Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-06-25

Tho Democracy OF Mississippi
which met in convention in Jackson
last week. named solid instructed
Parker delegation to the National
Democratic Convention which meets
In st. Louis early next month. The
delegates are pledged to work for his
nomination by the party and ran alb,
solve themselves from these instruc.
tions only by twothirds vote of the
entire delegation.
The convention proved to be the
most notable gathering in Mississippi
history for several years, delegates
being present from every county in
the State. All the big and brainy men
of Mississippi were there and most Of
them made ringing Democratic
speeches when called upon by friends
and admirers among the delegations
composing the convention. In short,
the meeting proved to be an old.timc
Democratic love feast. and the work
of the body flowed as smoothly and
quietly as the waters on the bosom
of placid river No hitch occurred
at any time in the proceedings of the
convention.
The platform deals particularly with
national issues, and was written by
that matchlcss leader and idol Of Mis-.
sisslppi Democracy Sharp viii
lams, of Yazoo-and it proclaiGs in
words which cannot be misunderstood
the principles OF Mississippi Dcmoc-
racy in the coming campaign, The
platform was read in clear and dis.
tinct voice by Mr.. Williams himself,
and was adopted unanimously. 1t is
rs follows;
The Platform.
The Democracy of Mississippi, in
convention assembled, renews and en-
phasizes its repeated expressions OF
confidence in the Democracy of the
country and the expression of its firm
belief that those fundamental prin-
ciDles of republican government, As
expressed and cXempihed by Thomas
Jefferson, in contradstinction to the
governmental principles ospoused and
adopted by Alexander Hamilton and
by the Fedcralist party, which he GRE
ated and dominated, lie at the basis of
all good government. In the applica.
tion of these principles to present
conditions, the Democracy Of Mssis'
sissippi favors:
First--E Economy in Federal admins
tration, and to that end cutting off all
unnecessary and imporialistic cx-
rCnditurCs, the former as soon 'aS
possible after our access to power
and the latter gradually, but surely
and safely. Government has no indie
pendent source of revenue and every
dollar unnecessarily and unjustly
spent is a dollar wrung by taxation
from the citizens and Is, moreover, a
dollar detected from use in some bet
ter way,
Second-The enforcement of hon.
csty in public service, and to that end
Il thorough legislative investigation OF
those executive departments of the
government already known to TEEN
with corruption, as well as other de-
partmcnts suspected OF harboring cor
ruption, and the punishment of ascer-
tained corruptionists without fear or
favor or regard 10 persons. In broader
furthcrancc Of that end the Federal gov
ernmcnt should not enter into con
tract with trusts or unlawful combina-
tions in restraint Of interstate trade
and in violation of law. We believe
that one of the best methods of pro-
curing cnocomy and honesty in pub
lie service is TO have public officials,
from the occupant Of the White House
TO the lowest Of them, return as near
ly as may be, to Jeffersonian sim
plicity Of living. A Democratic presi-
dent will 81 Sc, that fashion.
Third--Wo favor the nomination
and election Of president trained
to the ways of the Constitution. who
shall set his face sternly against cX-
ccutive usurpation Of legislative and
judicial functions, whether that usnr-
patton be veiled under the gusc Of eX-
ecutivc construction of existing laws or
whether ii take refuge in the tyrants
pleas of necessity and superior wis
dom.
Fourth-A wise, conservative and !
husincss.likc revision and reduction |
of the tariff by the friends Of the |
masses md common veal and not by |
the friends of its abuses, its cXtor- |
tons and its determinations keep |
ing in view the ultimate end of equal
ity OF burdens and cqualities of op- |
portunities and the constitutional pur-
poses Of raising a revenue by taxa
ton; and keeping also in view, as
men Of common sense should, existing |
conditions. however wrongfully |
brought about and the danger to
cause itself too sudden and revo-
lutionary reversal of policy
We should bear in mind. in short.
these two things; First. the general
principle that the sole right deriva-
ton of the power Of taxation is the
support of the Federal government,
economically, effectively and consttu-
administered and, second. by |
tho equal truth that in the assertion
Df any general principle and in reach
ing any ultimate end. however sacred
apd logically unavoidable, due regard
but only due regard, must and should
be paid to the actual existing condi-
tionS. however mistaken, artfcially
or nniustly created
Fifth--The reduction Of tariff taxa
tion upon rustproduced articles to
the point where foreign competition