Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-22
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLATFORM
I'VE, the democratic party OF the United
states, in national convention assembled.
declare its devotion to the essential prln-
clples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion
Under them local self-government and
naSnal unity and grossperty were alike
ence, the structure of our free republic
and 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
ghs ad Rd'Rs sna hs
msnt. They Temind S u. Of fe' our dutie. and
upon US, particularly Al, this time. the
necessity OF reform and the rescue Of the
administration Of government from the
methods Which distract business BY un.
certainty and pervade the public mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
principles to the living issues OF the day
constitutes the frst 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
ma military be Of eSnScb
state; economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that labor. may be lightly bur-
Of public and private obligations; fidelity
to treaties: peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquescence in the will OF the
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.
Il. Large reductions can readily be
made In tho annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eff
cheney Of any branch of the public service.
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
SssJR' SsSsR'', n1 TOO sis.s 70 30 denied or with m
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
we'll as other departments suspected Of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
Of ascertained corruptionists without fear
sistent and deliberate refusal OF both the
senate and house of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch OF congress demonstrates
that only by a change in the executive
and in the house Of representatives can
Sompiete saas p e1R9su9e; punishment and cors
''In broader furtherence Of that end the
federal government should not permit IT.
,s TO be robbed BY entering into
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade. existing in violation OF law. We
sssys that one Of tn: best methods Of
public service is to have public officials,
from the occupant Of the White House
nearly a. may be. to jsfersonian sim. 3.
plicity Of living
Presidential Recommendations.
- We favor the nomination and elec-
tion of n president trained in the ways OF
eternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be ruled under the .guise
laws, or whether 1t take refuge in the
tyrants pleas OF necessity of superior
wisdom.
a The democratic party has been.
and will continue to be. the consistent
opponent of that class of tariff legislation
by which certain interests have been per-
draw heavy tribute from the American
! people. This monstrous perversion Of
those equal opportunities. which our po-
litical institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to becume the
greatest combinations ,i of capital sr. that the
favored enterprises have. through trust
methods. been converted into monopolies,
thus bring,ng 70 an .s enc 40 domestic com com
The extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
hAv Of
the republican party.
I'VE favor wise, conservative and
, duction Of the tariff by the friends Of the
masses and for the common veal, and
not by the friends of it's abuses, Its ex-
ttl IN vleI he sRe u,,aima{e III ahd Of Equally q
burdens and equality of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose of raising
port Of the federal government, in all its
Integrity and Virility, but in simplicity;
and keeping also in view, as men of COM
however wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
Justly brought about, and the danger to
the cause Of tariff reform itself of abrupt
Gnd revolutionary reversal of policy.
1--WE should bear in mind. in short. these
two things: ID The general principle that
the sole derivation OF the power Of tax
ernsmnt e.1Un Hs effeetiVely and
constitutionally administered; and a.,
| the equal truth that in the assertion of
any general EIlHClplc dIlO 4u IcdCIlN6
! any ultimate end, however sacred and
| logically unavoidable, due regard, but
only due regard, must and should be paid
+, to actual existing conditions.
1--WE 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. under shelter of Amer;
lean law prices higher than those charged
| foreigners for identical articles.
The Isthminn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestl,
| advocated the construction OF interoceanil
i canal for the purpose of national defense
| and commerce between the states anC
with foreign nations, we favor the early
| completion of the 1sthmian canal.
But while making this declaration anl
| accepting the results as an accomplished
| and irreversible fact. We can not too
forcibly express our disapproval Of tn.
| methods by which, In disregard OF tn,
usages and obligations of internationa
law and treaty obligations. the cana
| home that this nrcCp6apt n