Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-12
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLAlFUkM
I'VE, the democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assembled.
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
ciples of the democratic faith which
brings US together in party communion.
Under them local self-government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
ence, the structure Of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California and Texas to Ore
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet inspire the masses
Of ou,, our Pc people guarding teal,onssly their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment. They. remind US OF our duties and
responsibilities. as citizens and impress
necessity Of reform and the rescue Of the
administration OF government from the
wcS aatsst snd sn
certainty and pervade tho public mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
The application m st OF these fundamentai ann
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace, safety and progress Of our
the law Of all citizens: the right of trial
by jury; freedom OF the person defended
personal contract untrammeled by sump--
tuary laws: the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority: well ll-discipined
militia; the separation of church and
state: economy In expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
dened: the prompt and sacred fulfillmcnt
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquiescence in the. will of the
majority, the vital principle Of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the, nation,
preached. reSorted to and enforced.
Controlling EXpenses.
a. 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 frugahty compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as a right of the
ReSidRle' Rsid, too clear to be denied or with
'2. The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end thorough
legislative investigation of those eXecu-
tive departments of the government al
ready known to TEEN with corruption, as
well other departments suspected of
harboring corruption, and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons: The per
senate and house of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch OF congress IS, Demonstrates
and in the house Of representatives can
complete exposure. punishment and cor.
rection be obtained.
I'm broader furtherance Of that end the
federal government should not permit it.
self to be robbed by entering into con-
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade. existing in violation Of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods of
public service is to have public officials,
from the occupant of the White House
down to the lowest of them, return. as
Dhcity Of living
3. We favor the nomination and elec-
ton of president trained in tho 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 in the
tyrants pleas OF necessity Of superior
wisdom.
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 a heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perverSion of
those, equal opportunities, which our po-
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 monopolies,
thus bringing to an end domestic COM
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
of sbe fevTT aT bv and h gradua al
! masses and for the common veal, and
not by the friends of its abuses its ex-
in view the ultimate end of equality of
burdens and equality Of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose OF raising
port of the fedora! government, in all its
Integrity and virility. but in simplicity
! and keeping also in view, men Of COM
however wronsfuily, mistakenly or un-
justly brought about, and the danger 10
the cause, of tariff reform Itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy
I'VE should bear in mind, in short, these
two things: a. The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power of tax
ernemnt, economically, effectively and
constitutionaly administered; and o.
the equal truth that in the assertion of
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable, due regard. but
only due regard. must and should be paid
! to actual existing conditions.
I'VE favor the reduction of tariff tax
alton upon trust-produced articles to the
! points where foreign competition may Ell
ter the American market whenever trusts
| and combines, seeking monopoly, raise
| their prices to the American consumer
| above a reasonable and just profit, by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo.
nopoles of the power to eXtort from the
| American people, undeP shelter of Amer.
| lean law, prices higher than those charged
| foreigners for identical articles.
The IsthmiMm Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
| advocated the construction Of interoceanit
| canal for the purpose Of national defense
| and commerce between the states anC
| with foreign nations, we favor the early
| completion of the 1sthmian canal.
But while making this declaration ant
accepting the results as an accomplished
| and irreversible fact. we can not too
forcibly express. our disapproval Of ths
usages and obligations Of internationa
law and treaty obligations. the cana