West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-06-21

uohs m full adopted by the Democratic
convention at Parkersburg.
PLATFORM.
The Democracy Of the State of West Vir-
Virginia in convention assembled, renews its
devotion to and its unfaltering faith in the
teachings of Thomas Jefferson. the founder
OF the party, as expressed in his hrst iuaur.
ural message in these words
Equal and exact Justice 10 all men. of
whatever state OF persuasion, religious or
pohtieali peace, commerce and honest friend.
ship with all nations, entangliug alliances
with none; the support of the state govern.
ments IN all their rights as the most com.
petent administration for our domestic con.
Germs aud surest bulwark against anti.Re.
publican tendencies; the preservation of the
generai government in its whole constitu.
ional vigor as the sheet anchor of our peac.
at home and safety abroad; Jealous care of
the right Of election by the people as a mild
and safe corrective of abuses which are
Topped by the sword of revolution where
peaeeable remedies are unprovidcd absolute
aequeseence in the decisions of the majority,
the vital principle of republics, from which
there is no appeal but to force, the vital
principle and immediate parent of despotism;
well disciplined militia, our best reliance
in the peace and for the first moments of
war till regulars may relieve them; the
supremacy of the civil over the military
authority; wise and frugal government,
which shall restrain men from injuring one
another and shall leave them free to regulate
their own pursuits Of industry and improve.
ment, and which shall not take from the
mouth Of labor the bread il has earned;
economy in the public expenses, that labor
may be lightly burdened; the honest pay
ment of our debts and sacred preservation
of the public faith; encouragement OF ap-
riculture and of commerce as its handmade;
the diffusion of information and arraignment
OF all abuses at the bar of public freedom;
freedom of religion, freedom of the press
and freedom of the person under the pro-
lection Of the habeas corpus and trial by
juries impar,ially selected"
Second-We reaffirm the exposition of
these principles as contained in the Chicago
platform of 1890, and find in William !.
Bryan their ablest and most courageous and
ineorrUptble champion and defender. And
we declare him to be our choice for Presi-
dent of the United States. And we pledge
ourselves to abide by and to support the
candidates and platform that may be adopted
by the National convention which is To
assemble in Kansas City on July 4lh, next.
Third-We denounce Imperialism as the
foe of liberty, and repudiate the doctrine
that the Constitution does not follow the
flag wherever the sovereign power Of the
government of the United States extends,
and, therefore, denounce as un-American.
unconstitutional and revolutionary the act
of Congress levying tariff upon the i'm
ports from Puerto Rico, and the assertion of
the right to hold as subjects and not citizens,
the peoples residing within territory over
which the United States claim jurisdiction.
Fourth-We hold that all just govern.
ments derive their powers from the consent
Of the governed, and we denounee the
attempt to conquer people struggling to
achieve their independence and establish
government for themselves and suited in
their opinion TO promote their welfare and
happiness, a. an act Of terminal aggression"
and wicked exercise Of despotic power,
subyersiye of the fundamental principles
upon which our own and all other free
rrf.s 4.
the prosecution Of a war Of conquest by the
President Of the United States, waged with.
out the consent and authority Of Congress,
as an act of usurpation deserving Of con
demnstion and rebuke at the hands of tho
American people.
Fifth-We denounce the Republican
party's system Of legislation which has fos.
tered the growth Of trusts and monopoles,
and demand a return TO that system Of taxa.
ton which'alone IS authorized by the Con
stituiion, viz, that all taxation shall be for
public purposes and for revenue only, and
50 levied as not to discriminate against any
State or section.
We denounce the system Of protective
and demand a return 10 the constitutional
methods in the administration Of the Federal
government, and insist upon strict limiia.
iion Of the powers delegated to il by the
Constitution.
sixth-We regard with alarm and appre-
hension the growth Of mililaryism and the
Increasing tendency 10 rely on force in the
administration OF governments. We hold
large standing army to be dangerous in time
Of peace 10 the liberties Of the people and
TO be a constant menace to the perpetuity Of
free government. Mindful Of the lessons Of
history and the warnings Of our wise fore.
fathers, we denounce the creation Of large
standing army, and are opposed to miHtar-
ism and imperialism now and always, and TO
the erection Of an empire upon the ruins Of
a republic. We denounce the administra.
ton Of the weak, vaoilating and subservient
federal executive. William Mckinley. as
arbitrary, corrupt, unconstitutional and des.
potic, and as AZ variance with all the tradi.
tions Of the republic. We arc opposed 10
any entangling alliance with any foreign
power, 70 any colonial system, and 90 the
conquest Of territory 90 be held and gov.
erued as dependencies by governors and
satraps appointed by executive power. We
regard the continuance in power Of the Re.
publican party as certain 10 result in the
final and complete overthrow Of the Rupub.
JIG under the constitution, and we call upon
al good citizens and patriots 70 unite with
Us to overthrow {, Al the polls, and to restore
once more eonYiiuiional government.