The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-06-13
.1HE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the Democratic State
Convention at Parkersburg.
WM. u. BRYAN ENDORSED
FOR PRESIDENT.

prlnClpleS auOpteu ny Iuo Doho-
cratic party at it's State Conven-
ton, held in the city of Parkers-
burg, juno 9th, 1900:
"The Democracy of the State of
West Virginia, in convention as
sembIed at Parkersburg, renews it's
devotion to and it's unfaltering
faith in the teachings of Thomas
jefferson, the founder of the party,
as expressed in his first inaugural
message, in these words:
"'Equal and exact justice to men
of whatever state or persuasion,
religious or political; peace, com
MERGE and honest friendship with
all nations, entangling alliances
with none; the support of the
State governments in all their
rights as the most competent I'd
ministration for our domestic con-
Germs and the surest bulwark
against anti. Republican tenden-
DIES; the preservation of the gem
eral government in it's whole con-
constitutional vigor as the sheet
anchor of our peace at home and
safety abroad; a jealous care of the
right of election by the people
as mild and safe corrective OF
abuses which are Topped by the
sword of revolution whore peace
able remedies are unprovided;a alb
solute acquiescence in the decision
of the majority, the vital principle
of republics, from which there is
no appeal but to force, the vital
principle and immediate parent CT
despotism; we'll diciplined mill.
tia, our best reliance in peace and
for the first moments of war till
regulars may relieve them, that SUI
premacy of the civil over the mill.
tary authority, a wise and frugal
government, which shall restrain
men from injuring ono another
and shall leave them free to regu-
late their own pursuits of industry
and improvement, and which shall
not take from the mouth of labor
the bread it has earned; economy
in the public expenses, that labor
may be lightly burdened; the hon
est payment of our debts and sa-
cred preservation of the public
faith; encouragement in agriculture
and of commerce as it's hand maid !;
the diffusion of information and
arraignment of all abuses at the
bar Of public reason, freedom of
religion, freedom of the press and
freedom of the person under the
protection of the habeas corpus,
and trial by juries impartially Sc
lected.
"Second-W We reafirm the expo
sition of these principles as con
tanned in the Chicago platform of
1896, and find in William j. Bryan
their ablest and most courageous
and incorruptible champion and
defender. And we declare him to
be our choice for President of the
United States. Aud we pledge
ourselves to abide by ard TO sup
port the candidates anu the plat
form that may be adopted by the
national convention which is to as
semble at Kansas City on July 4th
next.
"Third-We denounce imperial
ism as the foe of liberty and repu-
diate the doctrine that the consti-
tuition does not follow the flag
wherever the sovereign power of
the government of the United
States extends, and therefore de-
nounce as un-American, unconsti-
tutional and revolutionary the act
of Congress levying tariff upon
the imports from Porto Rico, and
the assertion of the right to hold as
subjects and not citizens, people
residing within territory over which
the United States claim jurisdic-
ton.
"Fourth-We hold that all just
governments derive their powers
from the consent of the governed,
and we denounce the attempt to
conquer people struggling to
achieve their independence and es-
tablish government for themselves
and suited, in their opinion, to pro-
mote their welfare and happiness,
as an act of criminal aggression
and wicked exercise of despotic
power, subversive of the fundamen-
tul principles upon which our own
and all other free governments are
founded. We denounce the pros
ecution of war of conquest by the
President of the United States,
waged without the consent and
authority of Congress, as an act of
usurpation deserving of condemna-
ton and rebuke at the hands of the
American people.
"Fifth-We denounce the Re-
publican party's system of legisla-
ton, which has fostered the growth
of trusts and monopolies and de.
mand q return to the system of tax
alton which alone is authorized by
tho constitution, viz: that all taxa
ton shall be for public purposes
and for revenue only, and SO levied
as not to discriminate against any
State or section. We denounce
the system of protective tariff legis.
lation as the mother of trusts and
demand return to constitutional
methods in the administration of