The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-07-16

tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful CON-
binatiOns in restraint of interstate trade. We
believe that one of the best methods of pro.
curing economy and honesty in the public
service is to have public officials, from an oc-
cupant of the White House down to the lowest
Of them, returned as nearly as may be to JEFF
fersonian simplicity of living.
Executive USurpafion.
''We favor the nomination and election of
a President imbued with the principles of the
Constitution, who will set his face sternly
against executive usurpation of legislative and
Judicial functions. whether that usurpahon be
veiled under the guise of executive construc-
ton of existing laws or whether it take refuge
in the tyranIs pleas of necessity or superior
wisdom.
Imperialism.
ave favor the preservation, so far as we
can, of an open door for the worlds commerce
in the Orient. without an unnecessary entan-
clement in the Oriental and European affairs
and without arbitrary, unlimited, irresponsi
Bile and absolute government anywhere within
our jurisdiction. We oppose, as fervently as
did George Washington himself, an indefinite,
irresponsible, discretionary and vague abso
lutism and policy of colonial exploitation,
no matter where or by whom invoked or exer-
cised; we believe with Thomas Jefferson and
John Adams that no government has right
to make one set of laws for those at home aud
another and a different set of laws, absolute
in their character, for those in the colonies
All men under the American flag are entitled
Ia the protection of the institutions whose en-
beu the flag :. lf they are inherently unit
for those institutions, then they are inherently
unfit To he members Of the American body
polite. Wherever there may exist people
incapable of being governed under American
laws. in consonance with the American Con
s,itution, that people ought not 10 be part of
the American domain.
PiipinOs and Cubans.
We Insist that we ought to do for the Eli
ipiuos what we have done already for the Gu
bans. and 1t is our duty TO make that promise
now ami upon suit ble guarantees of protee-
tiau 10 citizens Of our own and other countries
resident there at the time OF our withdrawal,
set the Filipino people upon their feet, free
and independent To work out their own des-
tiny.
'.Tha endeaynr Of the Secretary of War, by
plrleing the Governments Endorsement for
promoters in the Philippine Islands to make
the United States a partner IN speculative leg
islalion ot the archipelago, which was only
temporarily held up by the opposition OF the
Democratic Senators in the last session, will.
ii successful lead 10 entanglements frem
which it will be difficult to escape.
Tariff Legislation.
The Democratic party has been, aud will
continue to be. the consistent opponent OF that
class of tariff legislation by which certain IN
[ teresjs have been permitted through Congress
I siaual favor to draw heavy tribute from the
/ American people. This monstrous perverslon
OF those equal opportunities which our pollu-
I cal institutions were established 10 secure has
I caused what may once have been infant indus
I tries 10 become the greatest combinations of
/ capital that the world has ever known. These
Z especial ityorites Of the Government have
+ through trust methods been converted into
moaopolies, thus bringing 70 an end domestic
competition, which was the only alleged check
upon the extrayagaut profits made possible by
. the protective system. These Industrial COM
binaiions by the financial assistance they eau
give, now control the policy of the Republican
party.
1--WE denouuce protection as robbery OF
the many to enrich the few, and we favor
tariff limited 10 the needs of the Government,
i economically administered, and so levied as
not 10 discriminate against any industry, class
or section. to the end that the burdens OF tax
alton shall be distributed as equally as posi-
BILE.
1--WE favor a revision and gradual reduc-
iion Of the tariff by the friends of the masses
aud for the common veal, and not by the
friends of IFS abuses, its extortIonS and its dis
examinations, keeping in view the ultimate
ends of equality Of burdens aud equality OF
I opportunities, aud the constitutions purpose
OF raising revenue by taxation, to wit, the
support OF the Federal Government in all its
integrity and viriliy, but IN simplicity.
Unlawful Combinations
I'VE recognize that the gigantic trusts and
combinations designed to enable capital to Sc
cure more than Its Just share of the joint pro-
duets of capital aud labor, and which have
been fostered and promoted under Republican
I rule are menace to beneficial competition
and an obstacle to permanent business pros
Z perity 4 private monopoly Is lndetenSl0le
aud iutoerable.
Individual equality OF opportunity and
free competition are essential to a healthy aud
permanent commercial prosperity. Any trust
combination or monopoly tending to destroy
these by controlling production, restricting
Z competition or fixing prices should be prohlb-
I tied aud puHished by law. We especially de-
{ uouuce rebates and discrimination by trans
portaton companies as the most potent agency
( in promoting and strengthening these unlaw'
| ful eonspiracieS against trade.
Interstate Commerce.
I'VE demand an enlargement of the powers
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission to the
end that the travelling public and shippers of
this country may have prompt and adequate
! relief from the abuses to which they are sub
iected in the matter Of transportation. We
7 demand a strict enforcement Of existing civil
apd criminal statutes against all such trusts,
( combinations and monopolieS, and We de-
mand the enactment of such further leglsla-
tion as may be necessary to effectually sup
1 press them.
ANY trust or unlawful combination engaged
I IN interstate commerce which is monopolizing
any branch Of business or production should
NOT be permitted to transact business outside
/ Of the State of its origin. Whenever it shall
/ be established in any court Of competent Jur-
/ isdieton that such monopoli1atiou exists such
! prohibition should be enforced through COM
preheuSye laws to be enacted on the subject.
Reclamation Of Arid Lands.
I'VE congratulate our Western citizens upon
the passing of the law known as the Newlands
/ Irrigation act for the irrigation and reclama-
ton of the arid lands of the West measure
framed by Democrat, passed in the Senate
4 by a non partisan vote and passed in the House
against the opposition of almost all the he,
publican leaders by vote the majority OF
which was Democratic.
1--WE call attention to this great Democratic
measure, broad and comprehensive as 1t is,
working automatically throughout all time
without further action of Congress until the
reclamation is accomplished, reserving the
lands reclaimed for homeseekers in small
tracts, and rigidly guarding against land mo-
uopoly as an evidence of the policy of domes
tic development contemplated by the Demo-
cratic party should it be placed in power.
Isfhmian Canal.
The Democracy, when intrusted with
power will construct the Panama canal speed
ily, honestly and economically, thereby giving
to our people what Democrats have always
contended fora great interoeeanie canal,
furnishing shorter and cheaper lines of trans
portation and broader and less trammeled
trade relations with the other peoples of the
world.
American Citizenship.
"We pledge ourselves to insist upon the just
and lawful protection of our citizens at home
and abroad, and to use all proper measures to
: secure for them, whether native born or natu-
rallied, and without distinction of race or
creed, the equal protection of laws and the
enjoyment of all rights and privileges open to
them under the covenants of our treaties of
friendship and commerce and if under exist
ing treaties the right of travel and sojourn is
t denied TO American citizens or recognition is
! withheld from American passports by any
l countries on the ground of race or creed, we
favor the beginning of negotiations with the
governments of such countries to secure by
treaties the removal of these unjust diserimi
nations.