The Washington times., 1904-07-08
Democratic Platform
Without Money Plank
Declaration on Finance Waits on Sub-Com-
mittee-AdVoCates Low Tariff, and Wig
OrOuS Trust Prosecution.

the platform drafted by the Subcommit-
tee on resolutions, excepting that a par
agraph on the gold standard has been
omitted by vote of the whole committee
and certain minor changes in the plank
on trusts have been made at the request
of Bryan. a report from the committee
is 10 be made at O'Clock this evening
The platform, with the exceptions not
ed, reads:
We. the delegates of the Democratic
party Of the United States, in national
convention assembled. declare our de-
vOtion to the essential principles OF the
Democratic faith which brings US to-
gether in party communion.
Under them. local government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established. They underlaid our indie
pendence. the structure of our free re-
public. and every Democratic extension
from Louisiana to California. and Texas
10 Oregon. which preserves faithfully In
all the States the tie between taxation !
and representation. They yet inspirit
the masses Of our people, guarding jeal- |
ously their rights and liberties, and cher !
ishing their fraternity, peace, and order |
~ development.
They remind us of our duties and re-
sponsibilities as citizens and impress
N1<N-- OF pal tANtAletAA - at TINS AAAkltf the
necessity of reform and the rescue of
the administration of government from
the headstrong, arbitrary, and spasmod- |
&c moods which disturb business by |
uncertainty, and pervade the public mind
with dread. distrust. and perturbation.
Proverbs of the Nation.
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the
IL
the assured peace, safety, and progress
OF our nation: Freedom Of the press,
Of conscience, and Of speech: equality
before the Law of all citizens; the right
OF trial by jury; freedom of the person
defended by the writ of habeas corpus;
liberty of personal contract untram-
neled by sumptuary laws; the supre-
macy Of the civil over military author
ity; well-disciplined militia: the sep
aration OF church and state: economy
in expenditures; low taxes. that labor
may be lightly burdened; the prompt
and sacred fulhllment of public and
private obligations; fidelity TO treaties:
peace and friendship with all nations;
entsngling alliances with none. and abb
Folute acquiescence in the viii OF the
majority. the vital principle OF republics.
These are doctrines which Democracy
has established as proverbs of the ma
ton. and they should be constantly in
yoked, preached. resOrted to. and en-
forced.
Economy and Honesty.
L Large reductions can readily be
made In the annual expenditures of the
Government without impairing the eff
ficiency of any branch OF the public
service. and we shall insist upon the
strfctest economy and frugality COM
Fatible with vigorous and efficient
civil, military, and naval administra-
ton as a right Of the people too clear
TO be denied or withheld.
,. The enforcement Of honesty IN the
public service. and 70 that end a thor
ough legislative investigation of those
executive departments Of the Govern
mont already known TO TEEN with cor
ruption, as well as other departments
suspected Of harboring corruption, and
the punishment Of ascertained corrup-
uCnists without fear or favor or regard
10 persons The persistent and deliber-
ate refusal OF both the Senate and the
House of Representatives. 10 permit
such investigation to be made by either
branch Of Congress demonstrates that
only by change In the Executive !II and and
complete exposure, punishment. and
correction be obtained,
Simplicity in Office.
In broader furtherance Of that end, the |
itself 10 be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with the convicted trusts OF I'M |
lawful combinations in restraint OF !
interstate trade. existing in violation |
of law. We believe that one OF the |
best methods OF procuring economy and |
honesty in the public service is TO have |
public officials, from the occupant Of the 1
White House down TO the lowest Of |
them. return, as nearly as may be, TO /
Jeffersonian simplicity Of living.
g. We favor the nomination and cleo
ton OF President trained in the ways |
OF the Constitution. who shall set his |
face steTnly against executive usurpa- |
ton of legislative and judicial functions, |
whether that usurpation be ruled under |
the guise Of executive construction Of /
existing laws or whether il take refuge 1
IN the tyrant's plea Of necessity or su-
perior wisdom.
Tariff and Trusts.
T. The Democratic party has been
and will continue to be the consistent /
opponent Of that class Of tariff legis- |
Iation by which certain interests have
been permitted. through Congressional /
favor, 10 draw heavy tribute from the
American people. This monstrous per-
version OF those equal opportunities |
which our political institutions were es-
tablished TO secure, has caused what
may once have been infant industries
10 become the greatest combinations Of
capital that the world has ever known
These pubIicity-favored enterprises
have through trust methods, been con-
verted into mOnOpoIies. tE4s bringing
TO an end domestic competition, which
was the only check upon the extrava-
CANT profits made possible by the pro-
tective system
These Industrial combinations, by the
financial assistance they can give now
control the policy OF the Republican
party.
By Friends Of Masses"
We favor a wise, conservative. and
businesslike revision and a gradual re-
duction Of the tariff by the friends Of the
masses. and for the cOmmOuWeal, and
not by the friends Of its abuses. its ex-
tOrtions and its determinations, keeping
IN view the ultimate end Of equality Of
burdens and equality Of opportunities" /,
ana the constitutional purpose Of raising
revenue by taxation, 20 wit, the sup
port Of the Federal Government IN all
It's integrity and virility, but in sim
plicity and keeping also in view, as men
Of common sense should. existing condi-