Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1904-07-21
Democratic Platform.

Inuer tHem local self-government and
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence, the structure OF our free republic
Louisiana 70 caiifor1ia ana Texas 10 ore
eoni which preserved faithfully in all the
states ne ue between taxation and rep
.esentauon. They yet inspire the masses
Of our people, guarding jealousIy their
rights and liberties, and chefishing their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
responsibilities as citizens and Impress
upon US, particularly at this time, the
neesessilty or reform and the rescue OF the
administration Of government from the
headstrong, arbitrary and spasmodic
methods which distract business by un-
certainty and perVade the public mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation
The application OF these fundamental
principles 10 the living issues OF The day
sured peace, safety and progress OF our
nation. Freedom OF the press, of con-
az Isy a ny al, OF speech eq9aly Peh s,
by jury; freedom OF the person defended
by the writ Of habeas corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; a well-disclplined
militia; the separation OF church and
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; the prompt and sacred fulhllment
Of public and private. obligations; fidelity
TO treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquiescence I'm the will OF the
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs OF the nation,
and they should be constantly invoked,
preached. resorted TO and enforced.
Controlling EspenaeH.
II. Large reductions can readily be
made In the annual expenditures OF the
:iency OF any branch OF the public service,
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugallty compatible with
aNur M aN nfN VNatt tor md
naval administration as a right OF the
people, too clear to be denied or with
80 The enforcement Of honesty in the
public service, and TO that end a thorough
legislative investigation of those eNecu-
ready known to TEEN with corruption, as
well as other, departments suspected of
harboring corruption, and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptiOnists without fear
or favor or regard to persons. The per-
slstent and deliberate refusal OF both the
senate and house of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch OF congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and I'm the house OF representatives can
complete exposure, punishment and corr
rection be obtained.
elm broader furtherance OF that end the
federal government should not permit it
self to be robbed by entering Into con
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade. existing in violation of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods of
procuring economy and honesty I'm the
public service is TO have public officials,
from the occupant OF the White House
down to the lowest OF them, return, as
nearly as may be. to Jeffersonian SIM
plicity Of living.
Presidential Recommend
"3. We favor the nomination and cleo
ton 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 usurpation be ruled under the guise
Of executive construction of existing
laws, or whether it take refuge in the
tyrants pleas Of necessity OF superior
"a 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-
liticaI institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to become the
greatest combinations Of capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
favored enterprises have. through trust
methods, been converted into monopolies
thus bringing to an end domestic COM
petition, which was the only check upon
the extravaganza profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
they can give, now control the policy of
the republican party.
n
businesslike revision and a gradual re-
duction OF the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal, and
not by the friends of its abuses, it's eX-
tortions and it's Determinations, keeping
in view the ultimate end OF equality OF
burdens and equality of opportunities
and the constitutional purpose of raising
a revenue by taxation, tO-wit, the sup
port of the federal government, in all It's
and Keeping also in view as men IN Of COM
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.
1--WE should bear in mind, in short, these
the sole derivation OF the power of tax
alton Is the support OF the federal gov
eTnem1nt, ee9noHiSaiiiy eneecuveiy ana Iat
the equal truth that in the assertion OF
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable, due regard but
only due regard, must and should be paid
TO actual existing conditions.
1--WE 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-
nopoles of the power to extort from the
American people, under shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners TOT luenllcai articles
The IathmInn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction OF interoceRnio
canal for the purpose Of national defense
and commerce between the states and
with foreign nations, we favor the early
completion OF the isthmian canal.
But while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
| and irreverslble fact, we can not too
| forcibly express our disapproval of the
methods by which, IN disregard OF the
usages and obligations Of international
| law and treaty obligations. the canal
| route has been acquired, or too solemnly
record our hope that this precedent Of
| defiant diplomacy may never be used
Trusts and UnIawRuI Combinations.
1--WE recognize that the gigantic trusts
| and combinations designed 10 enable cap
| ital 70 secure more than its just share OF
the Joint product OF capital and labor, and
/ which have been fostered and promoted
| aFa n mi a