Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-26
THE bEMG~KATIc
PLATFORM

k-h y IL N
We, the democratic party Of The United
states, i'll national CONVENTION assembled,
declare its devotion TO the essential rrin-
eiples of the democratic faI;h which
brings us toStther in party communion.
nder them local selt-EoVernment and
natlonal unity and prosperity were alike
established They underlaid our independ-
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
rights and liberties. ana and eSerishins eae @ their
fratsrnifgy ma1t peace and orderly develop
responsibilities Is citizens and impress
upon US. particularly at this time, tho
necessity OF reform and the rescue OF the
methods which distract business by un-
certainty and pervade the public mind
The application OF these fundamental
principles TO tho living issues of the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace. safety and progress OF our
nation. Freedom OF the press, Of con-
science and of speech; equality before
Il. the law Of al citizens; the right Of trial
by the writ OF habeas corpus; liberty OF
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
state. economy in expenditures: low
taxes taxes that ina labor may be lishtIy bur.
OF public and private obligatj fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations: ertangling alliances with none:
tl hA u,fl 81
majority. the vital principle OF republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
; Established as proverbs OF the nation.
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling ExDenses.
Il; Large reductions can readily be
government without impairing the eff
end we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
people too clear to be denied or with
=: The enforcement Of honesty In tho
legislative investigation Of those execu-
tive departments Of the government al
ready known to teem with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptfonists without fear
Or. or favor or regard te persons. The per
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
complete exposure, Punishment and cors
federal government should not permit it
self to be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade. existing in violation of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods OF
procuring economy and honesty in the
from the occupant OF the White House
down to the lowest OF them. return, as
nearly as may be. to Js1ersonian sim
plictty of living.
Presidential Reoemm me n aa tions.
"s We favor the nomination and cleo
tion of president trained in the ways OF
the constitution. who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of
that usarpa'ion be ruled under the guise
Of executive construction OF existing
laws, or whether IT take refuge III the
tyrant's pleas OF necessity OF superior
wisdom.
a The democratic party has been
end viii continue to te, the consistent
opponent of that class of tariff legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
mltted, through congressional favor, to
draw heavy tribute from the American
those equal opportunities, which our po-
litical institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
greatest combinations Of capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
favored enterprises have. through trust
met hods, been converted into monopoies
petition which was the only check upon
the extTavagant profits made possible by
combinations, by the financial assistance
they can give, now control the policy Of
the republican party.
I'VE favor wise, conservative and
ouSinesSljke revision and gradual re-
duction Of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal. and
torttons and its determinations, keeping
In view the ultimate end of equality OF
burdens and equality of opportunities,
= revenue by taxation, to- wit, the sup
port Of the federal government. In ali Its
Integrity and virility, but in simplicity
mon sense should, existing conditions
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.
I'VE should bear in mind, in short these
two things % The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power OF tax
ernemnt, economically, effectively anc
constit tutlonaily administered; and ca
the equal truth that In the assertion Of
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically urlavodsble, due regard but
only due regard, must and should be paid
TO actual existing conditions.
I'VE favor the reduction Of tariff tax.
alton upon trust-produced articles to the
points where foreign competition may en-
tel the American market whenever trusts
and combines, seeking monopoly, raise
Their prices tc the American consumer
above a reasonable and just profit by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo-
Dopoiies of the power to extort from the
American people, undey shelter Of Amer
lean law prices higher than those charged
foreigners for Identical articles.
The lsthmis.n Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction of interOCeanlC
canal for the purpose Of national defense
and commerce between The states and
with foreign nations, we favor the early
completion of the lsthmian canal.
But while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreyersible fact. we can not toe
forcibly express our disapproval of the
methods by which, in disregard Of the
usages and obligations of international,
law and treaty obligations, the CANA
route has been acquired or too solemnly
record our hope that this precedent OF
defiant diplomacy may never be uset'
against us to our humiliation and injury
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