The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-10
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Full Text of the Platform Adogted by
the Democratic National Convention
in Session at Kansas City on July
9Th. 1900.

9Th. 1900.
Following is the official text of the
platform as agreed upon by the COM
mfttes on resolutions and adopted oy
the conventions:
I'VE. the representatives OF the DEM
ocratic party of the United States, as
sembled in national convention on the
anniversary 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 allegiance to the con-
~stitution, framed in harmony there
with by the fathers of the republic.
We hold with the United States SUI
preme court that the Declaration OF
Independence is the spirit of our gov
the form and letter. We declare again
that ali governments instituted among
men derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed: that any
government not based pOn the con-
sent of the governed is a tyranny, and
that to impose upon any people a gov
= nIIltIlI o lutte - W SdDclANdlC liz
methods of Imperialism for those of a
republic. We hold that the constitution
follows the flag and denounce the doc
trine that an executive or congress
deriving their existence n their pow
erS from the constitution can eX-
ercise lawful authority beyond it, 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 Imperialism
abroad will lead quickly and inevita-
bly, to ~despotism at home.
PORTO RICO.
Believing in these fundamental
principles, we d%enounce the Porto
Rico law enacted by a republican con-
gress against the protest and opposi-
ton of the democratic minority as a
bold and open violation of the nations
organic law and a fragrant breach of
the national good faith. 1t imposes
upon the people of Porto Rico a gov
rnmen without their consent and
taxation without representation. 1t dis
honOrs the American people by repu-
dating a 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 INT distress a people whose
helplessness appeals with peculiar
force to u justice and m~agnanimity.
In this, the first act of it's imperial
istic programme, the republican party
seeks to commit the United States to
a olonial policy, Inconsistent with re-
publican institutions and condemned
by the supreme court in numerous de-
cisions.
CUBA AND THE PHILIPPINES.
1--WE demand the prompt and honest
fulfiument of our pledge to the Cuban
people and to the world hat the Unit
ed States has no disposition nor inten-
tiOn to exercise sovereignty, jurisdic-
ton or control over the island of Cuba
except for its paciflcation. The war
ended nearly two years ago; profound
peace reigns over all the island and
the administration keeps the govern
ment of the island from its people
while republican carpet-bag officials
plumber it's revenues and exploit the
colonial theory to the disgrace of the
American people.
ippine policy of the present admins
tration. 1t has involved the republic
in unnecessary war, sacrificing thu
lives of many of our nobleSt sons anC
placed the United States, previously
known and a~pplauded throughout the
world as the champion of freedom. il
the false and un-American position OF
crushing with military force the effort:
of former allies to achieve liberty anG
self-government. The Filipinos canno
be citizens without endangering o III
civilization; they cannot be subjects
without imperiling our form of govern.
ment, and as We are not willing tC
surrender our civilization or to con.
vert the republic into an empire. we
favor an immediate declaration of the
nationalist, a stable form of govern
ment, second, independence, and, third
protection from any outside interior.
ence such as has been given for nearly
a century to the republics of Contra
and South America.
The greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy of the re-
publican administration attempts tC
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 an
nual expense of many millions, has al
ready cost more than any possible
p-ofit hat could accrue from the en-
tire Philippine trade for years tc