Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-21
THE DEMOCRATIC
platform

PLATFORM
We. The democratic party OF the United
States, III national convention assembled.
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
ciples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local self-government and
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence. the structure Of our free republic
and every democratic extension Iom
gon. which preserved faithfully in all tho
states states the the, tie between taxation and rep
shs ahd pd'R snd hsr
ment. They remind Y. Of our duties and
upon US. particularly al this time. the
necessity OF reform and the rescue Of the
administration Of government from the
methods Which s'S distrac, 5usiness BY Sne
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
principles to the living issues OF the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
sured peace. safety and progress OF our
science and Of speech: equality before
the law Of all citizens: the right Of trial
by jury; freedom Of the person defended
personal contract untrammeled by sump.
tuary laws; the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority: well,disciplin ed
state; economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; the prompt and sacred fulfllment
OF public and private obligations; fidelity
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acauiescence In the will Of the
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs Of the nation.
and they should be constantly invoked.
preached. reSorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
II. Largo 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 shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
naval administration as a right OF the
R:siR''. R:iaR. too clear to be denied or with
20 The enforcement Of honesty in tho
public service. and to that end a thorough
tive departments Of the government al
ready known to TEEN with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
Of ascertained corruptionists without fear
Or favor or regard to persons. The per-
Sistent and deliberate refusal Of both the
senate and house of representative 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 government should not permit it.
self TO be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
t.iy firy,G 20 fyt Nf {r,$o
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 Jeffersonian sim
plicjty of living.
Presidential Re00mme enda tions.
"s We favor the nomination and cleo
tion of president trained in the ways Of
the constitution, who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpat ton Of
that Gsurpation be ruled under the guise
OF executive construction of existing
laws, or whether It take refuge in the
tyraHts pleas OF necessity of superior
wisdom.
"a The democratic party has been
and Will continue TO he, the consistent
opponent Of that class of tariff legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
n1itted. through congressional favor. to
draw d heavy tribute from the American
people. HhlS monStrouS perVerSion Of
those equal opportunities, which our ro-
Ltlcal Institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may, once have
been Infant Industries to become lac
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 protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
they can give, now control the po.icy ot
the republican party.
I'VE favor a wise, conservative and
busLessihe revision and a gradual re-
duction OF the tariff by the friends Of the
not by the friends of it's abuses, its ex
tortions and its Determinations, keeping
" view the ultimate end Of equality ot
and the conatiaona @ pnrpope poa Of railing
revenue by taxation, fo-W1t, The sup
port CT the federal government, in all its
and keeping also III view, as men Of com
mon sense should. existing conditions
however wrongtully, mistakenly CT an
the cause q tariff reform itself Of Abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
1--WE should bear in mind, in short, these
two things: "a 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 CO,
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.
I'VE 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 reasonable and just profit, by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo-
nopolies of the power to extort from the
American people, andeY shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
foreigners for Identical articles.
The IsthmlnM 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 cana
route has been acquired, or too solemnly
record our hope that this precedent OF