The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-07-11
BRYAN AND STEVENSON.
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES.

The Convention Put forward Tw
Strong Candidates and a Most Viz
orous Platform.
The Democratic convention met l.
Kansas City on July ith and was calle'
to order by Senator James X. Jones, o
Arkansas, chairman OF the nationa
committee. Congressman James ID
Richardson, OF Tennesst e, WAS perma
nent chairman. The Declaration o
independence was read amid great
enthusiasm.
On Thursday, William Jennings
Bryan was nominated by acclamatiou
for president and the next day, Adlai
f.. Stevenson, OF Illinois, vice president
under Cleveland, WAS unanimously
nominated for vice president
The platform was read by Senator
Tlllman for the committee and is as
follows
We, the representatives OF the Dem
ocratic party OF tho United States, as.
sembled in national convention, on the
anniversary OF the adoption OF the Dec
laration OF independence, do re-at1irm
our faith In that immortal proclamation
OF the inaliable rights Of man and our
allegiance to the constitution framed
In harmony Herewith by the fathers
OF the Republic. We hold with the
ffttesJ -sS5Ssate- Supreme Court that the
Declaration OF Independence ts he
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 gov
erned that any government not based
upon the consent Of the governed IS a
tyranny, and that to impose upon any
people q government of force is to sub
stitute the methods OF imperialism for
those of republic. We hold that the
constitution follows the flag, and de.
nounce the doctrine that an executive
or Congress, deriving their existence
and their powers from the constitu-
tion, can exercise lawful authority be-
yond it. or in violation OF it. We as
sert that no nation eau long endure
half republic and half empire, and we
warn the American people that impe
rialism abroad will lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home.
THE PORTO RICAN SCANDAL.
Believing in these fundamental prin-
ciples, we denOunce the Porto Rtcan
law enacted by Repu blican Congress |
against the protest and opposition OF
the Democratic minority, as bold and |
open violation OF the nations organic |
law and tlagrant breach of the ma
tionsl good faith. 1t imposes upon the |
people Of Porto Rico government |
with out their consent and taxation |
without representation. 1t dishonors
the American people by repudiating a |
solemn pledge made in their benalf by |
the commanding general OF our army,
which the Porto Ric8ns welcomed to a |
peaceful and upresisted occupation OF |
their land. 1t doomed to poverty and |
distress q people whose helpessness
appeals with peculiar force to our JUS
tice and magnanimity. In this, the
fret act Of it's imperialistic program,
the Republican party seeks to com NIT
the United States to a colonial policy,
inconsistent with Republican institu-
tions and condemned by the supreme
court in numerous decisions.
WE MUST NOT CHEAT CUBA.
We demand the prompt and honest
fulfilment 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 pacitication. The war ended |
nearly two years ago, profound peace |
reigns over all the island, still the ad- |
ministration keeps the government of |
the island from it's people, while Re-
publican carpet-bag officials plumber |
its revenues and exploit the colonial |
theory to the disgrace OF the American |
people.
SHAME OF THE FILIPINO WAR.
We condemn and denounce the Phil |
ippine policy Of the present admins.
tration. 1t has involved the Republic |
In unnecessary war. sacrificing 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 un-American position of
crushing with military force the ef-
forts OF former allies to achieve liberty
and self-government. The FilipinOs
cannot be citizens without endanger-
ing our civilization they cannot be
subjects without imperilling 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 Immediate declaration of
the nation, viz: first, q stable form OF
government; second, independence,
and third, protection from outside in
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 1t will pay,
out 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
coat more than any possible profit that
could accrue from the entire Philip
pine trade for years to come. Further
more, when trade is extended with the
expense of liberty the price is always
too high.
EXPANSION AND IMPERIALISM.
We are not opposed to territorial ex.
pansion when it takes In desirable ter
ritory which can be erected into States
In the Union, and whose people are
willing and fit ID become American
citizens.
We favor expansion by every peace
iul and legitimate means. But are un
alterably opposed to seizing or pur'
chasing OF distant islands to be gov.
erned outside the constitution, and
L ~. l.xn nj