The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-07-15
THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY PLATFORM
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
AS ADOPTED AT ST. LOUIS
CONVENTION.
FULL TEXT OF THE
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT
All Problems of the Government Gov
cred Except That of Finance
Stand of the Party on the Tariff,
Trusts and Other Issues.

st. Louis, July 1l.-When the demo-
! cratic national convention was called to
order Friday evening, Senator Deniel,
! chairman of the committee on resolu-
| lions, was at once recognized by the
chair, and read the resolutions as adopt
| ed by the committee. When he had
| finished the reading Senator Daniel
moved the previous question, which was
carried, and the platform was adopted
without debate. 1t is as follows:
The democratic party of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
! declares it's devotion to the essential
| principles of the democratic faith which
| brings together in party communion.
| Under them, local lf-government, 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 jealousy
| their rights and liberties, and cheriShing
| their fraternity, peace and orderly deVel-
| opment They remind us of our duties
@N~-
press upon us, particularly at this time,
| the necessity of reform and the rescue OF
| the administration or government from
| the headstrong, arbitrary and spasmodlc
methods which distract business by un-
certainty, and pervade the PUBLIC mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the day
is the first step toward the assured peace,
safety and progress of our nation Free
dom of the press, of conscience, and of
| speech equality before the law of all
citizens; right of trial by jury; freedom
of the person defended by the writ of ha-
beas corpus; liberty of personal contract
| untrammeled by sumptuary laws; SUI
| premacy of the civil over military author
ity; well disciplined militia; the sepa-
| ration of church and state; economy in
| expenditures; low taxes, that labor may
be lightly burdeaed; prompt and sacred
fulfillment of public and private obliga-
| tons; fidelity to treaties; peace and
friendship with all nations; entangling
| alliances with none; absolute acquies-
| cence in the will of the majority, the
vital principle of republics-these are
| doctrines which democracy has estab-
lished. approved by the nation, and they
should be constantly invoked and en-
| forced.
Capital and Labor.
of laws, giving labor and capital impair
! TALLY 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 no
| less vested" no less sacred and no
| less "unalienabl e'' than the rights of cap
| ital
Constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the right
to labor, acquire and enjoy property or
/ reside where interest or inclination may
determine. Any denial thereof by indi-
viduals. organization, or governments
! should be summarily rebuked and pun
ished.
We deny the right of any executive to
disregard or suspend any constitutional
privilege or limitation. Obedience to the
laws and respect for their requirements
are alike the supreme duty of the citizen
and the official.
The military should be used only to sup
port and to maintain the law. We I'M
qualifedly condemn its employment for
| the summary Punishment of citizens
| without trial, or for the control of cleo
! tons.
We approve the measure which passed
the United States senate in 1896, but
which republican congress has ever
since refused to enact, relating to con-
! tempts IN federal courts, and providing
| for trial by jury in cases of indirect con-
tempt.
Waterways.
We favor liberal appropriations for the
care and Improvement of the waterways
of the country. When any waterway
like the Mississippi river, is of sufficient
Importance to demand special aid of the
government, such aid should be extend
work until permanent improvement is Sc
eu we oppose the republican no,,ov o.
starving home development in order TO
greed nd
petite for national ''prestage" and dis
| play of strength.
Economy Of Administration.
Large reductions can easily be made in
| the annual expenditures of the govern
| ment without impairing the efficiency of
any branch of the public service. and we
shall insist upon the stricteSt economy and
| frugality compatible with vigorous and eff
fcient CIVIL military and naval administra-
ton as a right of the people, too clear to
be denied or withheld.
We favor honesty in the public service.
The enforcement of honesty in the public
service, and to that end a thorough leg
| islative investigation of those executive
departments of the government already
other departments suspected of harborine
corruption, and the punishment of ascer.
tanned corruptionists without fear or ia
vor or regard to persons. The persistent
and deliberate refusal of both the senate
and the house of representatives to permit
such investigation to be made demon
ecutive and in the legislative departments
can complete exposure. punishment and
/ correction be obtained
Government Contract with Trusts.
We condemn the action of the repub-
lican party in congress in refusing to pro-
hibit an executive department from en-
tering into contracts with convicted trusts
or unlawful combinations in restraint of
interstate trade.
/ We believe that one of the best methods
Of procuring economy and honesty in the
public service is to have public officials
from one occupant of the white house down
. to the lowest of them, returned as nearly
as may be. to Jeffersonian simplicity Of liv-
ing.
Executive Usurpation.
We favor the nomination and election of
the constitution, who will set his face
i sternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be yelled under the guise
of executive construction Of existing laws
or whether it take refuge in the tyrant's
pleas of necessity or superior wisdom.
Imperialism.
can, of an open door for the worlds COM
merce In the orient, without unneces-
sary ENHANCEMENT In oriental end Euro
pean affairs, and without arbitrary, un-
limited, irresponsible and absolute gov
eminent anywhere within our jurisdic-
ton. We oppose, as ferevently as did
George Washington himself an indefinite,
irresponsible, discretionary and vague alb
solutism and policy of colonial exploita-
ton, no matter where or by whom invoked
, or exercised; we believe with Thomas JEFF