The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-07-11
PLATFORM OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ADOPTED July 5.
The Principles on Which u Goes Before the
Naton-same Financial Plank-Ncw
Possessions Dealt With.

National convention on the anniversary OF
the adoption OF the Declaration OF 1ndcpcnd-
encc, 10 renflrm our faith In that immortal
proclamation of the innlicnable rights OF man
and our ,allegiance to the Constitution
Of the republic. We hold with the United
States Supreme court that the Declaration
OF Independence is the spirit of our govern
ment, Of which the Constitution is the form
and letter. We declare again that all gov
ernmcnts instituted among men derive their
Just powers from the consent OF the gov
erned; that any government not based upon
the consent OF the governed is tyranny and
that TO Impose upon any people govern.
ment of force is 10 substitute the methods Of
Imperialism for those OF a republic. We
hold that the Constitution follows the nag,
and denounce the doctrine that an executive
or Congress deriving their existence and
crcsc lawful authority beyond Il or In vio-
lntion OF II. We assert that no nation can
long endure half republic and half empire,
ana We warn the American people that inn
perialism abroad will lead quickly and in
eyitaby to despotism at home.
CONCERNING PORTO RICO AND CUBA.
Believing In these fundamental principles
we denounce the Porto Rico law. enacted by
Republican Congress against the protest
and opposition OF the Democratic minority
ns bold and open violation Of the Nations
organic law and n iagrant breach OF the
National good faith. II imposes upon the
people of Porto Rico n government without
their consent and taxation without rcprescn-
tation. It dishonors the American people
by, rcpudiating solemn pledge made In their
behalf by the commanding general Of our ar
my which the Porto Ricans welcomed TO
peaceful aud unrcclstcd occupation Of their
land. II doomed to poverty and distress a
people whose helplcssness appeals with pc
culiar force to our justice and magnanimity.
In this, the FIRST act Of It's imperialistic pro-
gram, the Republican party seeks TO COM
NIT tho United States TO colonial policy In
consistent with republican institutions and
condemned by the Supreme court In numerous
We demand the prompt and honest full
hllmcnt 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 its paciication
found peace reigns over all the island and
still the administration keeps the govern
ment OF the island from it's people, while
Republican carpet bag officials piunder its
revenues and exploit the colonial theory, to
the disgrace Of the American people.
SHOULD FREE THE FILIPINos.
We condemn and denouncc the Philippine
policy Of the present administration. II has
.nVqSea sacpSaa tne ne republic In UNNECESSARY war
sons and placed the United Safes, previously
known and applauded throughout the world
as the champion of freedom, in the false and
tary force the efforts OF our former allies
TO- achieve liberty and self-governmont. The
Filipinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civilizations they cannot be sub
iects without imperiling our form of gov
ernmel.. and as we are not willing to sur
render sTs civilization or to convert the re-
public is.5 en- empire, We favor an immedi-
ate declaration OF the Nations purpose 20
give to :he Filipinos, first, stable form Of
third protection from outside Interference
such as has been given for nearly n CEN
tury TO the republics of Central and South
America.
The greedy commercialism which dictated
the Philippine policy of the Republican nd-
ministration attempts to Justify 4 with the
plea that II will pay, but even this sordi
and unworthy plea fails when brought TO the
test OF facts. The war OF criminal aggres-
sion against the Filiplnos, entailing an an
nual expense 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 expansion
when 1t takes in desirable territory which
can be erected into states Of the Union, and
whose people are willing and ut to become
American citizens.
THEIR SORT OF EXPANSION.
We favor expansion by every peaceful and
legitimate means. But we nre unaterably
islands, to be governed outside the Com
stitution, and whose people can never be-
come citizens; We are in favor of extend
ing the republics influence among the ma
tions, but we believe that influence should
be extended not by force and violence, but
through the persuasive power Of high and
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 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 re-
gard 1t as the paramount issue of the cam
paign.
The declaration in the Republican platform
adopted at the Philadelphia convention held
ia june, 1900, that the Republican party
''steadfastly adheres 10 the policy announced
IN int the m Monroe doctrihesn is manifestly insln-
tradicted by the avowed policy OF that party,
In opposition TO the spirit of the Monroe doe
trine. to acquire and hold sovereignty over
large areas of territory and large numbers
OF people in the eastern hemisphere. We
insist on the strict maintenance OF the Mon
roe doctrine in all its integrity, both in let
ter and in spirit, as necessary to prevent the
extension of European authority on this con-
tinent and as essential to our supremacy In
clare that no American people shall ever be
held by force In unwilling subjection to
European authority.
OPPOSITION TO THE ARMY.
We oppose miitarism: 1t means con-
quest abroad and intimidation and opprcs-
sion at home. Ii means the strong arm
which has ever been fatal to free institutions
II is what millions OF our citizens have fed
from in Europe. II will impose upon our
peaee-ioving people a large standing army
and unnecessary burdens of taxation and n
constant menace to their liberties. small
standing army and a well disciplined state
militia are amply SUFFICIENT in time of
peace. This republic has no place for a vast
military service and conscription. When
the Nation is IN danger che volunteer SOL
dier is his country's best defender. The
National Guard of the United States should
ever be cherished in the patriotic hearts of a
free people Such organizations are ever an
element Of strength and safety. For the
first time in our history. and coeyal with the
Philippine conquest. has there been a whole
sale departure from our time honored and
approved system OF volunteer organization.
We denounce II as unAmericah, undemo-
cratic and unrcpublican and as a subyersion
OF the ancient and fixed principles OF a free
people
Private monopolies are indefensible and in
tolerable They destroy competition con-
trol the price OF all material and OF the An
ished product, thus robbing both producer
and consumer. They lessen the employ
ment OF labor. and arbitrarily fix the terms
and conditions thereof and deprive individual
energy and small capital of their opportunity
for betterment.
They are the most efficient means yet de-
vised for appropriating the fruits OF industry
TO the benefit Of the few at the expense OF
the many. and unless their insatiate greed
is checked all wealth will be aggregated In
few hands and the republic destroyed.
A PROGRAM ON TRUSTS.
The dishonest paltering with the trust evil
b<t fhA Ranu In sfata anH