Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-08-23
THE ARRANGEMENT OF IMPERIALISM.

peflallStS, wnlcn CLOSED It's SeSsion III
indianapolis Thursday, adopted resolu-
tions which arraigned the policy of i'm
perialism, and sci forth its iniquities
before the American people. The reso-
buttons are rs follows: 5k
This Liberty Congress OF Anti-lm
perialists recognizes great national
crisis which menaces the Republic upon
whose future depends in such largo
measure the hope OF freedom throughout
the world.
For the first time In OUT oountry's
history the President has undertaken
to subiugate foreign people and to
rule them by despotio power. He has
thrown the protection OF the AmeIica
flag over slavery and tpolygamy in the
Sulu Islands. He has arrogated to
himself the power to impose upon the
inhabitants OF the Philippine govern
ment without their consent and taxa
tiou without representation. He is
waging war upon them for asserting
the very principles for the maintenance
of which our forefathers pledged their
lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor He claims for himself and Con-
gress authority to govern the Territories
of the United States without constitu-
tlonal restraint. III 49,
We believe in the Declaration of
Independence. Its truths, not less self
evident today than when first announced
by our fathers, are OF universal appli-
cation and cannot be abandoned while
government by the people endures.
We believe in the Constitution of the
United States 1t gives the President
and Congress certain limited powers
and secures to every man within the
jurisdiction OF our government certain
essential rights We deny that either
the President or Congress can govern
any person anywhere outside OF the
Constitution.
We are absolutely opposed to the
policy Of President Mckinley, which
proposes to govern millions Of men
without their consent, which in Porto
Rico establishes taxation without repre-
sentation and government by the arbi
trary will ora Legislature unfettered by
constitutional restraint, aud 10 the
Philippines prosecutes war of con-
quest and demands unconditional sur
render from a people who are of right
free and independent
The struggle of men for freedom has
ever been struggle for constitutional
liberty. There is no liberty il the citi-
zen has no right to which the Legisla-
ture may otinvade, il he may be taxed
by a Legislature in which he is not
represented or il he is not protected by
fundamental law against the arbitrary
action of executive power. The policy
of the President offers the inhabitants
OF Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines no hope Of Independence, no pros
pect of American citizenship, nd consti.
tutional protection, no representation
in the Congress which taxes him. This
is the government of men by arbitraIy
power without their consent; this is
imperialism.
There is no room under the free flag
, Of America for subjects. The Presi.
dent and Congress, who derive all theil
powers from the Constitution, can gov.
ern no man without regard to its limita
, tions.
We believe that the greatest safe
, guard of liberty Is o free press, and We
demand that the censorship in tn,
, Philippines, which keeps from tbs
, American people the know ledge of wha
is done in their name, be abolished
! We are entitled to know the truth, ant
j we insist that the powers which tn,
President holds in trust for us shall be
! not used to suppress it.
Because we thus believe we oppose
! the reelection Of Mr.. Mckinley. Tn
/ supreme purpose of the people in thil
! momentous campaign should be t.
stamp with their final disaprroval his
/ attempt to grasp imperial power. 4
q self-governing people can have n,
more imperative duty than to driv
i from public life chief magistrate who
whether in weakness or OF wicked pur
a pose, has used hi, temporary authorit
a to subvert the character of their gov
D eminent and to destraoy their nationa
a ideals.
Il We therefore. in the belief that it |
K essential at this crisis for the America
b people again to declare their faith i
n the universal application Of the Declare
d tion of Independence and to reasser
their will that their servants shal
j, not have or exercise empowers whateve
Is other than those conferred by the Con
d stitution, earnestly make the followin
l. recommendation to our countrymen:
10 First-That, without regard to thei
views on minor questions of domesti
policy, they withhold their votes froI
Mr.. Mckinley In order to stamp wit
their disapproval what he has done.
10 Second-That they vote for those car
70 didates for Congress in their resEectiv
le districts who will oppose the policy {
y imperialism. A'
Of Ihird-While we welcome any othe
10 method of opposing the reelection {
10 Mr.. Mckinley, we advise direct sur
N port of Mr.. Bryan as the most eIfectiy
q means Of crushing imperialism.
3 We are convinced Of Mr.. Bryan's sir
10 certify and OF bis earnest purpose to 81
or cure to the Filipinos their indepei
dence. His position and the declar;
10 tions contained in the platform ot h
9; party on the vital issue Of the campaig
ID meet our unqualified approval.
We recommend that the executi,
committees OF the Americ Anti In
perialist League and its allied leagu,
q. continue and extend their organizi
80 tions, preserving the Independence
ls the movement, and that they take II
es most active possible part In the pent
10. ing political campaign.
OF Until now the policy which b,
OF turned the Filipinos from warm frient
x to bitter enemies, which has slaugl
Vt tered thousands OF them and laid was
TO- their country, has teen the policy
he the President. After the next electic
OF 1t becomes the policy of every man wi
on thus becomes, with him, responsib
he for every drop of blood thereafter she,
me In declaring that the principles
an the Declaration of Independence app
N. to all men this congress means to j
ers clude the negro race in America, as we
nd as the Filipinoe. We deprecate 9
srs efforts, whether in the South or in 81
TN North, to deprive the negro of b
on rights as citizen under the Deolar
ip- tion of Independence and the CoEstit
ID tion of the United States.