Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-25
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLAIFUkM
We, the democratic party Of the United
states, IN national convention assembled,
declare its devotion 10 the essential prin-
Clpies OF the democratic faith which
pilHss us together in party communion.
thder them local self-government and
national 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
goD. which preserved faithfully in all the
states states the tie between taxaiich and rep
rssentation. They yet inspire the masses
rights and liberties. and cherishing their
1pat.rn,rgS. msnt peace and orderly develop,
responsibilities az citizens and impress
upon US. particularly at this time, the
necessity OF reform and the rescue OF the
administration Of government from tho
methods Which distract easines. sa eAsnon1o BY Sn0
certainty cert and pervade the public mind
The application Of these fundamental
principles 20 the living issues OF the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
nation. Freedom OF the press, of con-
science and of speech; equality before
the law Of all citizens: the right of trial
by the writ Of habeas corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tGary laws; the supremacy OF. the civil
militia: the separation of church and
fsa,e ta1s. .ss. economy my IN expeneitnres; low
or public and private obligations: fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; estangling alliances with none;
absolute acQutescence In the VIII OF the
majority. the vital principle Of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the. nation.
ahO they should DO constantly invoked,
preached. reSorted to and enforced.
Controlling E1Denses.
Il; Large reductions can readily be
made In the annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eff
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
naval administration as right Of the
People too clear TO be denied or with
- The endorsement Of honesty IN the
public service. and to that end a thorough
legislative investigation OF those execu-
tive departments OF the government al
ready known to teem with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected Of
harborinE corruption. and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionsts without fear
or favor or regard te persons. The per
sistent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house Of representative 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 exPoeure, punishment and cor,
I'm broader furtheranoe Of that end the
federal government should not permit IT.
self to be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
mt Nf tpta
trade. existing in violation of law. We
believe that ono 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, az
nearly as may be. to Jeffersonian SIM
Prudential Resomme n datfona.
'S We favor the nomination and elec-
t1on of a president trained in the ways Of
the constitution, who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpat1on be ruled under the guise
81 executive construction of existing
laws, or ,l whether it take refuge in the
tyrants 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-
nnltted, through congressional favor to
draw heavy tribute from the American
those equal opportunities, which our po-
ntical institutions were established TO Sc
cure. has caused what may once have
been infant Industries to become tie
greatest combinations of capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
favored enterprises have. through trust
thus bringing to an 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
ousin essike revision and gradual re-
duction of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal, and
IN view the ultimate end of EQUALITY 81 |
burdens and equality CT cpportunj}ies.
q revenue by taxation to-wit, the sup
port Of the federal government In all its |
integrity and v1rilny, 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: Q) The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power Of tax
ation Is the support of the federal gov. |
economically, effectively and
ti,utlonaIly administered; and (2>, |
the equal truth that IN the assertion Of |
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end however sacred and |
logically unavoidable, Que regard. but |
only due regard must and should be paid |
10 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 reasonable and just profit, by |
such reduction depriving trusts and mo- |
nopolies 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 IsthmlnM Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction of interoceanic
canal for the purpose Of national defense
and commerce between the states and !
with foreign nations, we favor the early |
completion Of the isthmlan canal.
But while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact, we can not toe
fOrciDly 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 used
against us to our humiliation and injury.
Trusts and VHlawful CombinatiOns.