The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-09
PLATFORM BUILT
BY DEMOCRATS
MANY CHANGES
MADE
IN THE DRAFT SUBMITTED BY THE
SUB-COMMITT'EE

influence of Bryan, who Debated
Against Hill aud Daniel, who
Wanted Ii Observation-Disclosures on
Resolutions Worked Long Upon 1t.
shows the Tenets of Democrats.
Convention Hall, st. Louis, July s.
The following is the platform as
changed by the Resolutions Commit
tee and adopted by the convention:
The Democratic party of the United
States, in national convention assem-
bled, declares its devotion to the es-
sential 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 undertake our
independence, the structure of our free
republic, and every Democratic extern
sion from Louisiana to California, and
Texas to Oregon, which preserved
faithfully in all the states the tie be-
tween taxation and representation.
They yet inspire the masses of our
people, guarding jealouly their rights
and liberties and cherishing their fra
ternity, peace and orderly develop
ment They remind us of our duties
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
business by uncertainty and pervade
the public mind with dread, distrust
and perturbation.
Fundamental Principles.
First. The application of these fun
damental principles to the living is
sues of the day is the first step to-
ward 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;
right of trial by jury, freedom of the
person, defended by the writ of ha-
beas corpus; liberty of personal con-
tract untrammeled by sumptuary
laws supremacy of the civil over
military authority; a well disciplined
militia; the separation of church and
state; economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened prompt and sacred fulhllment
of public and private obligations; fidel-
ity to treaties; peace and friendship
with all nations; entanglng alliances
with none; absolute acquescence in the
will of the majority, the vital prin-
ciple of republics-these are doctrines
which Democracy has established, APP
proved by the nation and they should
be constantly invoked and enforced.
Capital and Labor.
We favor enactment and administra-
ton 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 certainly no less vested" no less
Sacred" and no less "inalienable"
than the rights of capital.
Constitutional Guarantees.
Constitutional guarantees are violat-
ed whenever any citizen is denied the
right to labor, acquire and enjoy prop
erty or reside wherever his interests or
inclination may determine. Any denial
thereof by individuals. organizations
or governments should be summary
rebuked and punished.
We deny the right Of any executive
to disregard or suspend any constitu-
tional privilege or limitation. Obe-
dence to the laws and respect for their
requirements are alike the supreme
duty OF the citizen and the official.
The military should be used only to
support and maintain the law. We
unqualifedly condemn its employment
for the summary Punishment of citi-
zens without trial or for the control
of elections.
We approve the measure. which pass
ed the United States Senate in 1896, but
which Republican Congress has ever
since refused to enact, relating to con-
tempts in federal courts, and providing
for trial by jury in cases of indirect
contempt.
Waterways.
We favor liberal appropriations for
the care and improvement of water
ways Of the country. When any water
way like the Mississippi river is Of suf-
hcient importance to demand special
aid Of the government, such aid should
be extended with a definite plan of
continuous work until permanent i'm
provement is secured
We oppose the Republican policy of
starving home development in order to
fed the greed for conquest and the APP
petite for national prestige and dis
play OF strength.
Economy OF Administrations.
Large reductions can easily be made
~ the annual expenditures % the
government without iYnpairing the ef-
service, and 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.
We favor honesty In the public SerV-
ice. The enforcement Of honesty In
the public service and to that end Il
thorough legislative investigation of
those executive departments of the
government already known to TEEN
with corruption, and the punishment
of ascertained corruptionists without
fear or favor or regard to persons
The persistent and deliberate refusal
of both the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives TO permit such investiga-
ton to be made, demonstrates that only
by a change in the executive and in
the legislative departments can COM
plete exposure. punishment and cor
ruption be obtained
Federal Government Contract with
Trusts.
We condemn the action of the Re
publican party In Congress In refusing
TO prohibit an executive department
from entering into contracts with con-
victed trusts or unlawful combinations
in restraint of interstate trade. We
believe that one Of the best methods
Of procuring economy and honesty In
the public service is to have public Of
ficials, from the occupant Of the White
House down 10 the lowest of them
returned as nearly as may be to JEFF
fersonlan simplicity Of living.
Eweenffvs Ifanrnuflnn.