Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-18
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLATFORM
e, the dc moeratic party or tho United
States, i'll national convention assembled,
ueciare It's devotion to the essential prin-
ciples OF the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local self government and
natenal unity and prosperity 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 i'll all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet Inspire the masses
Sia,, OF our people. guarding jealously their
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment. They remind us of our duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES as citizens and impress
upon U.S. particularly at this time, the
necessity OF reform and the rescue OF the
edmlnlstrauon OF government from tho
and su
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
principles to the living issues of the day
constitutes the first 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-.
tEary laws; the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority; well,discipined
militia: the separation of church and
state: economy in expenditures; low
taxes. that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; the prompt and sacred fuliillment
n nd Wv To np oil fy
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquiescence In the will Of the
majority. the vital principle of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the nation,
and they should be constantly invoked.
preached. resorted to and enforced
Controlling Expenses.
81. Large reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures Of the
government without impairing the eff
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
RReSiR's Rsid. too clear to be denied or with
80 The enforcement Of honesty in the
public service, and to that end a thorough
legislative investigation Of those execu-
tive departments of the government al
ready known to teem with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected OF
harboring corruption. and the punishment
| Of ascertained corruptionists without fear
or favor % or rsEard to The per
senate and house of representatives to
| permit such investigation to be made by
that only by a change in the executive
and in the house OF representatives can
| complete exposure: punishment and cor>
'In broader furtherance of that end the
federal government should not permit it,
self to be robbed by entering into con;
combinations in restraint OF. interstate
trade. existing in violation Of law. We
believe that one OF the best methods OF
public service is to have public officials
from the occupant Of the White House
down to the lowest Of them, return. al
! nearly as may be, to Jenersonian sim
pucity Of living.
Presidential Recon mmendations.
"s We favor the nomination and elec.
ton of president trained IN the ways OF
tho constitution. who shall set his face
eternly against executive usurpati o1
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be ruled under the guiss
| Of executive construction of existing
tyrant's pleas OF necessity of superior
| wisdom.
- The democratic party has been
and will continue to be- the consisten
opponent Of that class of tariff Legislation
by which certain interests have been per
mitted, through congressional favor. t.
! draw heavy tribute from the American
people This monstrous perversion O
those equal opportunities. Which our po
cure, cure has caused what may once hav,
been infant industries to become thu
greatest combinations OF capital car that tn tn
favored enterprises have, through trus
methods, been converted into monopolies
thus bringing, to an end domestic com
petition, which was the only check upol
the extravagant profits made possible b,
the protective system. These industria
combinations. by the financial assistanc
they can give, now control the policy o
1--WE favor wise. conservative an,
businesslike revision and a gradual re re
masses and for the common veal, an'
not by the friends of its abuses, its ex
tortions and its diseriminations, ktsepini
burdens and equality of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose of raisin,
port Of the 1 fsdera in ali
integrity and virili,y, but in simplicity
and keeping also in view, as men of com
however wrongfully, mistakenly or un
justly brought about: and the danger T.
the cause of tariff reform itself OF abrup
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
I'VE should bear in mind, in short, thes
two things: % The general principle tina
the sole derivation of the power of tax
alton is the supp"rtl OF tns cedera gnv
constitutionally administered and (2)
the equal truth that in the assertion o
any general principle and in reachin
: any ultimate end, however sacred an
, logically unavOida BILE, due regard, bu
only due regard, must and should be pa
: to actual existing conditions.
I'VE favor the reduction of tariff tax
alton upon trust produced articles to tn
points where foreign competition may en-
ter the American market whenever trust
and combines, seeking monopoly, lais
their prices to the American consume
above reasonable and just profit, b
such reduction depriving trusts and me
nopolies of the power to extort from tn
American people. undes shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charge
foreigners for identical articles.
The lsthmiun Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestl
advocated the construction of interoceani
canal for the purpose OF national defens
and comperce between the states an
) with foreign nations, we favor the earl
completion of the 1sthmian canal.
..But while making this declaration an
accepting the results as an accomplishe
and irreversible fact, we can not to
forcibly express our disapproval OF tn
methods by which. in disregard OF. tn
usages and obligations Of internations
law and treaty obligations. the can;
opul1re6 Solamnl