The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-10
THE PLATFORM AS
FINALLY ADOPTED
Many Changes Made in
the Original Draft
Submitted.

~
st. Louis, Mo-, July 8.-The Demo-
cratic platform as adopted by the
convention, is as follows:
The Democratic party of the United
States, in National convention assem-
bled. declares it's devotion to the es
sential principles of the Democratic
faith which bring us together in party
communion.
Under them, local self government
and national unity and prosperity
were alike established. They undertake
our independence, the structure of our
free republic, and every Democratic
extension from Louisiana to California
and Texas to Oregon, which preserved
faithfully in all the States the tie be-
tween taxation and representation.
They yet inspire the masses of our peo-
pie, guarding jealousy their rights
and liberties, and cheerishing their
fraternity, peace and orderly devel-
opment They remind us of our dut-
les and responsibilities as citizens ana
impress upon us particularly at this
time the necessity of reform and the
rescue of the administration of gov
eminent from the headstrong, arbl-
trary and spasmodic methods which
pervade the public mind with dread,
distrust, and perturbation.
Fundamental Principles.
1.-The application of these fun
damental principles to the living is
sues of the day is the first step to-
ward the assured peace, safety and
progress of our nation. Freedom of
the press, Of science and of speech
equality before the law of all citizens;
right of trial by jury-freedom of the
person defended by the writ of habeas
corpus; liberty of personal contract
untrammeled by sumptuary laws; su-
premacy Of the civil over military au-
thority; a we'll disciplined military;
the separation of church and State;
economy in expenditures; low taxes,
that labor may be lightly burdened;
prompt and sacred fulfllment of pub
lie 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
repubics-these are doctrines which
Democracy has established approved
by the nation and they should be con-
stantly invoked and enforced.
Capital and Labor.
We favor enactment and admins
-,
tai impartiality their just rights.
Capital and labor ought not to be enc
mics each is necessary to the other:
each has it rights. but the rights or
labor are certainly no less vested.
no less sacred and no less ina
lenable" than the rights OF capital.
Constitutional Guarantees.
Constitutional guarantees are vio-
lated wherever it's citizens are denied
the right to labor. acquire and enjoy
property or reside where interests or
inclination may determine. Any de-
nal thereof by individuals. organiza-
tons or governments should be sum-
marily rebuked and punished.
We deny the right of any executive
to, disregard or suspend any constltu-
tional privilege or limitation. Obedl-
ence 10 the laws and respect for their
requil ements are alike the supreme
duty of the citizen and the official.
The military should be used only to
support and maintain the law. We
unqualifiedly condemn its employment
| FOR the summary Punishment of citl-
xcns without trial at or for the con-
| troll of elections.
We approve the measure which
passed the United States Senate in
1896, but which a Republican Con-
gress has ever since refused to enact,
relating to contempts in Federal
| courts and providing for trial by jury
in cases of indirect contempt
Water-W
We favor liberal appropriations for
| the aid and Improvement of the water
ways of the country. When any
waterway like the Mississippi River
| is of sufficient Importance to demand
special aid of the government, such
aid must be extended with definite
| plan of continuous work until per-
manent Improvement is secured.
We oppose the Republican policy
| of starving home development in or
der to feed the greed for conquest
and the appetite for national pres
| tige" and display of strength
Economy of Administration.
Large reductions can easily be made
| in the annual expenditures of the
government without impairing the
| efficiency of any branch of the public
service and we shall insist upon the
Strictest economy and frugality com
| patible with vigorous and efficient
| civil, military and naval administra-
| ton as a right of the people, too clear
, to be denied or withheld.
We favor enforcement of honesty
in the public service and to that end
a thorough legislative investigation
Oh InOSG executive VI TIC
government already known to TEEN
with corruption, as we'll as other de-
partments suspected of harboring cor
ruption and the punishment OF ascer-
tanned corruptionists without fear or
favor or regard to persons. The per-
sistent and deliberate refusal OF both
the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives to permit such investigation to
be made demonstrates that only by a
| change in the executive and in the
| legislative departments can complete
| exposure, punishment and correction
| be obtained.
Federal Government Contract With
Trusts.
We condemn the action of the Re-
| publican party in Congress in refus-
| ing to prohibit an executive depart
ment from entering into contracts with
| convicted trusts or unlawful combina-
| tons in restraint of Interstate trade.
| We believe that one of the best
methods of procuring economy and