The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-07-15
Ole Platform

The text of the platform. as adopted
Dy The convention at st. Louis Is as fol.
Bows:
We. the delegates of the democratic
party of the United States, in nationa,
convention assembled. declare our de-
votion to the essential principles OF the
democratic faith. which brings us to-
gethcr In party communion.
Under them local self government
and national unity and prosperity were
independence, the structure of our free
republic, and every democratic extern.
sion from Louisiana to California anG
Texas to Oregon. which preserved
faithfully in all the states the tie be
tween the taxation and the representa-.
ton. They yet inspire the masses OF
our people. guarding jealousy theil
their fraternity, peace and orderly de-
velcpment. They remind us of oul
duties and responsibilities as citizens
n impress upon US. particularly al
this time, the necessity OF reform and
the rescue of the administration of gu,
government from the headstrong, arbi-
trary and spasmodic methods which
distract business by uncertainty and
pervade the public mind with dread,
1istrust and perturbation.
Covers All the Days Issues.
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the
day constitutes the first step toward
the assured peace, safety and progress
of our nation. Freedom of the press,
OF conscience and of speech; equality
before the law of all citizens: the right
OF trial by jury: freedom Of the person.
defended by the writ OF habeas corpus;
liberty of personal contract. untram-
melled by sumptuary laws, the SUI
premacy of the civil over the military
authorities; we'll disciplined militia:
the separation of church and state;
economy in expenditures; low taxes,
that labor may be lightly burdened; the
prompt and sacred fulfllment of pub
lie and private obligations; fidelity to
treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations %entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquiescence in the will of the
majority; the vital principle of repub-
lics-these are doctrines which democ-
nation. and they should be constantly
invoked. preached, resorted to and en-
forced.
Large reductions can readily be made
In the annual expenditures Of the gov
eminent without impairing the eff
fciency Of any branch OF the public
service, n we shall insist upon the
strictest economy and frugality COM
patible with vigorous and efficient civil,
military and naval administration as
a right OF the people too clear to be
denied or withheld.
Honesty in Public Service.
We favor honesty in the public SER
vice n to that end a thorough In
v~estigation of those executive depart
ments of the government already
known to TEEN with corruption. as well
as other departments suspected of har-
boring corruption and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionists, without
fear or or regard to persons. The
persistent and deliberate refusal of
both the senate and the house of rep
T~esentatlves to permit such investiga-
ton to be made by either branch of
congress demonstrates that only by a
change In the executive and in the
legislative departments can complete
exposure and punishment Of corruption
be obtained.
In broader furtherance Of that end,
the federal government should not per-
NIT itself to be robbed by entering into
contracts with convicted trusts or un-
lawful combinations in restraint of in
terstate trade, existing in violation Of
laws.
We believe that one OF the best
methods of preserving economy and
honesty in the public service is to have
public officials, from the occupant OF
h White House down to the lowest
OF them, return as nearly as may be
to Jeftersonian simplicity of living.
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 usurpa-
ton of legislative and judicial func-
tons, whether that %usurpation be made
under the guise Of executive construc-
ton of existing laws. or whether it take
refuge in the tryant's pleas Of necessity
or superior wisdom.
Would Check Trusts.
The democratic party has been, and
will continue to be the consistent OPP
ponent of that class OF tariff legisla-
tion by which certain interests have
been permitted, through congressional
favor, to draw a heavy tribute from the
American people. This monstrous per-
version of those equal opportunities
which u political institutions were
established to secure has caused what
may once have been infant industries
to become the greatest combinations Of
capital that the world has ever known.
These especial favorites OF the gov
eminent have through trust methods
been converted into monopolies. thus
bringing to an end domestic competi-
ton, which was the only alleged check
upon the e~xtravagant profits made pos
sible by the protective system. These
industrial combinations. by the flnan-
cial assistance they a give. now con-
troll the policy of the republican party.
We denounce protection as a robbery
of the man to enrich the few, and
we favor Il tariff limited to the needs
of the government, economically adj
ministered, II SO levied as not to dis
criminate against any industry, class
or section, to the end hat the burdens
of taxation shall be distributed as
equally as possible. We favor a re-
vision and a gradual reduction of the
tariff by the friends Of the masses and
of the commonwealth. and not by the
friends Of it's abuses, its .extortions and
its Determinations. keeping in view the
ultimate ends for Equality of burdens
and the equality of opportunities" and
the constitutional purpose of raising
a revenue by taxation. without the
support of the federal government, in
all its integrity and virility. but in
simplicity.
Citizenship Rights.
We pledge ourselves to insist upon the
Just n lawful protection of our citizens
at homo and abroad and use all proper
measures to secure for them, whether ma
tive born or naturalized and without dis
%tinction Of race or breed, the equal pro-
lection Of laws and the enjoyment OF all
rights and privileges open to them under
the covenants OF u treaties OF friendship
and commerce, and II under existing
treaties the right f fra vel and soioUrn 90