The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-05-08
The Democratic Platform.

The following is the platform adopt
ed by the Democratic State convention
in Norfolk last week:
We hereby indorse the principles of
democracy as enunciated in the Ma
tional platform oi the party adcnted at
Chicago in 1896 We heartily indorse
william Jennings Bryan as the logical
Democratic candidate for the Prezi
dency Of the United States and w in.
strnct ouS delegates TO the National
Democratic Convention to be ned at
Kansas Otty to vote accordingly.
We denounce tho Republican policy
# imperialism bs uudemocra'ic, uu.
American and unconstitutional Vlr-
GINA has ever been foremost in bat
ling for the repnblic as against the en-.
pire. and it is With an unfalterirg N.
tidenco in the patriotism of her sors
that we call upon them u again stand
against the empire and for the republic.
We declare that there can be no govern.
ment by the republic Of our fathers ex.
cept that which Is dominated by the
Constitution Of the United States, and
that neither in promotion Of our wei
fare nor in accordance with the Con
stituti0n OF the United States acquire
and govern any territory whatsoever as
a subject proyiuce nor deny TO the peO.
pie If any territory TO be retained uu-
der cur control the blessings of c)nstl
tutional liberty. nor can we h pc to
T ise the level Of American citizenship
Ivy pouring into It horde Of Asiatics
Therefore. in the interest Of the
American people and American institu.
ti0us and IN harmony with the teachings
Of our wisest statesmen Of all parties,
and as "a plain duty" we demand
that the Philippine Islands be turned
over as soon as practicable to their
own inhabitants that the people Of
Porto Rico be given just territorial
government before their substance is
stolen by carpet baggers. and that we
promptly and honoTably make good our
solemn declaration concerning Cuba.
We Democrats Of Virginia are opposed
70 militarism and great standing ar
mics as the worst enemies Of the repub-
lie.
We declare unalterable opposition to
criminal trusts and to every other ille-
gal combination Of capital. We de-
nounce such trusts as a serious menace
10 the public welfare, restricting the
opportunities and absorbing the sub
stance Of the people. They are the direct
product Of partial and unjust legisla'
tion and reckless multiplication Of cor
porations without suitable provisions
for their control. The rights OF Amer
lean freemen must not be sacrificed IN
the interest of corporations banded TO-
gether for their destruction. We ar
raign the Republican party both for
its failure to enforce existing laws and
TO anact Others against the trusts.
Whereas there is pending in Congress
a bill forbiddiug contractors doing work
for the United States government sim
liar to the work done by the govern
ment in its own shops, requiring la
borers on such work 10 work greater
number Of hours per day than the Ia
borers employed in the government
shops are required to work,
Resolved, That we indOrse the prin-
ciple Of said bill as being just and oom.
mendable.
The Democrats Of Virginia in con-
vention assembled do hereby indorse
the clean, honest administration Of j.
Hoge Tyler, Governor of Virginia, and
we congratulate our people upon the
liberal support OF our free schools and
our disabled Confed crate soldiers and
widows. which has been SO generously
afforded by said administration.
Whereas the General Assembly OF
Virginia has submitted to a vote Of the
people the question Of the calling OF
Constitutional convention, and where
as it is the evident desire Of the white
people of Virginia to amend aud revise
the present Constitution.
Resolved, That the Democratic party
of Virginia, in convention assembled
indorses the action of the General AS
sembly and earnestly urges the people
of Virginia to vote on the fourth Thurs
day in May for calling Constitutional
convention,
Resolved, That it is the sense OF
this convention that in framing new
Constitution no effort shall be made to
disfrancise any citizen Of Virginia who
had right to vote prior 20 1861, nor
the defendant Of any such person, and
that when such action shall have been
framed il shall be submitted to q vote
of the people for ratification or rejec.
tiop, and the Democratic party pledges
that the expenses incident to Oonsti-
tutional convention shall be kept down
TO the lowest possible figures.