greedy commercialism which dictated
the Philippine policy of the Republican nd,
minlstration attempts to justify 1t with the
plea that it will pay. but even this sordld
and aha unworthy plea falls when brought t.
gression against the Filipinos, entailing an
annual expense of many millions, has al
rendy cost Inore than any possible profit tina,
could accrue from the entire Philippine trade
for years to come. Furthermore, when trade
is extended at the expense of liberty the
price Is always too high.
We are not opposed to territorial expan
sion when 1t takes In desirable territory
which can be erected Into States in Union
and whose people are willing and fit to he
come American citizens. We favsr trade
expansion by every peaceful and Legitimate
means.
But we are unalterably opposed to the
seizure or purchase Of distant islands to be
governed outside the Constitution and
whose people can never become citizens.
Holds Imperialism Paramount.
We are In favor of extending the republics
Influence among the nations, but believe that
influence should be extended not by force
and violence, but through the persuasive
YNNy of n Ia VVln and hn, .ltN nv m VNNyaIn
The Importance of other questions now
pending before the American people Is In nc
wise diminished, and the Democratic party
takes no backward step from Its position Oh
growing out of the Spanish war. involves the
very existence of the republic and the de.
structlon of our free Institutions.
We regard 1t as the paramount Issue OF
the campaign.
The declaration In The Republican platform
adopted at the Philadelphia convention, held
In June, 1000, that the Republican party
.'steadfastly adheres to the policy announced
in the Monroe doctrine" Is manlfestly lnsin
cere and deceptive.
This profession is contradicted by the
avowed policy of that party In opposition to
the spirit Of the Monroe doctrine to acquire
and hold sovereignty over large areas Of ter
ritory and large numbers Of people In the
eastern hemisphere.
Must Uphold Monroe Doctrine.
we inSlSt on tne Strict maintenance OF the
Monroe doctrine and in all Its integrity, both
In letter and In spirit, as necessary to pre-
vent the extension of European authority or
this continent and as essential to our SUI
preInacy In American affairs.
At the same time We declare that nc
American people shall ever be held by force
In unwilling subsection to European au
thority.
We oppose milltarlsm. 1t means conqucs,
abroad and intimidation and oppression al
home; 1t means the strong army which has
ever been fatal to free Institutions.
1t Is what millions of our citizens have
fed from In Europe. 1t will impose upon our
peace-loving people large standing army
and IN unnecessary burden of taxation anu
q constant mennce to their liberties.
a small standing army and well disci
plined State militia are amply sufficient III
time Of peace. This republic has no place
for vast military service ana conscription
When the nation is In danger the volunteer
soldier IS his country's best defender.
The National Guard Of the United States
should ever be cherished In the patriotic
hearts of n free people. Such organizations
are ever mn element of strength and safety
For the first time In our history and co
evil with the Philippine conquest has there
honored and approved system Of volunteer
organization.
We denounce 1t as un.Amerlcan, un-demo
cratic and un-republicnn. and as n subver
sion CT the ancient and fixed principles Of 4
free people.
Trusts Arc Scored.
Private monopolies are indefenslble mt
int0lernble. They destroy competition, con
troll the price of all material and of the I'm
ished product. thus robbing both produce,
and consumer.
They lessen the employment of labor ant
arbitrarily fix the terms and conditions
thereof, and deprive individual energy ant
small capital of their opportunity for bet
termcnt.
They are the most efficient means vet de
yised for appropriating the fruits of indus
try to the benefit of the few at the e1pens,
of the many, and unless their lnsatiate greed
Is checked all wealth will be aggregated In
few hands and the republic destroyed.
A Quite Out-or-the- Ordinary Dat.
A San Francisco fisherman has chi
that is said to love water as much as
other cats love a rug in front of n CRATE
fire. When he goes fishing the cat lies
quietly in the boat and does not appear