Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-10-04
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

i Lt VakIh
I'VE, the democratic party OF the United
States in national convention assembled,
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
ciples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence. the structure Of our free republic
Louisiana to California and Texas to Ore
gon, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
rights and liberties. and cherishing their
fraterni1y t -, peace and orderly develop,
responsibilities as citizens and impress
upon US, particularly at this time. tho
necessity Of reform and the rescue OF the
methods s"si Which b distracs business @ By nn.
sit drsad and
THE application Of these fundamental
principles to the living issues Of the day
nation. Freedom OF the press. OF con-
science and OF speech equality before
by jury; freedom Of the person defended
ty the writ OF habeas corpus: liberty of
personal contract untramreled by sump--
tuary laws; the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority; a well lldisciplined
militia; the separation OF church and
stale; economy In expenditurees; es low
dened; the prompt and sacred fulhllment
OF public and private obligations, fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; ettangling 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,
and they should be constantly invoked.
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
'I Large reductions can readily be
made IN the annna, sc Of the
cheney OF any branch OF the public service.
and we shall insist upon the strictest
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
naval administration as right OF the
people. toe clear to be denied or with
"2 The enforcement Of honesty IN tho
public service and to that end thorough
legislative investigation OF those execu-
ready known to teen with corruption. as
we'll as other departnents suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
or favor or regard t. persons The per-
sistent and deliberate refusal OF both tho
senate and house Of representatives to
either branch Of congress demonstrates
that only by change In the executive
and in the hs'use Of representatives can
4ection be obtained.
I'm broader furtherAnoe Of that end the
federal government should not permit IT.
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint of Interstate
trade, existing in violation OF law. We
nf
procuring economy AND honesty In the
public service is to have public officials.
down to the lowest Of them, return. as
nearly as may be. to JeHersonian SIM
plicity of living.
Preside ntial Reaomme
"3 We favor tho nomination and cleo
ticn Of a president trained in the ways Of
the constitution, who shall set his face
uternly against executive usurpation Of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
Of executive construction of existing
laws. or whether it take refuge in the
tyrants pleas Of necessity OF superior
a. The democratic party has been
and will continue te be, the consistent
opponent of that class of tariff Legislation
mitted, through congressional favor, to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people I'his monstrous perVersion of
those equal opportunities, which oar po-
ltical institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to become the
greatest combinations CT capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
favored enterprises have. through trust
thus bringing to end domestic com
petition, which was the only check upon
the extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations. by the financial assistance
they can give, now control the policy OF
the republican party.
auction of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal and
not by the friends OF its abuses. its ex-
tortione and its determinations, keeping
In view the ultimate end of equality OF
burdens and equality of opportunities,
4 revenue by taxation. to-wit, the sup
port of the fedora. government, In all its
Integrity and virilty III ;. but IN s'mplie,ty }
mon sense should. existing conditions,
however wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
The s'.s cause Of tariff reform Itself Of Abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
1--WE should bear in mind In short. these
two things: % The general principle that
the sole derivation Of the, power Of tax
ernemnt, economically, effectively and
s6e enual sna in he
any ultimate end. however sacred ana
logically OrlaF FOlCADlG, Quo regard, Out
only due regard, must and should be paid
to actual existing conditions.
1--WE favor the reduction Of tariff tax
ation 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 reasona BILE and Just profit, by
such reduction oepriving trusts and mo-
nopolies of the power to extort from the
American people, unde1 shelter OF Amer.
| lCov, lQyN hipher
foreigners for identical articles
The IsthmlnM Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction OF int eroceanic
canal for the purpose OF national defense
with foreign nations. we favor the early
completion Of the isthmian canal.
"But while making this declarati and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and iIreversible fact. We can not too
fOrcibly express our disapproval OF the
methods by which, in disregard of the
usages and obligations Of international
I