The Portland daily press., 1900-07-06
AFTERNOON SESSION.

O@@S0O
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Although the time between the adj
journment of the morning session and
that set for the opening of the afternoon
was over two hours, at no time were the
galleries of the great hall more than one
third emptieda Thousands of people rsat
out the adjournment.
1t was mott until O'CLOCK that Chair.
man Richardson turning from confer
ence with Gov. EIcAi1lin and Senator
White, picked up the gavel and brought
the convention to order. The platform
committee, headed by Senator Jones, D.
j. Campau, Senator Tillman and Judge
Van Wyck, had just pushed their way
through the dense throngs, and proceed
ing to the platform had taken seats fac
ing the chairman At last the confusion
ceased and Mr.. Jones announced:
81 am authorized by the committee on
resolutions to present. the platform agreed
upon and will yield to the Senator from
South Carolina, Mr. TiIlman, to read
the document -
Mr.. Tillman stepped to the front and
was greeted with cheer. He read the
platform in full, round voice, easily
heard throughout the hall,
THE PLATFORM.
We, the representatives of the Demo-
cratic party of the United States, assem-
bled in convention on the anniversary of
the adoption Of the Declaration of indie
pendence, do reaffirm our faith in that
immortal proclamation, of the inalienable
rights of man, and our allegiance to the
constitution framed in harmony there
with by the fathers of the republic. We
hold with the United States supreme
court that the Declaration OF Independ-
ence is the spirit of our government, of
which the constitution is the form and
letter. We de clare again that all govern
ments instituted among men derive their
just powers from the consent Of the
governed; that any government not based
upon the consent of the governed is a
tyranny; and that to imp upon any
people a government of force is to substi-
tute the methods OF Imperialism for
constitution follows the flag and de-
nOunce the doctrine that an executive or
congress deriving their experience and
| their powers from the constitution can
exercise lawful authority beyond it or in
violation Of it. We assert that no nation
empire, and we warn the American peo-
pie that imperialism abroad will quickly
lead to desDOtiSm at home. Believing in
these fundamental principles we denOunce
the Porto Rico law, enacted by a Repub-
lican congress against the protest and OD-
position of the Democratic minority, as
bold and open violation of the nation S
organic law and a ftagrant breach of the
national good faith. 1t poses upon the
people OF Porto Rico government with
out their consent and taxation without
representation. It dishOnors the Ameri-
can people by repudiating solemn pledge
made in their behalf by the commanding
general of our army which the Porto
Ricans welcomed to q peaceful and unre-
sisted occupation Of their land. 1t doomed
to poverty and distress a people whose
helpleSsness appeals with peculiar force
to our justice and magnamimity. - -
In this, the first act of it's imperialistic
programme, the Republican party seeks
to commit the United States TO a colonial
policy, inconsistent with republican in
situations and condemned by the supreme
court in numerous decisions.
We demand the prompt and honest full
filment 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 pacifica-
ton. The war ended nearly two years
island from its people while Republican
carpet bag officials plumber it's revenues
and exploit the colonial theory to the
disgr ace of the American people.
s~-Ihe con denim and denounce the Philip
pine policy of the present administration
1t has involved the republic in unnecessary
war, sacrificed 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
policy of crushing with military force the
efforts OF our former allies to achieve
liberty and government. The Fill
pinOs cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civilization, they cannot be
subjects without imperiIing 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 S
purpose to give the Filipinos, first,
stable form of governments; second, indie
pendence; 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 Philippine policy of the Repub-
llcan 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
H1l1pinos, entailing an annual expendi-
ture 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 tho expense of Iiber-
ty, the price is always too high
We are not opposed to territorial expan-
sion when 1t takes in desirable territory
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 I'M
alterably opposed to Selling or purchasing
OF distant islands to be governed outsid9