The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-06
FOR A WAR ON TRUSTS
Sixtee to One Declared fer Specifically
Senators by Direct Vote.
PRESENT FOREIGN POLICY CONDEMNED
Pledges to Cuba Should Be at Once Redeemed
Sympathy for The Beers Expressed. De-
mccracy's Position onthe Philippine
Question Made Clear.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Kansas City, Mo-, July 5.-Follow-
ing is the official text of the plat
form as agreed upon by the Committee
on Resolutions and presented to the con-
vention:
We, the representatives of the Demo
cratic party of the United States, Assem-
bled in National convention on the ami
versary of the adoption of the Declsra-
ton of Independence, do reaffirm our
faith in that immortal proclamation of
the inalienable rights of man, and our al
1egiance to the Constitution, framed in
harmony Herewith by the fathers 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 governments instituted among men
derive their just powers from the consent
of the governed; that any government hot
based upon the consent of the governed
is a tyranny; and that to impose upon any
people a government of force is to substi-
tute the methods of Imperialism for those
of a. republic. We hold that the Cons.itIi-
tion follows the flag and denounce the
doctrine that an Executive or Cong
deriving their existence and their towers
from the Constitution can exercise law
full authority beyond it or in violation of
it. We assert that no nation can long
endure half republic and half empire and
we warn the American people that in
perialism abroad will lead quickly and in
evitably to despotism at home. Believing
in these fundamental principles we de-
nounce the Porto Rico law enacted by
Republican Congress against the protest
and opposition of the Democratic minority
as bold and open violation of the ma
tons organic law and a fragrant breach
of the national good faith. 1t imposes
upon the people of Porto Rico a Govern
ment without their consent and taxation
without representation. 1t dishonors the
American people by repudiating a solemn
pledge made in their behalf by the COM
handing general of our army. which the
Porto Ricans welcomed to peaceful and
unresisted occupation of their land. 1t
doomed to poverty and distress a people
whose helplessness appeals with peculiar
force to our justice and magnanimity. In
this the first act of it's imperialistic pro-
gramme, the Republican party seeks to
commit the U3ued States to a colonial
policy, inconsistent with Republican in
stitutions and condemned by the Supreme
Court in numerous decisions.
CUBA AND OUR PLEDGE.
We demand the prompt and honest full
fillment of our pledge to the Cuban peo-
pie and to the world that the United
States has no disposition nor intention
to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or
control over the Island of Cuba except
fnr ;fc
two years ago. profound peace reigns over
all the island still the Administration
keeps the government of the island from
it's people while Republican carpet-bag
officials plumber it's revenues and exploit
the colonial theory to the disgrace of the
American people.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy Of the present Administration.
1t has involved the Republic in unneccs-
sary war. sacrificing the lives of many
of our noblest sons and placed the Uni
ted States, previously known and APP
plauded throughout the world as the
champion of freedom in the false and I'M
American position of crushing with mill
tary force the efforts of former allies to
achieve liberty and self-government. The
Filipinos cannot be citizens without en-
dangerng our civilization: they cannot
be subjects without imperiling our form
of government and as we are not will
ing to surrender our civilization or to
convert the Republic into an empire, we
favor an immediate declaration of the
nations intentions, first a stable form of
government, second independence, and
third protection from outside interference
such as has been given for nearly cen
tury to the Republics of Central and
South America.
The greedy commercialsm which die
tated the Philippine policy of the Rcpub-
lican 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 facts The
war of criminal aggression against the
Filipinos, entailing an annual 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 ex-
tended at the expense of liberty, the price
is always too high.
POSITION ON EXPANSION.
We are not opposed to territorial OK
pansion when it takes in desirable terri
tory which can be erected into States in
the Union and whose people are willing
and fit to become American citizens
We favor expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means. But we are unaI-
terably opposed to Selling or purchasing
of distant islands to be governed outside
the Constitution and whose people can
never become citizens.
We are in favor of extending the Re
;o'e- s,.H, hn
believe the influence should be extended
not by force ard violence, but through
the persuasive power of high and hon
orable example.
The Importance of old questions now
pending before the American people is in
no wise diminishing and the Democratic
party takes no backward step from its
position on them but the burning issue