Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-10
/ Full Text of the Democrat
Issues for 1900.
REPUBLICANS SCORED
Anti-Imperialism is Made the Battle.
cry for the COMM. Strnsg'c-Free
silver ts Again CIamorAd
For


platform was agreed upon by the COM
mittee on resolutions and unanimously
adopted by the convention:
we, the representatives of the dem
,ocratic party of the United States, as
sembled in national convention on the
anniversary of the adoption of the dec
laration of independence, do reatlirln
our faith in that immortal proclama-
ton of the inalienable rights of man,
and our allegiance TO the constitution
framed in harmony Herewith by the
fathers of the republic.
1--WE hold with the United States SUI
prefne court that the declaration of in
dependence is the spirit of our govern
ment OF which the constitution is the
form and letter. We declare again that
all governments instituted among men
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed; that any govern
sment not based upon the consent of the
governed is tyranny; that to impose
upon any people government of force
is to substitute the methods of impe-
rialism for the republic.
~ "We hold the constitution follows the
flag. We denounce the doctrine that
the executive or congress-, deriving
their existence and powers from he
constitution, can exercise the law fur
Their beyond it or in violation of it. We
assert that no nation can long remain
/, half republic and half empire; we warn
the American people that Imperialism
abroad will lead quickly, and inevitably
to despotism at home. We believe in
these fundamental principles. We de-
nounce the Porto Rican law, enacted
by the republican congress against the
protest and opposition of the democrat
ic majority, as bold and open viola
ton of the nations organic law and a
fragrant breach of the nations good
faith. 1t imposes upon the people of
Porto Rico government without their
consent, y and taxation without repre-
sentation. 1t dishonors the American
people by repudiating a solemn pledge
made on their behalf by the command
ing general Of our army, which. the
Porto Ricans welcomed to peaceful and
unresisted occupation of their land. 1t
doomed to poverty and distress a peo-
pie whose helplessness appeals with
peculiar force to our Justice and mag
nanimity. In this, the first act of the
imperialistic program, the republican
party seeks to commit the United
States to a colonial policy, inconsistent
with republican institutions and con-
demned by the supreme court in nu-
merous decisions.
Az s.We demand 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, jurisdiction or
control over the island of Cuba except
for it's pacifcation. The war was end
red nearly two years ago and profound
peace reigns over all the island, and
still the administration keeps the gov
eminent of the islands from its people
while the republican carpetbag officials
plumber its revenues and exploit the CO.
lonial theory to the disgrace of the
American people.
Philippine Policy Denounced.
sWe condemn and denounce the
Philippine policy of the present adj
ministration. 1t has involved the re-
public in an unnecessary war and a
sacrifice of the lives of many of our
noblest sons, and placed the United
States, which has been known and APP
plauded turnout the world as the cham
pion of freedom, in the false and UNI
American position of crushing with
military force the efforts of our former
allies to achieve liberty aud self-gov-
eminent. The Filipinos cannot be CIT
liens without endangering our civiliza-
aion; they cannot be subjects without
imperiling our form of government,
and as we are not willing to surrender
our civilization, nor to convert the re-
public into an empire, we favor imme-
diate declaration of the nations pur-
pose to give TO the Filipinos first, a sta
bile form of government; second, indie
pendence; third, protection from out
side interference such as has been Civ
en- for nearly century to the Central
and South American republics.
1.-THE greedy commercialism which
dictated the Philippine policy of the re-
publican 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 fact
sThe war of criminal aggression
!, against the Ffiipinos, entailing an an
nual expense of many millions. has al
READY cOSU IilOTe Ildli any poSslDic pfOL
II it that Guild accrue from the entire
I Philippine trade for years to come
Furthermore, when trade is extended
at the expense of liberty, the price ii
always too high. g,
.'We are not opposed to territorial
expansion when it takes in desirabl,
!. territory which can be erected int,
states in the union, whose people ar,
willing and fit to become American cit
liens.
ssWe favor trade expansion by ever,
peaceful and legitimate means. Blu
we are unalterably opposed to tn
selling or purchasing of distant island
to be governed outside the constitution
and whose people can never becom
residents.
1--WE are in favor of extending tn
republics influence among the nation
but believe that influence should be ex
tended not by force or violence bu
thru the persuasive power OF hig
and honorable example.
imperialism the Burning Issue.
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