The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-06-16
The Platform In Full.

The Platform In Full.
We, the representatives Of the demo- |
cratic party of Missouri, in state con- |
Vention assembled. do hereby reaffirm our |
hnesiance 10 the time honored principles I
OF the democratic party as formulated BY
JEFFERSON. Jackson and other great lead |
ers OF political thought In this country. |
we believe that In order to perpetuate the |
principles enunciated by them II Is essen
tial that the democratic party shall be In
the ascendancy In the state and federal |
government. We declare In favor OF |
equal rights to all and special privileges
to none; local self government; the high
est degree OF personal liberty consistent |
with the public good and strict construc-
tion OF the federal constitution. We con-
| denim the use of federal troops in the state
unless requested by state authority. We |
favor income tax, whereby the wealth
OF the country. which now largely es-
| capes taxation. may be made TO bear Its
Just proportion of the public burden. We
declare that the federal government
has no constitutional power to impose and
collect tarin duties except for the pur-
pose Of revenue and we demand that the
imposition Of such taxation shall be great
ly reduced and limited to the necessities
OF the government when honestly and
economically administered, and In the
case Of trust manufactured goods, ti9
they shall be placed on the free list
Trusts and the Chicago Platform.
We reaffirm and indorse the democratic
national platform adopted at Chicago in
1896 and declare our continued featy to
the utterances there enunciated upon the
free and equal coinage OF silver and gold
at the establised ratio OF IS to l, and we
denounce as unwise and dangerous In the
extreme the single gold standard bank act
OF the present session OF congress- which
places the control of paper circulating
medium in the hands Of the national bank
corporations.
We denounce as one OF the most trying
evils Of the day the present tendency to-
ward monopoly and the destruction OF
competition. particularly the Industrial
combination known as trusts. We ar
raign the REPUBLICAN party as guilty OF the
grossest hypocrisy In the treatment OF
this question. In that being in the ascend
ancy In congress II has steadfastly re-
fused to pass any Of the Legislation which
has been proposed to curb the power OF
trusts: has failed to withdraw tariff pro-
tection from trust made goods; has con-
stituted the leaders OF trusts as the lead
ers OF It's party In the nation and accepted
the contributions Of millions OF dollars to
the gigantic corruption fund, which fact
~ hHtA 70 ~ hNha't W Nilt sthDlHty OI |
our free institutions. We declare that the
existence Of trusts ls opposed to the pub
lie welfare as regards the employment
OF thousands OF persons who have been
deprived Of means Of livelihood. and in
their exactlons from consumers. In addi-
tion TO which they are threat against
liberty Itself In that they undertake. to
control our elections with money While
we would protect legitimate business cor
porations In all their just rights. we here
by emphatcally voice our opposition to
the continuance OF trust domination in
the business AFFAIRS and politics OF the ma
ton. and we pledge ourselves, as we have
given to the people the strongest possible
legislation on this subject In our state,
TO see to It that 1t is enforced; and that
II shall be when In our power enforced
by the federal government believing, as
we do. whenever the federal government
will cooperate In its sphere with the state
government In this direction that the peo-
pie will have relief to which they are en-
titled.
No Dependent Colonies.
We reiterate our adhesion to the Mon
roe doctrine and deprecate the departure
from Its principles which have been made
by the republican administration In its
war for conquest OF anti-podeal territory,
and we believe that the maintenance of
the Monroe doctrine as interpreted from
Its foundation to the beginning OF the
present republican administration, Is nee
essary to the safety Of American ascen-
dancy in American affairs. including the
exclusion of any newly acquired Eu-
ropean authority from this continent.
We unqualifedly believe in the expan-
sion Of trade relations of this country
with all the world, and in such expansion
of contiguous American territory as shall
be consistent with the views OF JEFF
ferson and our fathers of the democrat
ic party. We hold that the constitution
of the United States follows the flag
into all territory over which Its SOW
erelgnty and jurisdiction Is extended We
deny the right OF the government to es-
tablish dependent colonies and we there
fore denounce the republican administra-
tion for the policy 1t has pursued in re-
gard to Porto Rico In assuming owner
ship over II by the right Of treaty and
yet excluding Its people from the pro-
lection Of our national constitution. We
Insist that the American government at
the earliest possible moment restore the
government Of Cuba to the Cubans. there
by carrying out the declaration of the
president OF the United States and con-
gress when the war was made upon
Spain for the liberation of that island.
We favor the annexation OF Cuba when
ever Its people Of their own volltion shall
determine that they wish their country to
become a part Of the United States.
The Canal and Merchant Marine.
We favor the construction Of the Near
aqua canal, as Of the greatest importance
TO our commerce and national defense,
but we believe the canal should not only
be constructed but controlled by the
United States
The commercial interests OF the United
States require the upbullding OF our mer-
chant marine which prospered under
democratic rule and ranked with that OF
England and promised to outstrip II.
Under republican rule our foreign bound
vessels have practically disappeared, and
the American flag become a stranger In
the seaports OF the world To this end
we declare for free ships.
We extend our earnest sympathy to the
people OF the Boer republics In South At {
rica who are struggling to maintain their ,
right OF self-govornment and liberty.
with renewed faith In the ability, pa
triotlsm. and courage of Hon. William j.
Bryan. believing him to be the greatest
exponent OF the principles for which the
democratic party stands, and satisfied I
that power would not dazzle nor wealth
blind him to the duties which he owes
to the people. we express It as the wish
Of this convention that the delegates from |
to the national democratic con-
vention shall cast their votes for him ,
as the nominee OF 1bd democratic party ,
for president OF the United States.
The state Administration
We congratulate the people of Missouri
on the magnificent progress made by the
state under democratic rule. We lndorse ]
the economical and business-like admin I
lstration Of Gov. Stephens and his demo- \
cratic associates. The democratic party
Of Missouri offers as the best guarantee I
for the future Its wise and economic ad-
OF the affairs Of the state
since II came into power. at which time
Il found a bonded debt OF ,2l. 5000, the 7
for which had been squan- !.
dered. This debt has been paid on by
democratic economy under constitution u
framed and adopted by democrats, until /
only &. 1910 In bonds remain to be paid
While making this reduction In the states
Indebtedness the democratic party has
been liberal In furnishing educational, A
and penal institutions. :,
which are the equal In construction, san -
Itary conditions and management to those 8
Of any state In the union. 1t has con- Il
tinually reduced taxation. until the levy cl
Is now but one-half what It was under ii
republican administration, and only Is !.
cents on the 500 valuation. Ten cents Of d
this goes TO pay the interest and prinoi- Il
pal upon the bonded debt. Ave cents goes II
back to the people for the support OF the Al
public schools leaving but ten cents TO "
pay the governmental expenses, including
appropriations for public buildings,
schools. eleemosynary and penal insti-
Iutions, support Of university, normal III
schools, criminal courts and salaries OF nj
officers, thus giving the people more for o,
The small sum Of money taken from them -
han does any state In the union. ~
Pub,ic Education. IL
The public school system OF Missouri W
was founded by the act Of February 9, tl
SSI, under democratic supremacy Mis- W.
Iouri has now the largest money school an
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