Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-12-15
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM OF 1900

There is no record of political plat
forms previous to the year A. d. 1900.
In that year, at a congressional caucus
held, the following platform was adopt
ed, upon which Thomas Jefferson vas
elected: president, in opposition to John
Adams:
l.. An, inviolable preservation of
the federal constitution accordingto the
true sense in which it was adopted by
the states, that in which it was advoca-
ted by i~tse.friends, and not what its
enemies apprehended, who therefore
became its enemies.
g. Opposition to .monarchizing its
features by the forms of its admins
t~ration, with q view to cenciliate a
transition, first to . president and SEN
ate for life, and secondly, to q heredi-
tary tenure of those offices, and thus
to worm out the elective principle.
8. Preservation to the states of the
powers not yielded by them to the
Union, and to the legislature of the
Union its constitutional share in divis-
ion of powers; and resistance, there
fere, to existing movements for trans
the general government, and all of
those of that government to the execu
tive branch.
4. A rigorous, frugal administration
Of the government, and the application
of all the possible savings of the public
revenue to the liquidation OF the public
debt; and resistance, therefore, to all
measures looking to a multiplication of
officers and salaries merely to create
partisans, and to augment the public
debt on the principle of its being a pub
nc blessing.
S. Reliance for internal defense sole
ly upon the militia till actual invasion;
and for such naval force only as may
be sufficient to protect u coasts and
harbors from depredations ;and opposi-
ton, therefore, to the policy Of a stand
ing army in time of peace, which
may overawe the public sentiment, and
to a navy, which by its own expen.
ses and the wars in which it will impli.
cate us, will grind us with public bur-
dens, and sink us under them.
g.. Free commerce with all nations
political connections with none, and
little or no diplomatic establishment.
z. Opposition to linking ourselves,
by new treaties, with the quarrels OF
Europe, entering their fields of slaugh.
ter to preserve their balance, OF joining
in the confederacy Of kings to wal
against the principles of liberty.
8. Freedom of religion and opposi
ton to all maneuvers to bring about s
legal establishment of one sect ovel
another.
9. Freedom of speech and Of the
press; and opposition, therefore, to al
violations of the constitution, to silence
by force, and not by reason, the com
plants or criticisms, just Or unjust, o
our citizens against the conduct Of
their public agents.
10. Liberal naturalization laws under
which the well disposed of all nations
who may desire to embark their for
tunes with US and share with us tn,
public burdens, may have that oppor
tunity, nnder moderate restrictions, 70
the development of honest intention
and severe les to guard against til,
usurpatien of our flag.
IL. Encouragement of science an,
the arts IN all their branches, to tn
end that the American people may per
feet their independence of all foreigl
monop0lies, institutions and influences
The democratic platforms, from tina
time down to the present, have bee
uniformly consistent with this, and re
afirmations Of the general doctrin
thus declared eighty-three wears ago.