The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-10
IMPERIALISM Is SET OUT
AS THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
Full Text of the Democratic National Platform Adopted BY
The Convention at Kansas City,
No Step
Legitimate Expansion Favored Among People That Are Worthy
Become Citizens of the United States


on resolutions and adopted by the con-
vention:
I'VE, the representatives of the Demo-
cratic party of the United States as
sembled in convention on the anniver-
sary of the adoption Of the Declaration
of Independence, do re-affirm our faith
in that immortal proclamation of the
inalienable rights of man, and our al
legiance to the constitution framed in
harmony Herewith by the fathers Of
the republic. We hold, with the United
States supreme court, that the Declara-
ton of Independence Is the spirit of our
government, of which the constitution
is the form and letter. We declare
again that all governments instituted
among men 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 upon any people
government of force is to substitute
the methods of Imperialism for those
of republic.
THE CONSTITUTION FOLLOWS
THE FLAG.
We hold that the constitution 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 1t or In violation of
it. We assert that no nation can long
endure half republic and half empire,
and we warn the American people that
the imperialism abroad will lead quick
ly and inevitably to despotism at home.
Believing in these fundamental princi-
pies, we denounce the Porto Rico legis-
lation enacted by a Republican con-
gress against the protest and opposition
of the Democratic minority as bold
and open violation of the nations
organic law and a flagrant breach of
the national good faith. 1t imposes up
on the people of Porto Rico govern
ment without their consent and taxa
ton without representation. 1t doomed
to poverty and distress people whose
helplessness appeals with peculiar force
to our justice and magnanimity. In
this, the first act Of it's imperialistic
program, the Republican party seeks
to commit the United States to a COL
onial policy, inconsistent with republi-
can institutions and condemned by the
supreme court in numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest
fulfillment Of our pledge to the Cuban
people and the world that the United
States has no disposition nor intention
to exercise sovereignty or control over
the island of Cuba except for its
pacification. The war ended nearly two
years ago, profound peace reigns over
all the island and still the administra-
ton keeps the government of the
island from its people, while Republi-
can carpetbag officials plunder its
revenues and exploit the colonial theory
to the disgrace of the American people.
WAR AGAINST FILIPINOS DE-
NOUNCED.
We condemn and denounce the
Philippine policy of the present ad-
ministration. 1t has involved the re-
public in unnecessary war, sacrificed
the lives of many of our noblest sons,
and placed the United States, previous
ly 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 Fill
pinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civlization; they cannot 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
favor an immediate declaration Of the
nations purpose to give to the Filipinos
first, a stable form of government;
second independence, and third, protc-
tion 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 the plea that it will pay
but even this sordid and unworthy plea
fails when brought to the test of facts.
The war of criminal aggression against
the Filipinos, entailing an annual ex-
pense Of many millions. has already
cost more than any possible profit
that 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 ex-
pansion when 1t takes in desirable ter
ritory which can be erected into states
in the Union, and whose people are will
ing and fit to become American citi-
Zens.
We favor expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are un-
alterably opposed to selling or purchas-
ing of distant islands to be governed
outside the constitution. and whose
people can never become citizens. 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
pursuasive power Of a high and honor
able example.
The importance Of other questions
now pending before the American peo-
pie is in no wise 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 the
very existence Of the republic and the
destruction of our free institutions. We