The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-06
GEORGE MEMS PLATFORM.
JEFFERSoNIAN DEMOCRACY rs THE
NAME THEY TAKE.

Reafirm the Chicago Platform Entire-"Wha
Democrats shall or shall Not Think and
Speak or IL Not to 10 Determined ON RnE-
fish Race Tracks Nor In secret Conciaves. ~
The platform of tho George men is headed:
Declaration Of Principles. Jcfrersonian DEM
ocrats OF Greater New York" Here 1t 10:
We Democrats OF Greater New York, in mass
meeting assembled. do roafirm our adherence
to the creed of Democracy as set forth in the
platform adopted by the National Convention OF
the Democratic party in Chicago, July 0, 1896;
we declare our allegiance to tho principles enun-
ciated in that document, pronouncing them the
formal expression OF the spirit OF true Dcmoc-
racy, and we point, in corroboration OF this be-
lief, to the fact that the mere PRONUNCIATION of
these doctrines drove from the Democratic party
those who, for corrupt, mercenary or ambitious
ends, had striven to make it a menace TO the
rights and liberties of the people rather than
their defender.
We declare that since tho so-called regular
Democratic organizations OF Greater New York
have in defiance OF precedent and in cowardly
subsection to the undcmocratic forces of monop-
oily and corrupt wealth. refused to reaflrm the
Chicago platform. or to make a single reference
to these cardinal principles OF Democracy which
have obtained since tho timo of Thomas Jenfer-
son. there is no regular Democratic candidate
for Mayor of Greater New York now In nomina-
ton, nor will be until after the candidate chosen
by this meeting. shall have accepted the trust
which we shall lay upon him.
We send our greeting to the gallant leader Of
the Democratic party, William Jennings Bryan,
indomitable courage and the fdelit, to the prin.
ciples OF his party which have made him q bea-
con to which Democrats may turn with conf
dence for guidance anal for light when leaders
about them waver or desert.
We declare tho true purpose Of government to
be the maintenance Oft at sacred right OF prop.
erty wh1Cn gives 10 every one DDDOrtnnity In
employ his labor and security that he shall en-.
pressing the weak and the INSCRIPTIONS from
robbing the honest; and to do for the equal BEN
eft of all such things AS can be better done by
S Sim at iho s sSoiiiio man or al iin aWs %hieS; s sISo we to
amy snysn elass Of p GItize9s ,ad or n%o,Iss, either tbs Judicial a;
equally shared by all others.
We declare that the functions Of street rail.
way transportation the lighting Of tho streets
electricity. the carriage of tho people by ferries
about the waterways of Greater New York. the
pal functions, things which can better DO
dono by organized, society than by indi.
dclegating these functions to corporations has
resulted in a heavy sacrifice Of public wealth
citizens compelled to enlist the services of these
corporations, and the creation of powerful
moneyed interests, which. enjoying rich public
government for their own profit. We de.
clare it, then. essential to the purihca-
ton of politics and to the protection Of
the citizen against taxation. which 10 none the
less compulsory because collected by private
corporations for private profit, that the street
railways, gas and electric lighting plants. fer.
r!es; telephones. and telesraphs of Greater New
istered by and for tho people.
Recognising the need for some immediate re-
lief for the citizens from the extortions of cor.
demand the compulsory reduction by the law
making power Of the state OF tho price OF gas to
one dollar or less per thousand feet. and of street
car fares to a Just and reasonable point.
Greater New York. stupendous in population,
magnificent in wealth. enjoying a situation OF I'M
paralleled natural beauty, the gateway to a con-
tinent which is endowed with unsurpassed ma.
tural resources, should be in all respects woSthy
cities of the world. We hold it is the duty Of the
authorities of 9 municipality to make il beauti-
to tho fact that II the city representing all
the people is poorer by far than a few of its peo-
pie, 1t is because from the public treasury has
all, but which has unrighteously been given to
the few, We believe that the Resumption Of
tidc taxation will provide a fund which may be
employed in the extension Of the oity's park
area, in the besutifyins Of its water front.
streets, in the multiplication Of its libraries.
museums and in;titutions for the free
such a system Of taxation will enhance the
material prosperity of the individual citizen
while vastly increasing the number OF public
conveniences which the people in the aggregate
will enjoy. And we promise that the success of
our nominee will mark the beginning OF the
effort to secure for all the people that access to
beauty and TO education now enjoyed only by
the wealthy few, and the creation of a more
wealthy. more refined. more beautiful, and
Every denial to a municipality OF the full st
right OF self-government results in encroach-
ment upon the liberties of the citizen. The evil
OF the domination Of Greater New York by law
makers who are not residents Of that city. and
by a legislative body which exists to govern a
State, and not q Municipality, We emphatically
denounce. and we point to the Raines excise
law as a typical outgrowth OF that evil. BY that
law the liberty OF the citizen is invaded, gross
discrimination is made between the rich and
the poor, as liquor dealers and as liquor users
Vice is encouraged. And demanding mi ID DS't eSpS Sat
ically the repeal of this law, we demand equally
the repeal Of all laws which, like it, deny tho
Deploring with full hearts the massacre at
Hnzleton. Pa, of a score Of workingmon who
right to use the public highways for orderly
procession. we call the attention Of the people OF
s Nem Of ! G 1aw 70 Sv tR Mh ie6' , ina' b 5so s1 sees %s Pe IiTsn
a hollow semblance Of legality exists equally in
this city. We demand recognition of the right
streets for orderly passage in thronRs as well as
individually, and 70 speak as they will the polit-
icsl convictions which possess them. And espe-
cially do we denounce the interference with
these rights by the mandatory order Of a court,
issued after an er pGrtc hearing. and the dis
tNhoAt "a III Gus ~ kbO III " IL CiIl
zen, who has asserted his historic rights, oppor-
tunity to defend himself before a jury or h 3
peers. Whether exercised by a Federal or a
state court, government by Injunction is hate.
full, un American. and in fragrant violation OF
the principles of individual liberty which our
forefathers defended with their blood wherever
despotism was combated with the sword.
And finally we declare that this mass meeting
was made necessary by the denial to the people
Of the right Of self.goyernment by men who,
having seized the machinery OF the Democratic
party organization. believed themselves able to
dictate to the citizens OF Greater New York not
only their rulers. but the very political questions
VITA which they may occupy their thoughts.
We are here to demonstrate that what Democrats
shall or shall not think and speak of is not to be
determined on English race tracks. nor in secret
eonclaves Of selt.constituted bosses. We are
here to declare that only by wrestling control of
the Democratic party from the hands OF the paid
agents, of monopolistic millionaires can the city
control the corporations, and not tho corpora
tons the city. No ticket nominated in an UNI
democratic way can be a Democratic ticket; no
declaration Of principles cgnningly devised to
meet the petty political needs OF the moment
can be Democratic, We, pledge ourselves re.
store To the individual that right of political
Initiative and acti n which long has been de-
MED him in this city, and we proffer our declara:
ton OF principles and our candidates as those Of
tho Jeffersonian Democracy of New York.