Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-07-12
COMPLETE TEXT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

purity VI Tue lUlNpu Suites. u.s.
sembled in national convention on the
anniversary of the adoption of the Dec
iaration of Independence. do reafIirm
our faith in that immortal proclama-
ton of the inallenable rights of man
and our allegiance to the constitution
framed in harmony Herewith by the
fathers of the republic.
We hold, with the United States Su-
preme Court, that the declaration OF
independence Is the spirit of our gov
eminent of which the constitution Is
the form and letter. We declare again
that MI governments instituted among
men derive their just powers from the
consent Of the governed: that any gov
eminent not based upon the consent OF
the governed is tyranny; and that to
impose upon any people government
officer is TO substitute the methods OF
Imperialism for those OF Il republic.
we hold that the constitution follows
the nag and denounce the doctrine that
an executive or congress- deriving
their existence and power from the
people, can exercise unlawful itlthOr-
lty beyond Ii, in violation of it, We as
sert that no nation can long endure
half republic and half empire, and we
warn the people that Imperialism
abroad will lead quickly and inevita-
bly, TO despotism at home.
PORTO RICAN TARIFF.
Believing IN these fundamental prin-
ciples we denounce the Porto Rican
law enacted by Republican Congress
against the protest and opposition of
the Democratic minority, as bold ana
open violation of the nations organic
law, and fragrant breach of the ma
ti0nal good faith. 1t imposes upon the
people of Porto Rico a government
without their consent and taxation
without representation, 1t dShonors
the American people by rcpudiating "A
solemn pledge made in their behalf by
the commanding general of our army.
which the Porto Ricans welcomed to Il
peaceful and unresisted occupation of
their land. 1t doomed to poverty and
distress people whose heplessncss
appeals with peculiar force to our JUS
tice and magnanimity. In this, the
first act of Its imperialistic program.
the Republican party seeks to commit
the United States to II colonial policy, |
inconsistent with republican institu
tons and condemned by the supreme
Court i'll numerous decisions.
PLEDGES TO CUBA.
We demand the prompt and honest |
fulfllment of every pledge to the Gu
ban people and the world, that the (
United States has no disposition or III
tention to exercise sovereignty iuris- /
fliction or control over the island Of I
cuba. except for its pacification. The +
war ended nearly two years ago pro-
FOUND peace reigns all over the island,
and still the administration keeps the
pOyprDmpnt of tha island from It's nm
pie, while Republican carpet-bag OH
Gals plumber its revenues and exploit
the colonial theory to the disgrace of
the American people.
PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
We condemn and denouuce che Phil
ippine policy Of the present Fttminis-
tration. 1t has embroiled the r,'public
in an unnecessary war, sacrificed the
lives of many OF lis noblest sons and
placed the United States, pre- ously
known and applauded 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 government. The FiiTpinus
cannot be citizens without endanger-
ing our civilizations: they cannot be
of government, and we are not willing
TO surrender our civilization or to con
vert the republic into an empire we
favor an immediate declaration of the
nations purpose to give To the Fill
tahoS. ffst, state of governments: see.
2hd, independence, and. third, protcc-
non from outside interference such as
mas been given for nearly Il century To
The republics of Central and South
america. The greedy commercialism
which dictated the Philippine policy of
the Republican administration at
fempts to Justify it with the plea that
il will pay but even this sordid and
unworthy plea fails when brought to
the test with facts. The war Of Grim
lnal aggression" against the Philip
rines, entailing annually an expense
81 many millions, has already cost
more than any possible profit that
could accrue from the entire Philippine
trade Tor years to come. Furthermore.
when trade is extended at the expense
"l liberty, the price is always too high.
EXPANSION.
We are not opposed to territorial ex
pansion when 1t takes in desirable Ter
rltory which can be erected into states
III the Union and whose people are
willing and fiji to become American citi
.ens. We favor trade expansion bv ey
cry peaceful and legitimate means.
But we are unalterably opposed
TO the Selling or purchasing of
distant Islands to be governed
outside the constitution and whose peo.
pie can never become citizens. We are
In favor of extending the republics
influence among the nations. but he
neve that influence should be extended
not by force and violence but through
the persuasive power of a high and
honorable example
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE.
The Importance of other questions
now pending before the American ueo
pie Is in no wise diminished. and tho
Democratic party takes no backward
step from its position on them but The
burning issue of Imperialism, growing
out of the Spanish war. involves The
very existence of the republic and the
destruction of our free institutions We
regard it as the paramount issue of the
campaign.
lNSlNCERlTY AND DECEPTION
The declaration in the Repuhlicon
PLATFORM adopted at the philadplphfo
convention held IN June. 1900. that the
Republican party "steadfastly adberns
10 the policy announced In the Hanroa
doctrine" is manifestly insincere ana
deceptive. This profession is contra
dleted by the aro"e! policy of the
party III opposition TO the spirit of the
n ~ a