Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-05
The Democratic Platform as Fin
lshed and Adopted at the St.
Louis Convention,
The MONEY PLANK ELIMINATED:
A VICTORY FOR WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
The Tarty Wants President
Trained In the WAYS Of tue Com
ktftution, Who Shall Set His Face
Against Executive Usurpntion of
Legislative or Judicial Functions.

I've, the democratic party of The United
states, IN national convention assembled,
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
Slpies of the democratic faith which
prlugs us together in party communion.
nder them local government and
hatlonal unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ehce, the structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California ana Texas to Ore
gon, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
rxsentation. They yet inspire, the masses
oi our people, guarding jealousy their
rl&hts and liberties. and cherishing their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment. Ihey remind US of our duties and
responsibilities as citizens ans! impress
upon us, particularly at this time the
neccsshN OF reform aud the rescue of the
hi(SI}l1nlstr"t!on i,3l' u OF govefnment from the
methods which distract business by un-
Certainty and peFvade the public mind
WITH IN, dread, distrust and perturbation.
"The application Of these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace, safety and progress of our
nation Freedom of the press, of con-
science and of speech; equality before
the law of AL citizens; the right of triad
nE JH:S; freedom OF the person defended
by the writ of habeas corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammGled by slimp-
tEarE laws: the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority; a welI-disciplined
militia; the Sea)ara ton of church and
state, economy in expenditures; low
taxes that labor may be lightly bur
deEed; the prompt and sacred fulfillment
OF public and private obligations: fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship With all
nations; entansling alliances with none:
absolute acuuiescence in the will of the
majority, the vital principle of REPUBLICS
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs Of the nation,
ana they should be constantly invoked,
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
Il. Large reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures of the
government without impairing the eff
cheney of any branch of the public service
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as q right of the
RReHP'e' Reid. 100 ''eaf TO De denied or with
''2. The enforcement 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 TEEN with corruption, as
We'll as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption, and the punishment
Of aseertained corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons. The per-
eistent 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 a change In the executive
and in the house of representatives can
complete exposure, punishment and cor
recton be obtained
In 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
trade, existing in violation of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods of
procuring economy and honesty in 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 Recon- m e ndations.
"3. We favor the nomination and cleo
ton OF 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 III the
tyrant's pleas of necessity of superior
II. 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 Il heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perversion Of
those equal opportunities, which our po-
Htical 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 monopoiies,
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.
I'VE favor a wise, conservative and
businesslMs revision -, ana q gra4duafi az re- re-
masses and for the common veal, and
not by the friends Of its abuses. its ex-
tortions and its discrminations. keeping
in view the ultimate end of equality Of
burdens and equality of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose of raising
revenue by taxation tnwlt II the -. sup I
Integrity and virility, but in simplicity;
and keeping also in view as men of com
mon sense should, existing conditions,
Justly brought about; and the danger to
and revolutionary reversal Of policy.
two things: % The general principle that
the sole derivation Of the power OF tax
alton is the supp9r! OF tss fsdsfa goy
eeonstltut;onally eomsln.; adminstered and ta'
| the equal truth that in the assertion of
any gsnera princiPs and IN reachimg
| only due regard, must and should be paid
! to actual existing conditions.
1--WE favor the reduction OF tariff tax.
I
| noints 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
I such reduction depriving trusts and mo.
| nopolies of the power to extort from the
| American people, undet shelter of Amer:
| lean law, prices higher than those charged
| foreigners for identical articles.
| The Jsthmjmn Canal.
! "Our party having long and earnestly
! advocated the construction Of interoceanle
/ canal for the purpose of national defense
! and commerce between the states ane
| with foreign nations. we favor the early
! completion of the isthmian canal.
I "But while making this declaration ane
| accepting the results as an accomplished
| and irreversible fact, we can not t3t
| forcibly express our disapproVal OF tht
methods hy which, in disregard OF the
! usages and obligations OF internationa
Route has been acquired, or too solemnlA
record our hope that this precedent o.
| defiant diplomacy may never pc usee
| against us to our humiliation and injury
| Truats and Unlawful COmb1nat1ons
eve recognize that the. gigantic trusts
and combinations designed to enable cap
itaI to secure moro than its just share o.
| s.lut 0rod,rt Of ~ nital and labor, aH(