Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-07-09
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


in st. Louis last night substantially
adopted the following platform;
The democratic party of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
declares its devotion to the essential
principles OF the democratic faith which
bring us together in party communion.
Under them local self.goyernment and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our inde-
pendence, the structure Of our free re-
public, and every democratic extension
from Louisiana to California and Texas
to Oregon, which preserved faithfully
in all the States the tie between taxation
and representation. They yet inspire
the masses of our people, guarding
iealously their rights and liberties and
cherishing their fraternity, peace and
orderly development. They remind us
of our duties and responsibilities as
citizens, and impress upon us, particu-
larly at this time, the necessity Of re-
form and the rescue of the administra'
ton of government from the headstrOng,
arbitrary and spasmodic methods which
distract business by uncertainty and
pervade the public mind with dread, dis
trust and perturbation.
/. The application ofthese fundamen.
tai principles to the living issues of the
day is the first step toward the assured
peace, safety and progress OF our nation:
Freedom of the press, of conscience and
of Speech. equality before the law
of ali citizens; right OF trial by jury;
freedom of the person, defended by the
writ of habeas corpus, liberty OF
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tuary laws; supremacy of the civil over
military authority; a well disciplined
militia; the separation of church and
State; economy in expenditures low
taxes, that labor may be lightly burden
ed ; prompt and sacred fultillment ol
public and private obligations; fidelity
to treaties peace and friendship with
all nations; entangling alliances with
none; absolute acquiescence in the Will
of the majority, the vital principle of re-
publics-these are doctrines which democ-
racy has established, approved by the
nation, and they,should be constantly in
voked and enforced.
We favor enactment and administration
of laws giving labor and capital impair
italy their Just rights. Capital and labor
ought not to be enemies. Each is neces'
| sary to the other. Each has its rights
but the rights of labor are certainly nc
less "vested, 4" no less Sacred" and nc
less "unalienable" than the rights OF
capital.
Constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the right
to labor, to acquire and enjoy property
or reside where interests or inclination
may determine. Any denial thereof by
individuals, organizations or governments
should be summarily rebuked and punish
ed.
The right of any executive to disre.
gard or suspend any constitutional priv
kilege or limitation is condemned, as is
also the unnecessary use OF the military
to enforce.
law.
The republican policy of starving
home development in order to feed the
greed for conquest and the appetite 10,
national "preStige' and display Of
strength is opposed.
The platform demands large reductions
in public expenditures and honesty in
public service, together with thorough
investigation of departments teamine
with corruption or suspected of the same
Jeffersonian simplicity of living is en-
Joined upon public officials from the oc'
cupant of the White House down to the
lowest of them.
The platform favors the nomination
aud election of President imbued with
the principles of the constitution, who
will set his face sternly against execu.
tive usurpation of legislative and judicial
functions, whether that usurpation be
belied under the guise of executive con-
struction of existing laws, or whether II
take refuge in the tyrants plea of neces'
sity of superior wisdom.
We favor the preservation, so far a
we can, OF an open door for the worlds
commerce in the Orient, without an un
necessary ENHANCEMENT in oriental anC
European affairs, and without arbitrary
unlimited, irresponsible and absolute
government anywhere within our juris
diction. We oppose, as fervently as di'
George Washington himself, an indefinite
irresponsible, discretionary and vague ex
ploitation, no matter where or by whom
invoked or exercised.
We insist that we ought to do. for tn
Filipinos what we have done already fol
the Cubans.
The democratic party has been, ant
will continue to be, the consistent oppO
nent of that class of tariff legislation b.
which certain interests have been per
mitted, through congressional favor, t
draw heavy tribute from the American
people,
We denounce protection as robber.
of the many to enrich the few, and W
favor a tariff limited to the needs of th
government, economically administered
and so levied as not to discriminat
against any industry, class or section, t
the end that the burdens OF taxation
shall be distributed as equally as possible
We favor revision and a gradual re
duction of the tariff by the friends OF tn
masses and for the common veal, and no
by the friends Gifts abuses, itsextortion
and its determinations, keeping in vie'