Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-07-12
The DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
at the National Conyen.
ton at Kansas City.
PATRIOTIC DECLARATION
A straightforward Statement OF the IT,
sues Before the American People, and
the True American Plan for Their
Solution.

I'VE, the representatives of the demo
} cratic party OF the United States. AZ
sembled in national convention on tn
anniversary OF the adoption of the Decla,
alton OF Independence, do reaffirm on
faith in that immortal proclamation G
the inalienable rights of Americans an
our allegiance to the constitution frame,
in harmony Herewith by the fathers @
the republic.
1--WE hold with the United States su
preme court that the Declaration of indie
pendence is the spirit OF our government
OF "hich the constitution is the form ant
letter. We declare again that all govern
ments instituted among men derive thei
Just powers from the consent of the gov
erned; that any government not based
upon the consent Of the governed il
tyranny, and that to impose upon any
people government Of force is to substi-
tute the methods of imperialism for
those of the republic.
1--WE hold that the constitution follows
the flag, and denounce the doctrine that
an executive or congress, deriving their
existence and power from the people, ex.
ercises unlawful authority beyond it, in
violation of it. We assert that no nation
can long endure half republic and half
empire, and We warn the people that
Imperialism abroad will lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home.
believing in these fundamental prin.
ciples, we denounce the Porto Rican law
enacted by republican congress, against
the protest and opposition OF the demo-
cratic minority, as a bold and open vio-
lation OF the nations organic law, and a
government without their consent anu
taxation without representation. It. dis
honors the American people by repudi'
atine a solemn pledge made in their be-
half bv the commanding general OF our
army. which the Porto Ricans welcomed
to a peaceful and unrestricted occupation
of their land. 1t doomed 10 poverty and
distress a people whose helplessness app
peals with peculiar force to our justice
and magnanimity. In this, the first act
Gifts ;mperialistic program. the republican
marty seeks to commit the United States
to a colonial policy inconsistent Will
republicanism and condemned by the
supreme court in numerous decisions.
eve demand the prompt and homes
fulfillment of every pledge to the Cubar
peop]e and the world, that the Unitet
States has no disposition or intention t.
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or con
troll over the island Of Cuba, except TO
it's pacifcation. The war ended neari
two years ago, profound peace reigns a
; over the island and still the administrs
ton keeps the government OF the islam
7 from it's people, while republican carpt
bag politicians plumber it's revenues an
= exploit the colonial theory to the oil
grace Of the American people.
1--WE condemn and denounce the Phll'
pine policy Of the present administrator
It has embroiled the republic in an u
necessary war, sacrificed the lives
/" many Of it's noblest sons and placed II
United States, previously known and a
=. plauded throughout the world as Il
:. champion OF freedom, in the false and u
!. American position Of crushing with mi
~ tarv force the efforts Of our former ALI
y TO achieve liberty and self governme'
he The Filipinos cannot be citizens withe
70 endangering our civilization; they cam
o. .. be subjects without imperillin2 our to
" OF government, and as we are not VIII
III to surrender our civilization 10 cow
lie the republic into an empire, we lavor
or immediate declaration OF the natio
he purpose to give the Filipinos, hrst, 81
On Of government, second, lndepenuea,
on and third, protection from outsiae Inv
ed ference, such as has been gwen ior nea
to- a century to the republics OF central
in South America.
*. tates the Philippines policy OF the rep
bur iican administration attempts to Jus
Of Il With the plea that it will pay, but 9
,lk th;s sordid and unworthy plea fails vi
brought to the test OF facts. Inc wa
criminal aggression against ;.i the asni rn'
|el. pines, entailing annually an exPens
,st- many millions, has already coy coz n n
l." than any possible profit that c9u. q. ac G.
Re-. from the entire Philippine trade Tor y
hat to come. Furthermore, when traa
.liy extended at the expense OF hoer'y'
oc. price is always too high. ...,
Ito. 1--WE are not opposed to territorial !.
ical pansion, when it takes In desiraoie Y
in tory which can De erected Ins ers s, ~;I
DON the Uhion' aho ""oso P0oP'S Wv