Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1900-07-12

| TO the constitution framed in harmony
Herewith by the fathers OF the republic.
We hold with the United States SUI
ureIna court that the Declaration Of In
| dependence Is the spirit OF our govern
ment, of which tho constitution is the
| form and letter.
We declare again that all governments
| 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 70 impose fntc upon ,,bsfi. sny
tute methods Of imperialism for those OF
W. NspIhS5iiddi hold that the constitution follows
/ the flag, and denounce the doctrine that
an executive or congress, deriving their
| axfstence and their powers from the con-
atftution, can exercise lawful authority
beyond Il, or in violation OF It.
we assert that no nation can long en-
dure half republic and half empire, and
we warn the American people that impe-
flalism abroad viii lead quickly and In
/ evitably TO despotism at home.
Believing IN these fundamental pIin-
| cipies, we denounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by a republican congress against
/ the protest and opposition Of tho dem
| ocratic minority, as a bold and open viola
tion Of the nations organic law, ana q
| nagrant breach OF the national good faith.
nasrant breach Of the national good faitn
We demand honest fulhllment of our
pledge 70 the Cuban people, that the
| United States has no disposition or IN
| tention to exercise sovereignty or juris-
dlction over the island except for Its pa
ciiication. The war ended two years ago,
and profound peace reigns all over the
island. and stfll the administration 9t
while republican carpetbag officials plum.
/ der its revenues and exploit the colonial
theory to the disgrace OF the American
we condemn the Philippine policy of the
| present administration. II has embrolled
the republic In an unnecessary war, sac
| rinced the lives of many OF us noplest
i sons and placed the United States, pre-
| viously known and applauded throughout
i the world as the champion Of freedom.
/ in the false and un-Amertcan position OF
crushing with military force the euorts
self-goyernment.
We favor an Immediate declaration Of
the nations purpose to give TO the FIJI
/ ipinos hrst; A stable form of govern
ment; second, Independence, and third,
protection from outside interference sucn
as has been given for nearly century 10
the republics OF Central and South Ameri-
The greedy commercialism which die
tated the Philippine policy Of the re-
publican Administration attempts to JUS
svsn ,s Z this sordid ana unworthy plea falls
when brought to the test OF facts. We
are not opposed to territorial expansion
when IL taxes IN Desirable territory Wnlcn
can be erected into states in the Union,
and whose people are willing and NJ TO
become American citizens. We favor
trade expansion by every peaoeable and
legitimate means, But we are unalter-
ably opposed 10 the seizing or purchasing
OF distant islands to be governed outside
the constitution, and whose people can
never become ciuzens.
The Burning Issue.
; The importance of other questions now
t,endinR before the American people Is
n no wise diminished. and the democratic
narfy takes no backward step from its
position on them, but the burning issue
OF imperialism growing out OF the spanish
war involves the very existence Of the re-
public and the destruction Of our free In
" We reaard q as the paramount is-
sue Of the campaign.
The declaration IN the republican plat
FORM adopted at the Phtlidalpia conyen-
lion held In June, 1900 that the republican
announced IN the Monroe doctrine" Is
manffaetly inaincere and deceptive. This
profcsslon Il contradicted By The avowed
policy Of that party IN opposition 70 the
spirit OF the Monroe doctrine TO acquire
and hold sovereiHnty over large areas OF
teEritory and large numbers Of people In
4hr eastern hamiarhero
we Insist on the strict maintenance OF
the Monroe doctrine In all lie integrity,
both IN letter and IN spirit es necessary
TO tprsvent The ont1nnton OF European au.
thoritY on tbs eoQti1ent and as essential
10 eur e1pr1ln1ef n AnfflzAn a1eirs. AZ