Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-12
THE PLATFORM.

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form, as adopted by the convention:
We, the represen tatives of the Demo.
cratic Party of the United States, as
sembled iE convention on the anniver-
sary Of the adoption OF the Declaration
of Independence, do reaffirm our faith
in that immortal proclamation OF the
iDBlienable rights of man, and our
allegiance to the Constitution framed
in harmony Herewith by the fathers of
the Republic. We hold with the United
States Supreme Court that the Declara-
tion of Independence is the spirit of our
government, Of which the Constitution
is the form and letter.
Wo declare again that all govern
ments instituted among mon derive
their Just powers from the consent of
the governed; that any government not
based upon the consent of the governed
is a tyranny; and that to impose npon
| any people government OF force is to
substitute the methods OF Imperialism
for those of republic. We hold that
the Constitution follows the tiae, and
| denounce the doctrine that an esecu.
| tive or. Congress, deriving their exist
ence and their powers from the Consti.
| tuition, can exercise lawful authority
| beyond it,, for in violation of it we as
| sert that no nation can long endure half
republic and half einpire, and We warn
| the American people that imEeria lism
abroad will lead quickly and inevitably
to despotism at homo,
| Believing in these fundamental prin-
ciples, we denounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by a Republican Congress
against the protest and opposition of
the Democratic minority, as a bold and
| open violation of the nations organic
law aud fragrant breach Of the ma.
| tional good faith. 1t imposes upon the
people of Porto Rico government
without their consent and taxation
without representation. 1t dishonors
the American people by repudiating q
solemn pledge made In their behalf by
the commanding general of our army,
which the Porto Ricans welcomed to
a peaceful and unresisted occupation of
their land. 1t doomed TO poverty and
distress a people whose helplessness ap.
peals with peculiar force 10 our Justice
and magnaninity. In this, the first
act of its imperialistic programme, the
Republican party seeks to commit the
| United States to colonial policy, in
consistent with republican institutions
and condemned by the Supreme Court
IN numerous decisions
| We demand the prompt and honest
| fultilment 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 ratification, The war ended
nearly two years ago, profound peace
reigns over all the island, and still the
administration keeps the government of
the island from its people, while Re-
| publican CARPET. bag Oft cia,s plumber it's
revenues and exploit the colonial
theory to the disgrace of the American
PEOPLE.
condemn and denounce the Philip
Zine policy OF the present adninistra-
tion. 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 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 citizens without endangering our
civilization; they cannot be subjects
without lmperiling our form Of govern
ment, and as we are not willing to sur
render our civilization or 10 convert
the Republic into an empire, we favor
an Immediate declaration Of the nation g
purpose to give to the Filipipos first a
stable form of government, second, in
dependence, and third, protection from
outside Interference, such as has been
given for nearly century TO the re-
publics Of Central and South Anerioa.
\ ~. i
tated the Philippine policy of the Re-
publican administr ration attempts to
justify 1t with the plea that it will pay,
but even this sordid and unworthy
Flea fails when brought to the test of
facts. The war of criminal aggression
against tho Filipipos, entailing an
annual expense Of many millions, has
already cost more than any possible
profit TINT could accrue from the entire
Philippine trade for years to come.
Furthermore, when trade is extended
at tho expense of liberty the price is
always too high.
We are not opposed to territorial ex.
pansion when 1t takes in desirable
territory which can be erected into
States In the Union, and whose people
are willing and fit to become American
citizens. We favor expansion by
every peaceful and legitimate means.
hut We are unalterably opposed to the
seizing purchasing of distant islands.
to be governed outside the Constitu-
ton, and whose people can never be-
come citizens.
We are in favor of extending the Re-
public's influence among the nations,
but believe thai influence should be ex-
tended. not by force and violence, but
through the pei suasive power of high
and honorable example.
The importance Of other questions
now pending before the American peo-
pie Isl in nowise diminished, and the
Democratic party takes no backward
step from its position on them, but the
burning issue of Imperialism growing
out of the Spanish war involves tho
very existence of the Republic and the
destruction 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, 1900, that the
Republican party 'steadfastly adheres
to the policy announced in the Monroe
doctrine" is manifestly insincere and
deceptive. This profession is contra
dicted 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 territory
and large numbers of people in the
Eastern Hemisphere. We insist ON the
strict maintenance Of the Monroe doc
trine, and in all its integrity, both in
letter and In spirit, as necessary to pre-
vent the extension of European author
ity or this continent and as essential to
our supremacy in American affairs. At