The National tribune., 1904-07-14
The" DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Declaration Of Principles for Which the Party Will Stand In the
ii
Campaign.

The Democratic party or the United
States, in National Convention assembled,
declares its devotion,to the essential prin-
ciples of the Democratic faith which
brings US together in party communion.
Under them locals self-government and
National unity and prosperity were alike
established. They ,underlaid our indie
pendence, the structure of our free Re
public, and every Democratic extension
from Louisiana to California, and Texas
to Oregon. which preserved faithfully in
all the States the tie between taxation
and representation. They yet inspire the
masses of our people, guarding jealousy
their rights and liberties, and cherish
ing their fraternity. peace, and orderly
das nea Tney Tsmnd us c Of our
and impress upon us particularly at this
time. the necessity of reform and the
rescue of the administration Of Govern
ment from the headstrOng, arbitrary, and
spasmOdic methods which distract busi-
ness by uncertainty, and pervade the pub
lie mind with dread, distrust, and pertur-
baton.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. .
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues Of the day
is the first step toward the assured peace.
safety, and progress Of our Nation. Free
speech: equality before the law of all
citizens; right of trial by jury; freedom
of the person defended by the writ Of
habeas corpus; liberty of personal con-
tract untrammeled by sumptuary laws;
supremacy of the civil over military au-
thority; well disciplined militia; the
separation of Church and State; economy
in expenditures; low taxes, that labor
may be lightly burdened; prompt and
sacred fulfllment of public and private
obligations; fidelity to treaties; peace and
friendship with all nations; entangling
alliances with none; absolute aoquiescence
in the will of the majority, the vital prin-
cip!e, of republics-.these are doctrines
proved by the Nation. and they should
be constantly invoked and enforced.
CAPITAL AND LABoR,I
We favor enactment and administration
of laws giving labor and capital impair
tally their just rights. Capital and labor
ought not to be enemies. Each is neces
sary to the other. Each has it's rights,
but the rights of labor are certainly no
less vested" no less Sacred" and no
less "unalienable" than the rights Of cap
ital.
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES.
Constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the right
to labor, acquire and employ property, or
reside where interests or inclination may
determine. Any denial thereof by indi-
viduals, organizations, or governments
should be summarily rebuked and pun
islIed.
We deny the right of any Executive to
disregard or suspend any constitutional
privilege or limitation. Obedience to the
laws and respect for their requirements
are alike the supreme duty of the citizen
and the official.
The military shonld be used only to
support and maintain the law. We un-
qualifiedly condemn it's employment for
out trial at OF for the control of cleo
tions.
We approve the measure. which passed
the United States Senate in 1896, but
which a Republican Congress has ever
since refused to enact, relating to con-
tempts in Federal courts, and providing
for trial by jury in cases of indirect con-
tempt.
We favor liberal appropriations for the
care and improvement of the waterways
Of the country. When any waterway, like
the Mississippi River, is Of sufficient i'm
portance to demand special aid Of the
Government, such aid should be extended
with definite plan Of continuous work
until permanent improvement is secured.
We oppose the Republican policy Of
starving home development in order to
feed the greed for conquest and the ap-
petite for National "prestige' and display
of strength.
ECONOMY OF ADMINISTRATION.
l. Large reductions can easily be made
in the annual expenditures Of the Govern
ment without impairing the efficiency of
any branch Of the public service, and we
shall insist upon the strictest economy
and frugality compatible with vigorous
mil nd
administration as right Of the people,
too clear to be denied or withheld.
z. We favor the enforcement of hon
esty in the public service, and to that end
thorough legislative investigation of
those Executive Departments of the Gov
corruption, as well as other Departments
suspected OF harboring corruption, and
the punishment of ascertained corruption
lists without fear or favor or regard to
persons. The persistent and deliberate re-
fusal Of both the Senate and House Of
Representatives to permit such investi-
CATION to be made demonstrates that only
by a change in the Executive and in the
Legislative Departments can complete ex-
posure, punishment, and corruption be
obtained.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH
TRUSTS.
can party in Congress in refusing to pro-
hibit an Executive Department from en-
tering into contracts with convicted trusts
or unlawful combinations in restraint Of
interstate trade. We believe that one of
the best methods Of procuring economy
and honesty in the public service is to
have public officials, from the occupant
OF the White House down to the lowest
Of them, returned as nearly as may be, to
Jeffersonian simplicity of living.
EXECUTIVE UsURPATION.
8. We favor the nomination and elec-
ton Of President imbued with the prin-
ciples of the Constitution who will set his
face sternly against Executive usurpatiou
Of legislative and judicial functions
whether that usurpation be vailed under
the guise OF Executive construction of ex-
listing laws, or whether It take refuge in
the tryant's pleas Of necessity, or superior
wisdom. esG1
IMPERIALfSM.
We favor the preservation, 80 far as we
can, Of an open door ffor the worlds
commerce in the Orient, without an un-
necessary enlargement in Oriental and
European affairs apd without arbitrary,
unlimited, irresponsible, and absolute gov
ernment anywhere within our jurisdic-
tion. We oppose, as fervently as did
George Washington himself, an indefinite
irresponsible, discretionary and vague abb