The true Democrat., 1900-07-14
PHILIPPINE POLICY
NOUNCED.

tAH tooPAoI
PHILIPPINE POLICY DE.
NOUNCED.
We condemn and denounce the Phil
ippines policy of tho present admins
tration. 1t has involved the republic
unnecessarily in 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 una me i1an position of
crushing with military fierce the
efforts OF our former allies to achieve
liberty and self-goVernment.
The Filipinos cannot be citizens
without endangeriDg our civilization {;
thew cannot be subjects without i'm
periling our form Of government and
as we are not willing to surrender our
civilization, or to convert the republic
into an empire, We favor an imme-
diate declaration of the nations pur-
pose to give the Filipinos 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
republics of Central and. South
America.
The greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy of the
Republican administration attempts
to Justify it with tho plea that it will
pay, but even this sordid and un-
worthy plea fails when brought to the
test OF facts. The war of "criminal
sggression' against the Filipinos en-
failing an annual expense OF mary
millions, has already cost more than
any possible profit that could accrue
from the entire trade for years to
come. Furthermore, when trade ls
extended at tue expense OF liberty, the
nrice is always too high. We are not
onuosed to territorial expansion when
il takes in desirable territory when
can he erected into states in the
Union and whose people are willing
and fit to become citizens.
FAVOR TRADE EXPANSION.
Wa favor trade expansion by every
pesceful and legitimate means. But
We are unalterahly opposed to the
ssizing or purchasing of distant ISL
auds to he governed outside the con-
stitution an3 whose people can neVe,
become citizens.
We are In favor of extending the re.
public's influence among the nations,
but believe that influence should he
extended, not ny force and violence,
but through the persuasive power Of a
high and honorable example. The
importance Of other questions now
ppEding before the A merican people is
in no wise diminished aud the Demo-
cratic party takes no backward step
frcm iSs position on them, but the
burning issue Of imperialism growing
out of the Spanish war involves the
very existence of the republic and the
destruction of our free institutions.
We regard it as the paramount issue
of tho campaign.
The declaration in the Republican
platform adopted at the PHILADELPHIA
convention held in June, 1900, that
the Republican party "steadfastly ad-
heres to the rolicy announced IN the
Monroe doctrine" is manifestly insln-
cere and deceptive. This profession
ia contradicted bv thu aVowed policy
of that party in opposition to the
snirit of the Monroe doctrine to &C
ouire and hold sovereignty over large
areas OF territory and large nnmhors
of people in the eastern heolsphere..
We insist on the strict maiut"nance II
the Monroe doctrine in all It's lnteg-
Yity both in letter aud IN sPi'lt as
necessary to prevent tie extauslon Of
Enropean authority oa tbs cun;iacnt
auu essential to our supremacy in
American affairs. At the same time
We declare that no American people
shall ever be held by force 10 unwill-
ing subsection to European authority.
MILITARISM OPPOSED.
We oppoee militarism. 1t means
conquest abroad and intimidation and
oppression at home. 1t means the
strong army which has ever been fatal
tp free Institutions. It is what mil
lions OF our citizens have fed from in
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