Fair play., 1904-07-16

htNtHit ltN utNNiibn 10 ine CSSGntldi nf1n-
eiples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
lndcr them local self-goVernment and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underfaid our independ-
ence, the structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
LOUISIANA to California and Texas TO Ore
Ron, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
-rcsentation. They yet inspire the masses
t.rRnr people, guarding jealously their
Hc "ud liberties, and cherishing their
,ph ala bo peace and orderly develop
"" w" NC ! remind us OF our duties and
g ''Ifmsiuiltties as citizens and impress
upon US, particularly at this time, the
necessity of reform and the rescue OF the
administration of government from the
headstrong, arbitrary and spasmodic
methods which distract business by un-
certainty and pcrvade the public mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
The application of these fundamental
principles TO the living issues OF the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace, safety and progress Of our
nation Freedom of the press. OF con-
science and OF speech; equality before
the law of all citizens; the right of trial
by JurN freedom of the person defended
by the writ of babeas corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tGary laws; the supremacy OF the civil
over military authority; a well-disciplined
millta; the separation OF church and
state; economy IN expenditures; low
taxes that labor may be lightly bur
dened. the prompt and sacred fulfment
OF public 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 republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs Of the nation,
ara they should be constantly invoked,
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
81. 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 frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as II right OF the
people, too clear to be denied or with
he'd.
'2. The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end a thorough
legislative investigation of those execu-
tive departments of the government al
ready known to teen with corruption, as
wei as ether departments suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
OF ascertdined corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons The per
sistent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch of congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and IN the house of representatives, can
complete exposure, punishment and cor
rcctiun be obtained
In broader furtherance of that end the
self to be robbed by entering into con
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint of interstate
trade, existing in violation of law. We
believe that one of the best methods of
procuring economy aud honesty In the
public service is to have public officials,
from the occupant of the White House
down to the lowest of them, return, as
nearly as may be, to Jeffersonian sim
plicity of living
Presidential Recommendations.
"S. We favor the nomination and cleo
tion of president trained In the waVs 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 1t take refuge in the
tyrants pleas of necessity of superior
wisdom.
"A. The democratic party has been
and Will continue to be, the consistent
opponent of that class of tariff legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
mtttcd, through congressional favor TO
draw a heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous pervcrsion 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
petition, which was the only check upon
the eNtrdNaEant 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
busincssllke revision and gradual re-
duction of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal, and
not by the friends of its abuses, its cX-
tortions and its determinations. keeping
in view the ultimate end of equality OF
l. Ion fttaI 2saala g
and the constitutional purpose OF raising
revenue by taxation, to-wit, the sun
port of the federal government, in all its
integrity and Yirility but In simplicity:
and keeping also In view, as men OF com
mon sense should, existing conditions
howeve wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
justly ought about, and the danger TO
the g -se Of tariff reform itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal OF policy
I'VE should bear In mind, In short, these
two things; % The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power of tax
alton Is the support of the federal gov
ernemnt economically, effectively and
Constitutionally administered; and (2)
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.
1--WE favor the reduction OF tariff tax
alton upon trust-produced articles TO the
points where foreign competition may en-
Is
and combines, seeking monopoly, raise
their prices To the American consumer
above "a reasonable and just profit by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo-
nnpolies of the power to eNtoTt from the
American people. under shelter OF Amer
can law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for Identical articles.
The Irthminn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction of nteroceanio
canal for the purpose of national defense
and commerce between the states and
with foreign nations we favor the early
completion OF the isthmian canal
but while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and iireversible fact, we can not too
forcihly express our disapproval of the
methods by which, In disregard OF the
u5ages and Obligations OF international
law and treaty obligations, the canal
route has been acquired. or too solemnly
record our hope that this precedent OF
defiant diplomacy may never be used
AGAINST us TO our humiliation and injury.
We recognize that the gigantic trusts
and combinations designed TO enable cap
ital to secure more than its just share OF
the joint product of capital and labor, and
which have been fostered and promoted
under republican rule, are "A me mace 20
permanent business prosperity.
I'VE demand the vigorous and impartial
OF the laws already made to
prevent and control such trusts and com
isiatiO IL restraint thereof as eXperienCe
shows tc be necessary
Corporations chartered by authority of
,he people must forever remain subject
to regulation IN the interest OF the people
n private monopoly rs indefensible and
intolerable. We recognize the right OF
capital in all legitimate lines of enter
prise 10 combine for the increase OF busi-