Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-12

the official text OF the platform a
agreed upon by the committee on res
4 olutions and adopted by the conyen
ton:
We. the representatives of the demo
cratic party of the United States. assem-
bled in national convention on the ami
Versary of the adoption of the declara-
ton OF Independence, do reaffirm our faith
In that immortal proclamation of the in
nlienable 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 declaration of independ-
ence As 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
4 upon the consent of the governed is a
tyranny, and that to impose upon any
people government of force is to substi-
tute the methods of Imperialism for those
/! OF republic. We hold that the consti-
luton follows the flag and denounce the
| doctrine that AN executive or congress
| deriving their existence and their powers
from the constitution can exercise lawful
authority beyond it, or in violation of it.
we assert that no nation can long endure
nan republic and half empire, and we
warn the American people that imperial-
\ ism abroad Will lead quickly and lnevita-
by to despotism at home.
Denouncc Porto Rico Inv.
Believing i'll these fundamental prin-
cipies. we denounce the Porto Rico law,
enacted by republican congress against
the protest ana opposition of the demo-
ton of the nations organic law and a
\ .iagrant breach of the national good faith.
II imposes upon the people of rorto Kico
! taxation. without representation. 1t dis
honors the American people by repudiat-
ing solemn pledge made in their be-
army, which the Porto ticans welcomed
to peaceful and unrestricted occupation
Or their land. IL doomed to poverty and
distress q people whose helplessness app
peals with peculiar force to our justice
and magnanimlty In this. the first act
~ ;c, ITS srlassic - proglan the TsRun
States 10 colonial policy. inconsistent
with republican Institutions and con-
| demned by the supreme court In numer-
| Gus decisions
Good Faith With Cuba.
1 We demand the prompt and honest ful-
\ fllment of our pledge TO the Cuban peo-
| pie and the world that the United States
has no disposition nor intention to exer-
over the island OF Cuba, except for its
pacihcation. The war ended nearly two
years ago. Profound peace relgns over
all the island. and still the administration
keeps the government Of the island from
Its people. while republican carpet-bag
officials plunder its revenues and exploit
| the colonial theory to the disgrace OF the
American people.
ilmty tO Philippines.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
| pine policy of the present administration.
It has embroiied the republic in an uns
h
United States, previously known and ap-
plauded throughout the world as the
American position of crushing with mill
| tary force the efforts of our former allies
to achieve liberty and self-gorernment.
The Filipinos cannot be citizens without
be subjects without imperiling our form
of government. and as we are not willing
to surrender our civilization or to con-
vert the republic into an empire, we fa-
vor an immediate declaration of the ma
tons purpose to give the lilipinos, first:
A stable form of government; second, in
outside interference, such as has been
given for nearly a century to the repub-
lies of Central and South America.
The greedy commercialiSm Which die
tated the Philippine policy the repub-
lican administration attempts to justify,
With the plea a, that It will pay but even
Of 'criminal aggression against the FIJI
pnos an a araaav
than any possible profit that could ac-
crue from the entire Philippine trade for
years to come Furthermore. when trade
price Is always too high
The Paramount Issue.
We are not opposed 20 territorial! ex-
pansion. when 1t takes in desirable terri
tory Which can be erected into states in
and fit to become American citizens We
| favor trade expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means But we are unal-
chasing Of distant Islands to be governed
outside the constitution and whose peo-
pie can never become citizens,
We are III favor OF extending the re-
pu5ltc's influence among the nations but
believe that influence should be extended
not by force and VIOLENCE: but through
Orable example.
The Importance of other questions now
pending before the American people is In
no wise diminished. and the democratic
| party takes no backward step from it's
position on them. but the burning issue
of imperialism growing out of the Span
institutions. We regard it as the para
mount issue of the campaign.
Monroe Doctrine.
form adopted at the Philadelphia con-
vention, held in Jure, 1900. that the re-
publican party "steadfastly adheres to
the rI policy annoanesd in the Monroe
ceptive. This profession is contradicted
| by the ayowed policy of that party in
opposition to the spirit of the Monroe
| over large areas of territory and large
numbers Of people In the eastern hemis-
phere. We insist on the strict mainte-
nance of the Monroe doctrine and in all
its integrity, both in letter and in spirit
as necessary to, prevent the extension
of European authority on this continent
and essential to our supremacy in Amer
| lean affairs. At the same time we de-
clare that no American people shall ever
be held by force in unwilling subsection
to Europen authority.
Danger of Nitlitnrism.
| We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and OPP
| preston at home. 1t means the strong
arm which has ever peen fatal to free in
| situations. II is what millions of our cit
izens have fled from in Europe. 1t will
| impose upon our peace-loYing people a
large standing army. an Unnecessary
| burden of taxation and constant men
ace to their liberties. A small standing
army and a well-disciplined state militia
are amply sufficient iii time of peace.
This republic has no place for vast mil
itary service and conscriptlon. When the
! nation is in danger the volunteer soldier
is his country's best defender. The ma
ever be cherished in the patriotic hearts
| of {; free people. Such organizations are
For the first time in our history and CO.
eval with the Philippine conquest, has
there. been Wholesale departure from
volunteer organization. We dcnounce it
| as un-American, undemocratic and unre-
publican and subversion of the ancient
and fixed principles of a free people,
| Private Monopoly Evil.
Private monopolies are indefensible and
intolerable. They destroy competition.
control the, price. Of all material and of