Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09
THE PLATFORM.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES BY
THE ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.


The following is the platform adopted by
night:
1.-THE democratic party of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
declares its devotion to the essential prin-
ciples of the democratic faith which bring
us together in marty communion.
Under Them local self government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid indie
pendence, 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 between taxation and rep
resentaton. They yet inspire the masses
of our people. guarding jealousy their
rights and liberties. and cherishing their
fraternity. peace and orderly development.
They remind us of our duties and RESPONSE
bilities as citizens and impress upon US,
particularly at this time, the necessity of
reform and the rescue of the administra-
ton of government from the headstfong,
arbitrary and spasmodic methods which
distract business by uncertainty. and per-
wade the public mind with dread, dis rust
and perturbation.
Fundamental Principles.
1.-THE application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the day
is the first step toward the assured peace,
safety and progress of our nation. Free
dom of the press. of conscience and of
speech-equality before the law of all citi-
zens; right of trial by jury-freedom Of the
person defended by the writ Of habeas cor
pus; liberty of personal contract untram-
meled by sumptuary laws; supremacy of
the civil over the military authority;
wel-disciplned militia; the separation Of
church and state: economy in expenditures;
low taxes. that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; prompt and sacred fulfillment of
public and private obligations; fidelity to
treaties; peace and friendship with all ma
TONS entangling alliances with none: abso-
lutte acquiescence in the will of the majori-
ty, the vital principle of republics-these
are doctrines which democracy has es-
tabished approved by the nation, and they
Capital and Labor.
I'VE favor enactment and administration
of laws giving labor and capital impair
TALLY their just rights. Capital and labor
ought not to be enemies. Each Is necessary
to the other. Each has its rights. but the
rights of labor are certainly no less vested
less sacred and no less 'unalienable'
than the rights Of capital.
Constitutional Guarantees.
Constitutional guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen is denied the right to
labor, acquire and enjoy property or reside
where interests or inclination may deter
mine. Any denial thereof by individuals,
organizations or governments should be
summarily rebuked and punished.
I'VE deny the right of any executive to
disregard or suspend any constitutional
privilege or limitation. Obedience to the
laws and respect for their requirements are
alike the supreme duty Of the citizen and
the official
The military should be used only to
support and maintain the law. We I'M
qualifiedly condemn Its employment for the
summary Punishment of citizens without
trial at or for the control of elections.
I'VE approve the measure which passed
the United States Senate in 1896. but which
republican Congress has ever since re-
fused to enact, relating to contempts in
federal courts. and providing for trial by
jury in case of indirect contempt.
Waterways.
I'VE favor liberal appropriations for the
of the country. When any waterway like
the Mississippi river is of sufficient import
ance to demand special aid of the govern
ment, such aid should be extended with a
definite plan Of continuous work until per-
manent improvement is secured.
I'VE oppose the republican policy of starv-
ing home development in order to feed the
national prestige and display of strength
Economy Of Administration.
Il. Large reductions can easily be made
in the annual expenditures of the govern
ment without impairing the efficiency of
any branch Of the public service, and we
shall insist upon the strictest economy and
frugality compatible with vigorous and eff
f1cient civil, military and naval administra-
ton as right of the people, too clear to
be denied or withheld.
20. We favor honesty in the public SER
vice. The enforcement Of honesty in the
public service and to that end thorough
legislative investigation of those executive
departments of the government already
known to TEEN with corruption, as well as
other departments suspected of harboring
corruption, and the punishment of ascer-
tanned corruptionists without fear or favor
or regard to persons. The persistent and
deliberate refusal of both the Senate and
House of Representatives to permit such
investigation to be made demonstrates that
only by change in the executive and in
the legislative departments can complete
exposure, punishment and correction be OBJ
tanned.
Federal Government Contract With
Trusts
I'VE condemn the action OF the republican
party in Congress in refusing to prohibit an
eXecutiv. department from entering into
contracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint of interstate
trade. We believe that one of the best meth
DDS of procuring economy and honesty in
the public service is to have public officials,
from the occupant of the White House
down to the lowest of them, returned as
nearly as may be TO Jeffe-soIian simplicity
Of living.
Executive Usurpation.
"3. We favor the nomination and election
OF President imbued with the principles
of the Constitution who will set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of leg
islative and judicial functions, whether that
usurpation be yelled under the guise of
executive construction of evlsting laws, or
whether IL take refuge in the tyrant's pleas
of Necessity or superior wisdom.
Imperialism.
I'VE favor the preservation, SO far as we
can, of an open door for the worlds COM
merce in the orient, without an unnecessary
entanglement in oriental and European at
fairs, and without arbitrary, unlimited, ir-
responsible and absolute government any
where within our jurisdiction. We oppose
as ferventiy as did George Washington him.
self, an indefinite, irresponsible, discretion