Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-24
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

I'VE, the democratic party of the United
states, in national convention assembled,
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
clpIes OF the democratic faith which
brings US together in party communion.
Under them local seH-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 sios,u our Pc people, guarding 1ealously their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment. They remind us of our duties and
+ responsibilities. as citizens aud impress
upon US, particularly at this time. the
necessity Of reform and the rescue OF the
administration OF government from tho
Which and
with dread, d,strust and perturb baton. .
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
ssiencs naton Of the Of
the law Of all citizens: the right Of trial
by jury; freedom Of the person defended
ny tAS VIII o1 ndpedS corpus, nDerly OF
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tuary laws; the supremacy Of the civil
over over. military authority: we'll ,disciplined
militia; the separation of church and
state; economy in expenditures low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
dened; the prompt and sacred fulfllment
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acqufescence in the will Of the
majority. the vital principle of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as. proverbs OF the nation.
and they should be constantly invoked.
preached. reeorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
II. Large reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures of the
government without impairing the eff
cheney @ OF any any branch ;h OF the public service.
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient CIVIL military and
naval administration as right Of the
ReHip's' RReid. Wv ''ea' 20 DC oe"'eo OF WIN
"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
we'll as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption, and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionists without fear
..Ha or favor ,a or regard to persons The per
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
rection be obtained.
federal EoverpLnsnt should not permit IT.
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 ano honesty in the
lS
from the occupant of the White House
down to the lowest Of them, return. as
plicity Of living.
Presidential Recon m n dat tions.
"s. We favor the nomination and eIec-
tion of q president trained in the ways of
the constitution, who shall set his face
nd tudea
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.
-. The democratic party has been.
w c. hn to be rhs
| by which certain interests have been per-
| mitted, through congressional favor, to
1eave onts from shs
those equal opportunities, which our po-
Htical 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,
methods been converted into monopolies
thus bringing to an end domestic com
petition. which was the only check upon
the extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
they Ca! can l., give, now control the policy OF
I'VE favor wise, conservative and
businesslike revision and a. 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 eX-
! tortions and its determinations, keeping
in view the, ultimate end of equality Of
1 burdens and equality of opportunities
! and the constitutional purpose of raising
| revenue by taxation, to-wit, the sup
Integrity and virility but in simplicity
and keeping also in view, as men of com
ulon sense should, existing conditions
however wrongfuly. mistakenly or un.
Justly brought about, and the danger te
the cause 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:
! constitutionally administered and {2)
the equal truth That in the assertion oil
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end. however sacred ant
logically unavoidable, due regard. hu
only due regard, must and should be pait
/ to actual existing conditions.
1--WE favor The reduction of tariff tax
alton upon ust-produced articles to tn,
, points where foreign competition may en-
| ter the American market whenever trust!
and combints. seeking monopoly, rails,
their prices to the American consumer
above "a reasonable and Just profit, by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo
nopolies Of the power to extort from thu
American people. undev shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The Ixthminn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestl!
advocated the construction of interoceani,
canal for the purpose of national defens'
/ and commerce between the states ant
with foreign nations. We favor the earl,
completion of the lsthmian canal.
But while making this declaration ant
accepting the results as an accomplished
and iIreversible fact, we can not tot
forcibly express our disapproval of th
methods by which. In disregard Of tn
lau1 and treaty ohligatiQnS. the cana