Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-09
The Platform.


states IN convention assembled a.
clares its devotion to the essenti.I win
ciples of the Democratic faith n,h;al,
brings us together in party communion
Union then. local self-povernn,ant
and national unity and prosperity wara
alike established. They underla;d o,,r
independence, the structure of orr Fra,
republic and every Democratic exten-
sion from Louisiana to California and
Texas to Oregon which preserved faith
fully in all the states the tie betwaan
taxation and representation. They In
spire masses of our people, guarding
jealousy their rights and liberties and
cherlshmg their fraternity. peace and
orderly development. They remind us
of our duties and responsibilities as cit
liens and impress upon us, particularly
at this time, the necessity of reform
and the rescue of the administration IF
government from the headstrong. arbi-
trary and spasmodic methods which
distract business by uncertainty and
pervade the public mind with dread
distrust and perturbation.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
I. The application Of these funda-
mental principles to the living ISSUES
of the day is the first step toward the
assured peace, safety and progress OF
our nation. Freedom of the press. of
commerce and of speech-equality be-
fore the law of all citizenship, right of
a trial by jury, freedom of the person
defended by the writ of habeas corpus;
liberty of personal contract untram-
meled by sumptuary laws; supremacy
of the civil over military authorities;
well disciplined militia; the separate
of church and state; economy in eXpen-
ditures: low taxes, that labor may ic
lightly burdened; prompt and sacred
fulfilment of public and private obliga
tons: fidelity to treaties; peace al
friendship with all nations; entanglin
alliances with none; absolute acQuic;-
ence in the will of the majority, the vi
tai principle of republics-these doc
trines which Democracy has estab-
lished. approved by the nation and they
should be constantly invoked and en-
forced.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
We favor enactment and administra-
ton of laws, giving labor and capital
impartial!y their just rights. Capital
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 "unalienable' than
the rights of capital.
CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES.
Constitutional guarantees are viOlat-
81 wht never any citizen is denied the
right to labor, acquire and enjoy prop
erty or reside where interests or incli-
nation may determine. Any denial
thereof by individuals, organizations or
governments should be summarily re-
| LuLrd and punished.
| We deny the light Of any Executive to
disregard or suspend any constitutional
! rriNil, Oh limitation. Obedience to
| the laws and respect for their require
menus are allie the supreme duty OF
! the citizen Hnd the official.
The. military should be used only to
| support ahd maintain the law. We
unuualiieClly condemn it's employment
for the summary Punishment of citi-
zens without trial or for the control Of
| elections.
| w eapprove the measure which pass
| ed the United States Senate i'll 1896.
but which Il Republican Congress has
| ever since refused to enact, relating
to cOntemptS in federal courts ANA
providing for trial by jury in cases of
indirect contempt.
WATERWAYS.
We favor liberal appropriations for
| the Improvement OF waterways of the
country When any waterway like the
Mississippi river is of sufficient I'M
portance to demand special aid of the
government such aid should be extend
cl with q definite plan of continuous
work until permanent improvement is
secured We oppose the Republican
policy of starving home development III
order to feed the greed for conIucs.
and the appetite for national 'prestiGt
and display of strength.
| ECONOMY OF ADMINISTRATORS.
| Large reductions can easily be
| made in the annual expenditures Of
the government without importing t."
efficiency of any branch o. The public
service. we shall mist upon the strict
est economy and irusality compatible
with vigorous ana efficient civil, mill
=
ri.,.t a: the people. too clear to be de-
n:"! or Withheld,
Is, favor honesty in the public
scrvtr" Tie enforcement OF honesty
| in :.ic j.u.,i.c service and To that end Il
| thorough l,S.Slltive investigation OF
thoS,. executive departments OF the
gov""n.n ent already known to TEEN
with oorru.tiun az well as other de-
| partnn ITS @.l<,.r:'tci of harborinS cor
| rup: .un. :H: ..,. punishment of ascer-
| tanned t-,r.,'r'' r,fi.st: without fear or
| favor or rr.,..r IL .sct$onS. The per-
| sistort aid de- ;.crate refusal of both
| the Sr.ltC AL II uIsr OF Representa-
tives To irrmt .sr'h Investigation to
be made t.t:un ;ir;,t,S t:!at only by a
| change in t..r c,rV'!tN" and in the
legislative drlhrtin,.. is can complete
exposures. i.u:..slii:ie:lt AID correction
| be obtained.
FEDERAL CONEt.NEI Mt CON-
TRACT WITH TRUSTS.
| We conde!na Tie acton % the Re-
publican panty il. 60 .;;:ess i'm refus-