The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-14
THE PLATFORM.
Comprehensive Synopsis Of Party's
Declaration Of Principles.

Declaration Of Principles. X
The platform was adopted without
debate, by, vive voce vote. Following
is synopsis OF the very lengthy docu-
ment:
It affirms devotion to the essential prin-
cinles sof democratic faith-local self-gov-
eminent and national amity-freedom Of
press, Of conscience and Of speech; equal
tty before the law of all citizens; the right
OF trial by jury; freedom of person de-
Tended by the writ of habeas corpus; liberty
OF personal contact untrammeled by
sumptuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; well-disciplined
militia; the separation Of church and state;
economy in expenditures; low taxes, that
labor may be lightly burdened; the prompt
and sacred fulfillment Of public and pri-
vate obligations; fidelity to treaties; peace
and friendship with all nations; entangling
alliances with none; absolute acquiescence
in the will Of the majority.
The proposed platform insists upon strict
economy and the enforcement Of honesty
in every branch of the public service; ia
vors thorough legislative investigation Of
every department suspected Of corruption,
and punishment Of corruptionists; believes
that all government officials should return
to Jeffersonian\ simplicity Of living; favors
election of president trained in the ways
Of the constitution who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation Of leg
islative and judicial functions; pledges that
the democracy when intrusted with pow
er will construct the Panama canal speed
lily, honestly and economically; favors
maintenance of the Monroe doctrine in its
full integrity, a liberal trade treaty with
Canada. reduction Of the army and army
expenditures, statehood for Oklahoma,
Indian Territory. Arizona and New Mexico,
and a territorial form of government for
Alaska and Porto Rico.
Capital and Labor.
It favors enactment and administration
of laws giving labor and capital imp artial-
ly their just right; denies right of any ex-
ecuttve to disregard or suspend any consti-
tutional privilege or limitation; condemns
employment of the military for the sum-
mary Punishment Of citizens without trial
or for the control of elections.
The platform pledges the party to in
sist upon the just and lawful protection
of our citizens abroad; favors generous
pension policy. not by an arbitrary execu-
tive order, but by legislation which "a
grateful people stand ready to enact; de-
nounces the ship subsidy bill passed by the
senate, and favors the upbuilding Of mer-
chant marine without new or additional
burdens upon the people, and without
bounties from the public treasury; de-
mands honest, just and imp artial enforce
ment Of the principles Of civil service re-
form; demands determination Of polygamy
within the jurisdiction Of the United States,
and complete separation Of church and
state in political affairs; for liberal appro-
priations for the care and improvement of
waterways.
Imperialism.
The resolutions favor the preservation OF
the open door for the worlds commerce,
without unnecessary enlargement in orr
entail and European affairs; denounces an
indefinite, irresponsible, discretionary and
vague absolutism and a policy Of colonial
exploitation; insists that we ought to dc
for the Filipinos what we have done for the
Cubans, and announces the intention OF
the party, as soon as 1t can be done wisely
and safely for the Filipinos themselves, ia
set the Filipino people upon their feet. free
and Independent, to work out their own
destiny.
On the tariff question, the resolutions
favor a revision and gradual reduction OF
the tariff by the friends Of the masses, and
for the common veal, and not by the friends
Of its abuses, its extortions and it's dis.
elimination. keeping in view the ultimate
end Of equality Of burdens and equality
of opportunities" and the constitutional
purpose Of raising revenue by taxation
to support the federal government in all its
| integrity and virility, but in simplicity
They favor tariff limited to the needs Of