Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-21
The DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLAlFOkM
1--WE. the democratic party OF the United
States. in national convention assembled,
declare it's devotion to the essential prin-
cples of the democratic faith which
Under them local self-government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence. the structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California and Texas to Ore
gon, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet Inspire the masses
OF our people. guarding jealousy their
tights rig snt ana Liberties and cherishdg tier
ment. They remind US Of our r duties and
responsibilities as citizens and impress
necessity Of reform and the rescue Of the
administration Of government from the
bch h56trary and sH
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
The application Of these fundamentai
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace. safety and progress Of our
seencs and af OF the Of
the law Of all citizens: the right of trial
by Jury: freedom Of the person defended
personal @ % contract tS untSammeied nd oy' by sump-
tuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over over. military authority: well,disciplined
state; economy In expenditures; low
dened: the prompt and sacred fulfillment
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations: entangling alliances with none:
absolute acouiescence In the will Of tn the
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the. nation.
prsachsd pre- "s resorted % 0e to ei' and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
II. Largo reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eff
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administratton as a rig MT OF -. the n
Rs!a R:S!aR'', IT,. TOO clear to be denied Or with,
public service. and to that end thorough
legislative investigation Of those execu-
tive departments of the government al
well as other departments suspected Of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionists without fear
sistent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house Of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
that only by change IN the executive
and III the house. of representatives can
GemPet9 se1ade he ob}sinea punishment and
'In broader furtherance Of that end the
federal government should not permit it
self to be, robbed by entering into con-
combinations in restraint Of inter-! :, g
trade. existing in violation Of IL. y e
believe that one Of the best net-+55s of
procuring economy and hone - the
public service is to have pul officials,
from the occupant OF the 0..1te House
down 10 the lowest of tn 49,. return, as
nearly as may be, to .1e4.cTs0nidu SIM
plicity of living.
Presidential Rec concentrations.
"3 We favor the nomination and e!ec-
tion Of a president trained in the ways OF
the constitution, who shall set his race
sterniy against executive usufpation OF
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpalion be ruled .u-nier the guise
laws, or whether it take refuge III the
tyrant's pleas Of necessity Of superior
II. The democratic party has been
and viii continue to be, the consistent
opponent of that class of tariff Legislation
by which certain interests have been per.
mitted, throush consrsastonal favor, tt
draw heavy tribute apu the American
people. This monstrods perversion OF
those equal opportunities. which our pc
lticai Institutions We're 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 trus
methods, been converted into monopoiies
thus bringing to an end domestic com
petition, which was the only check upon
the eXtravagant profits made possible bS
the prots;etive A system ter g., Ihese industra
they can give. now control the policy o.
the republican party.
I'VE favor a WISE conservative an(
businesslike revision and q. gradual re
duction of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal, ant
tortons and its Determinations, keeping
in view the ultimate end of equality o
burdens and equality OF opportunities
revenue by taxation, to-Wit, the sup
port Of the federal government, in all it;
and keeping also in view, as men of com
mon sense should. existing conditions
however wrongfulIy, mistakenly or un
justly brought about and the danger tt
the cause OF tariff reform itself OF abrup
and revolutionary reversal Of policy.
We should bear in mind, in short, thes'
two things: % The general principle tina
alton is the support of the federal gov
ernemnt, economical!y; effectively an'
the the equal truth that in the ASSERTION o
any general principle and in reachins
any ultimate END, however sacred an'
only due regard, must aud should be PAL,
to actual existing coNditlons
Eve favor the reduction Of tariff tax
alton upon trust produced articles to til
points whore foreign competition may Ell
ter the American market Whenever trust
and combines, seeking monopoly, tais
their prices To the american consume
above 81 reasonable aui just profit, b,
such reduction deprving trusts and mo
nopohes OF the power II axtort from TIL
American people undev shelter Of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The Isthui,,n Canal.
"Our party having Ions and earnestl,
advocated the construction of inter0eeaul
canal for the purpose Of national defeus
and commerce between the states ant
: with foreign nations, We favor the earl,
completion of the tsthmion canal.
But while making this declaration ant
, accepting the results as an accomplishe,
and irreversible fact, we can not too
foreibly express our disapproval OF th
methods by which in disregard Of tn
NSaooS and OBLIGATIONS of irtarna tiOua