Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-29
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

A1 i
We the democratic party OF the United
States in national convention assembled,
declare Its devotion to the essential prtn-
elples OF the democratic faith which
ofngs US together in party communion.
hocr them local self government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlad our independ-
enGe' % .he structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California ana Texas TO ore
son which preserved faithfully in all the
states states the tie between taxation and rep
resentaton They yet Inspire the masses
Iish,s and liberties, and cherishing their sheir
I9s1eFnfy snf sv peace eas,a and orderly develop;
responsibilities as citizens and impress
upon US, particularly at this time. the
administration Of government from n the e
methods which distract business by o,"Sn1e un-
with dread, dist trust and perturbation.
The application OF these Fundamental
principles TO the 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 .e and of speech; equality before
by jury freedom of the person defended
by the writ of habeas corpus liberty Of
personal contract untrammefed 10y sump--
tGaTy laws; the supremacy Of The civil
over military authority; WeH-aiseiplined
militia; the separation of church and
state; economy In expenditures, low
cened; the prompt and sacred fufillment
OF pubic and private obiieations: fidelity
10 treaties peace and friendship with al
nations; entaneling alliances with none;
majority, the vital principle of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
ard they shohld be constantly invoked,
preached. resorted to and enforced
Confroilng Expenses.
a. Large reductions can readily be
made IN the annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eft
cheney Of any branch of the pubic service.
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugaiity compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as "A right Of the
people. too clear to be denied or with
held.
go. The enforcement Of honesty IN the
pubic service, and to that end a thorough
legislative investigation of those exocu-
tive departments OF the government al
ready known to TEEN with corruption, as
We'll as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
OF escertained corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons. The per-
sistent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house Of representa- tiyas to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch Of congress demonstrates
that only by a change in the executive
and in the house OF representatives can
complete coa - exposure. s punishment and cors
In broader furtherance OF that end the
federal government should not permit it
taets tst to With hs sS entering into
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 as may be, to Jeffersonfan aim
plicity of living.
Presidential Reoomme n datfons.
y. We favor tho nomination and e,ec-
ton of president trained in tho ways OF
sternly against executive usurpation Of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be ruled under the guise
laws, or whether 1t take refuge in tho
tyrant's pleas OF necessity of superior
wisdom.
=. 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
mitted, through congressional favor. to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people This monstrous perversion of
those equal opportunities, which our po-
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to become the
greatest combinations Of capital that the
favored enterprises have. through trust
methods. been converted into monopolies,
thus bringing to an end domestic COM
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
eve favor wise, conservative and
businessiike, revision and d gradual re-
masses and for the common veal and
not by the friends Of its abuses its ex-
tortions and its determinations. keeping
in view the ultimate end of equality II
burdens and equality of opportunities
and the constitutional purpose of raising
a revenue t,e BY taxation, tax to-wit. the sup
integrity and yiri1ity, but III simplicity;
and keeping also in view, men of COM
mon sense should, existing conditions,
justly brought about, and the danger to
the cause Of tariff reform itself OF abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
We should bear in mind. in short these
two things: ~ The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power of tax
alton is the support Of the federal gov
ernemnt. economieaiy. effectively and
constitutionaly administered; and t2,
the equal truth that in the assertion of
any general principle and i'll reaching
logically unavoidable, 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-
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
nopolcS OF the power to 3Xt ort from the
American people, undcp shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The ISthmiun Canal.
'.0ur party having long and earnestly
advocated the cons ruction Of interOceanic
canal for the purpose Of national defense
ard commerce between the states and
with foreign nations, we favor the early
completion Of the 1sthmian canal.
but while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact. we can not toe
forcibly express dsapproval OF the
methods by which, in disregard of the
usages and obligations OF International
Ia and trpatV obljpat tfOn0 tha Canal