Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-07-14
THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party of the United
States. in national convention assem-
bIed, declares its devotion to the essential
principles of the Democratic faith which
bring US together in party communion.
Under them local self government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established They underlaid our indie
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 cherish
ing their fraternity, peace and orderly
- - e7ooment They remind US of our du-
Ties and responsibilities as citizens and
Impress upon us, particularly at this
time, the necessity of reform and the
rescue of the administration of govern
ment from the headstrong, arbitrary and
spasmodic methods which distract BUSH
ness by uncertainty. and pervade the
public mind with dread, distrust and
perturbation.
The application of these fundamen-
tai principles to the living issues of the
day is the first step toward the assured
peace safety and progress of our ma
ton. Freedom of the press, of con-
science and of speech; equality before
the law of all citizens, right of trial by
jury, freedom of the person defended by
the writ of habeas corpus liberty of per-
sonal contract unbranded by sump
tuary laws, supremacy of the civil over
military authority, a well disciplined mi
litia, the separation of church and state,
economy in expenditures low taxes, that
labor may be lightly burdened prompt
and sacred fulfiillment of public and pri-
vate obligations, fidelity to treaties, peace
and friendship with all nations, entang-
ling alliances with none, absolute acqui-
escenee in the will of the majority, the
vital principle of republics-these are doc
trines which Democracy has established.
approved by the nation. and they should
be constantly invoked and enforced.
We favor the enactment and admins
tration of laws, giving labor and capital
impartially their just rights. Capital and
labor ought not to be enemies. Each is
necessary TO the other. Each has its
rights. but the rights of labor are Ger
tainly no less vested" no less sacred
and no less ''unalienable'' than the rights
of capital.
Constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the right
to labor, acquire and enjoy property or
reside where interests or inclination may
determine. Any denial thereof by indi-
viduals, organizations or governments
should be summarily rebuked and pun
ished. We deny the right of any execu-
tive to disregard or suspend any consti-
tutional privilege or limitation. Obedi-
ence to the laws and respect for their re-
quirements are alike the supreme duty
of the citizen and the official.
The military should be used only to
support and maintain law. We unquali-
fedly condemn its employment for the
summary Punishment of citizens without
trial or for the control of elections.
We approve the measure which passed
the United States senate in 1896 but
1O71f oh hos
since refused to enact, relating to con-
ternpts in federal courts, and providing
for trial by jury in cases of indirect con-
tempt.
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 extended
18th a definite plan of continuous work
until permanent improvement is secured
We oppose the Republican policy of
starving home development in order to
feed the greed for conquest and the appe-
lite for national prestige and display
of strength.
Large reductions can easily be made
IN the annual expenditures of the govern
1nent 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 efficient civil, military and naval adj
1ninisfration as right of the people, too
clear to be denied or withheld.
2-We favor honesty in the public SER
vice The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end thor
0ugh legislative investigation of those ex-
ecutfve departments of the government
already known to TEEN with corruption
as well as other departments suspected
of harboring corruption, and the punish
ment Of ascertained eorruptionists with
out fear or favor or regard to persons.
The persistent and deliberate refusal OF
both the senate and house of representa-
tives to permit such investigation to be
made demonstrates that only by a
change ia the executive and III the legis-
lative depart Xents can complete exu0z