Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-09
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLATFORM
we, the democratic party OF the United
states, in national convention assembled.
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
clpleS OF the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local self-government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
ence, the structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California and Texas to Ore
gon, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet Inspire the masses
ghs sF and Rd0 and her ther
ment: They remind Us Of our duties and
upon US, particularly at this time the
necessity OF reform and the rescue Of the
administration Of government from the
methods Which distract business by 'e un-
certainty and pervade the public mind
with ,, dread, distrust and pert turbation.
principles to the living issues Of the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured sared peace, safety and progress OF our
the law Of all citizens; the right Of trial
BY jury; freedom OF the person defended
by the writ OF habeaS corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority: lldisciplined
state; economy In expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
deEed; the prompt and sacred fulfillment
OF PUBLIC and private obligations; fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entanlgling alliances with none;
absolute acquiescence In the. will Of the
majority, the vital principle Of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the. nation.
preached. reSorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
Il. Large reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures Of the
cheney OF any branch Of the public service,
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as a right Of the
people. too clear to be denied or with
public service. and to that end thorough
legislative investigation of those execu-
tive departments of the government al
ready known to TEEN with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected OF
harboring corruption. and the punishment
Of ascertained corruptionists without fear
sistent and deliberate refusal Of both the
senate and house OF representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch of congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and In the house Of representatives can
so%Reti sosa|ae ;. and c0
I'm broader furtherence Of that end the
federal government should not permit it
r.: to With It ~ snsns g.
combinations in restraint of interstate
trade. existing in violation Of law. We
procuring economy and honesty in the
public service Is to have public officials.
from the occupant OF the White House
nearly az may be. to Jeffersonian sim
plicity of living.
Presidential Recommendation.
-. We favor the nomination and elec-
the constitution. who shall set his face
Sternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be ruled under the guise
laws, or whether 1t take refuge in the
tyrants pleas of necessity of superior
a. The democratic party has been,
and will continue to be, the consistent
opponent of that class Of tariff Legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
nlitted. through congressional favor. to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perversion of
htical institutions We're established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to become the
greatest combinations of capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
favored enterprises have. through trust
methods, been converted into monopolies,
thus bringing to end domestic COM
petition. which was the only check upon
the extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system; These industrial
they can give, now control the policy Of
the republican party.
1--WE favor a wise. conservative and
businesSlike revision and gradual re-
duction of the tariff by the friends Of the
masses and for the common veal, and
tortions and its; discriminatiops. keeping
in view the ultimate end of EQUALITY of
burdens and equality of opportunities,
a revenue by taxation. to-wit, the sup
port of the federal government, in ali its
integrity and viriity, but in simplicity;
however wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
Justly brought about, and the danger to
the cause Of tariff reform itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
1--WE should bear in mind, in short, these
two things: lD The general principle that
alton is the support of the federal gov
ernemnt, economically, effectively and
constitutionally administered; and ca,
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable, due regard but
only due regard, must and should be paid
to actual existing conditions
1--WE favor the reduction OF tariff tax
alton upon trust-produced articles to the
points where foreign competition may en-
ter the American market whenever trusts
and combines. seeking monopoly, raise
their prices to the American consumer
above a reasonable and just profit, by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo-
nopolies of the, power to eXtort from the
American people, under shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The IAthmiMn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction of interoceanic
canal for the purpose of national defense
and commerce between the states and
with foreign nations, we favor the early
completion of the lsthm;an canal.
but. while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact, We can not toe
forcibly express our disapproval Of the
usages and obligations of International