Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1900-10-17
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Ven Of independence, do reaffirm our
9th in that immortal proclamation of
tba inalienable rights of man and our
ELEGANCE all to the Constitution framed
in harmony Herewith by the fathers of
'i We hold with the United States Su-
,reme Court that the Declaration of In
coincidence is the spirit of our Govern
manf of which the Constitution is the
form and letter We declare again that
all governments instituted among men
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed; that any govern
ment not based upon the consent of the
governed is tyranny; and that to impose
11non any people a government of force
is to substitute the methods of imperial
ism for those of a republic.
We hold that the Constitution follows
the flag and denounce the doctrine that
an Executive or Congress, deriving their
existence and their powers from the Con-
stitution, can exercise lawful authority
heyond it or in violation of it, We assert
That no nation can long endure half re-
public and half empire; and we warn the
American people that Imperialism abroad
will lead quickly and inevitably to des-
potism at home.
eiples. we denounce the Porto Rico
law enacted by a Republican Congress,
against the protest and opposition of the
democratic minority as bold and open
violation of the nations organic law
and fragrant breach of the national
good faith. 1t imposes upon the people
of Porto Rico government without their
consent and taxation without representa-
ton. 1t dshonors the American people
nv repudiating a solemn pledge made in
their behalf by the commanding General
of our army, which the Porto Ricans
welcomed to a peaceful and unresisted
occupation of their land. 1t doomed to
poverty and distress people whose help
iessness appeals with peculiar force to
our Justice and magnanimity In this,
the first act of it's imperialistic program,
the Republican party seeks to commit
the United States to colonial policy,
Inconsistent with republican institutions
and condemned by the supreme court In
numerous decisions
Plank on the Cuban Question.
We demand the prompt and honest full
6llment of our pledge to the Cuban
people and the world, that the United
States has no disposition or intention
to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or
, control over the island of Cuba, except
for its pacification The war ended near
ly two years ago, profound peace reigns
over all the island. and still the Admins
tration keeps the government of the
island from Its people, while Repupilcan
and exploit the colonial theory to the
disgrace of the American pepole.
Philippines Policy Condemned.
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy of the present Administration.
1t has embroiled the repubilc in an I'M
necessary war, Sacr1flceQ the lives OF
many of its noblest sons, placed the Unit
ed States, previously known and applaud
ed throughout the world as the champion
of freedom, in the false and un-American
position of crushing with military force
the efforts of our former allies to achieve
liberty and self-government The Fill
pinos cannot be citizens WITHOUT endan-
gering our civilization; they cannot be
subjects without imperiling our form OF
government, and as we are not Wiling TO
surrender our civilization or to convert
the republic into an empire, we favor the
immediate declaration OF the nation
purpose to give the Filipinos, first, stable
form of government; second, independ-
ence, and third, protection from outside
interference, such as has been given for
nearly century to the republics OF Cen
trail and South America.
The greedy commercialiSm which die
tated the Philippines policy of the Re
publican Administration attempts to JUS
tify it with the plea that it will pay, but
even this sordd and unworthy plea fails
when brought to the test of facts. The
war of criminal aggression" against the
tlllplnoS, entailing annually an 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.
Democrats and Territorial Exuansion.
We are not opposed to territorial ex-
pansion, when 1t takes in desirable ter
ritory which can be erected into States in
the Union, and whose people are willing
and tit to become American citizens. We
favor trade expansion by every peaceful
and legitimate means; but we are unal-
terably opposed to the Selling or pur-
chasing Of distant islands to be governed
outside the Constitution and whose people
can never become citizens. We are in
favor of extending the republics influ-
ence among the nations, but believe that
influence should be extended, not by force
and violence, but through the persuasive
power of high and honorable example.
Imperialism the Burning Issue.
The Importance of other questions now
pending before the American people Is in
nowise diminished, and he Democratic
party takes no backward step from its
position on them, but the burning issue
of Imperialism, growing out of the Span
ish war, involves the very existence of
the republic and the destruction of our
free institutions. We regard 1t as the
paramount issue of the campaign.
The declaration in the Republican plat
form adopted at the Philadelphia conven-
ton held in June, 1900 that the Republic
can party "steadfastly adheres to the
policy announced in the Monroe doctrine"
Is manifestly insincere and deceptive.
This profession is contradicted by the
aVoWed policy of the party in opposition
TO the spirit of the Monroe doctrine, to
acquire and hold sovereignty over large
areas of territory and large numbers of
people in the eastern hemisphere We in
sist on the strict maintenance of the Mon
roe doctrine in all its integrity, both in
letter and in spirit as necessary to pre-
vent the extension of European author
fty on this continent and as essential to
cur supremacy In American affairs At
the same time we declare that no Ameri-
can people shall ever be held by force In
unwilling subsection to European au-
thority.
Opposition to Miltarism.
We oppose militarism. 1t means con-
guest abroad and intimidation and op-
preston ut home 1t means the strong
arm, which has ever been fatal to free
institutions, 1t Is what millions of our
citizens have fled from In Europe. 1t Will
impose upon our peaceloving people Il
large stumbling army. an unneeessnry bur