Most Reverend Godofredo J. David Obispo Maximo Iglesia Filipina Independiente

Today June 19, 1900, the Republican Party meets in Philadelphia and approves the well-known slogan for the Philippines: "Our authority cannot be less than our responsibility."

As the presidential elections in the United States were approaching, the Philippine problem was the main issue in the platforms of the parties. The enemies of the McKinley administration denounce his imperialistic policy of governing the Philippines against the will of the Filipinos.

The Populist Party declared: "We denounce the conduct of the administration in changing a war for humanity into a war of conquest."

The Republican Party declared: "Our authority cannot be less than our responsibility, and whenever sovereign right were extended it became the high duty of the Government to maintain its authority, to put down insurrection and to confer blessings of liberty and civilizations upon all the rescued peoples."

The Democratic Party declared: "We condemn and denounce the Philippine policy of the present administration. It has embroiled the Republic in a unnecessary war, sacrificed the lives of many of its 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 position of having crushed with military force that efforts of our former allies to achieve liberty and self-government..."

The Silver Republican Party as well as a group of Anti-imperialists and Gold Democrats also joined in denouncing the party in power.