The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-11-28
The Democratic Platform Of
1900.

There is no record Of political plat
forms previous to the year A. ID. 1900.
In that year, at congressional caucus
held, the following platform was adopt
ed, upon which Thomas jefferson was
elected President in opposition to John
Adams
]. An inviolable preservation Of the
Federal Constitution according to the
true sense in which it was adopted BY
The States, that in which it was advo-
Gated by lis friends, and not what its
enemies unprecedented, who therefore be-
came its enemies.
2. Opposition to monarchising its
features By the forms Of its administers
ton, with Il view to concliate a trausi-
ton, first to Il President and Senate for
life, and secondly, to a hereditary tenure
Of those offices, and thus to worm out
the elective principle.
3 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 d.
vision Of powers; and resistance, there
fore, to existing movements for trans
icrring all the powers Of the States to
the General Government, and all Of
those Of that Government to the exccu-
tive branch.
1 a rigorous, frugal administration
Of the Government, aud 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 multiplication OF
officers and salaries merely to create
parti.ans, and to augment the public
debt ON the principle Of its Jeing puJ-
lie he"ing.
5. Reliance for internal defence sole
ly upon the miIitia till qctual invasion
and for such naval force only as may be
sufficient to protect our coasts and lar.
bor- from deprcdations; and opposi
ton, therefore, to the policy Of a stand
Ing army III the time Of peace, which
may overawe the public sentiment, and
to II navy, which by its own expenses
and the wars in which it will implicatc
US, will grind us with public burdens,
and sinks us under them.
q 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 quarrcls OF
Europe, entering their fields of slaugh
ter To preserve their balance, or joining
in the confedcracy Of kings to wa!
against the principles of liberty.
3. Freedom Of religion and oppositio,
to all mancuvcrs to bring about lcga
establishment Of one sect over another
.. Freedom of speech and Of tn,
press; and opposition, therefore, to al
violations Of the Constitution, To 81
lcnce by force, and not by reason, tn,
complaints Of criticisms, just or unjust
Of our citizens against the conduct o
their public agents.
10. Liberal naturalization laws under
which the well-disposed of all nation.
who may desire to embark their for.
tunes with US and share with us tn,
public burdens, may have that opportu
NIFTY, under moderate restrictions, fol
the development Of honest intention, ant
severe ones to guard against the usurpa
ton Of our flag.
ii. Encouragement of science and
the arts in all their branches, to the END
that the American people may perfect
their independence Of all foreign monop
olies, institutions and influences.
The Democratic platforms, from that
time down to the present, have been
uniformly consistent with this, and re.
ailirmations Of the general doctrine thus
declared eighty-threc years ago.