Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-28
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATEOnN

PLATEOnXs
We the democratic party OF The United
Mates, III nationa! convention assembled,
declare its devotion tc the essential prin-
elpies Of the democratic taith which
brings US together in party communion.
Under them local self government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence, the structure Of our free republic
ard 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
rights and libert ties and cherishing their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment They remind y: Of our duties and
upon US, particularly at this time, the
necessity OF reform and tho rescue OF the
ssdm,nistratlon OF government from the
methods which distract business BY un-
certainty and pervade the public mind
with m 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 jury; freedom OF the person defended
by the writ OF habeas corpus: liberty Of
personal contract untramnleled by sump-
tGaTy laws; the supremacy OF the civil
over military authority; eii-disciplined
militia, the separation of church and
state; economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
dened: the prompt and sacred fulf1llment
DIIhiC and "
to treaties. peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
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.
II. Large reductions can readily be
made In the annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eff
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
naval administration as a right OF the
RsG'R's, Rs'aR' too clear to b" 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
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 demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and in the house OF representatives can
complete exposure. punishment and corr
rection be obtained.
federal government should not permit it
self to be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
com blnations in restraint of interstate
trade. existing in violation of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods of
procuring economy and honesty in the
from the occupant OF the White House
down to the lowest OF them, return. as
nearly as may be. to jetfersonian SIM
plcity Of living.
Presidential RECON- IN menaation..
.'a We favor the nomination and cleo
tton of president trained ia the ways of
the constitution, who shall Set his face
sterniy against executive usufpation Of
that usurpaton 10 ruled under the glise
Of executive constructlon Of existing
laws, or whether it take refuge in the
.yrant 8 pleas OF necessity OF superior
wisdom,
4 The democratic party has been,
and Will continue to be, the consistent
opponent of that class u tariff Legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
uitted, through congressional favor, to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people. 1hiS mIDStrOuS parVerSiun OF
those equal opportunities. which our po-
EtlCal Institutions were established to Sc
cure. has caused what may. once nave
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 extravagant prohts made possible by
n nnt fD2I vial
combinations, by the financial assistance
they can give, now control the policy of
the republican party.
1--WE favor a wise. conservative and
businesSlike revision and gradual re-
ductton 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 it's determinations, keeping
in view the ultimate end Of equality OF
and the constitutional purpose Of raising
revenue by taxation, to-wit, the sup
port Of the federal government, in all its
Integrity and virlity. but in simplicity:
mon sense should, existing conditions,
however .on wr1ngiuly mistakenly or un.
the cause q 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
alton is the support, OF the federal gov
ernemnt.. economically, effectively and
COnSt1tutlOnally 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.
eve favor the reduction OF tariff tax
alton upon truSt-produced articles to the
points where foreign competition may en-
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-
nopolies of the power to exlort from the
American people, under shelter Of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for Identical articles.
The IsthmiMn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction Of interoceanic
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 irreversible fact. we can not toe
forcibly express our disapproval Of the
methods by which, In disregard Of the
usages and obligations Of International
law and treaty obligations. the canal
route has been acquired, or too solemnly
record our hope that this precedent Of