Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-07-12
of Davis was made unani-
THE PLATFORM

IAE 1LAIFORM
In the preamble to the Democratic
national platform adopted at St. Louis
there are recited the fundamental prin-
clpies OF Democracy, the application of
which to the living issues of the day is
declared to be the first step toward
the assured peace, safety and progress
of our nation" These principles are
not intangible. They are not musty
traditions. They are living. vital
truths. Upon their maintenance de-
ponds the perpetuity of free institu-
tons. No class government can as
sure justice OF liberty Justice knows
no class and where justice does not
reign liberty is PROSTATE.
These fundamental principles-free-
dom of the press, of conscience and of
speech equality before the law of all
citizens right of trial by Jury free
dom of the person defended by the writ
of habeas corpus liberty of personal
contract untrammeled by sumptuary
laws; supremacy of the civil over mill
tary authority; well-disciplined mil
tia; the separation of church and state;
economy in expenditures low taxes,
that labor may be lightly burdened !;
prompt and sacred fulfillment of public
and private obligations; fidelity to
treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with
none absolute acquiescence in the will
of the majority, the vital principles of
republics.
The platform declares for liberal,
though not extravagant, expenditures
for internal waterways and condemns
the present policy ''of starving home
development in order to feed the greed
of conquest and appetite for national
prestige and display of strength"
1t favOrs "the preservation so far as
we can, of an open door for the worlds
commerce in the Orient, without I'M
necessary ENHANCEMENT in Oriental and
European affairs, and without arbitra-
ry, unlimited, irresponsible and abso-
lute government anywhere within our
jurisdiction"
Ii is insisted that 1--WE ought to do
for the Filipinos what we have already
done for the CubanS, and it is our duty
to make that promise now, upon snita-
bic guarantees of protection to citizens
of our own and other countries resident
there ct the time of our withdrawal, !"
and ''set the Filipino people upon their
feet, free and independent to work out
their own destiny"
Protection is denounced "as robbery
of the many to enrich the few and a
tariff limited to the needs of govern
ment, economically administered is de-
declared to be the end of Democratic
tariff legislation. Recognizing, how
ever, that sudden and radical change
would be disasterous to Industrial con-
ditiOns "a gradual reduction of the
tariff by the friends of the masses for
the common veal, and not by the
friends of its abuses, its extortions and
determinations, is urged
Private monopoly is denounced as in
defensible and intolerable. Freight rate
determinations are declared to be a
most potent agency in promoting and
and legislation is demanded to prohibit
and punish the granting of such favors
1t is demanded that the powers of the
interstate commerce commission be en-
larged ito the end that the travelling
public and shippers of this country
may have prompt and adequate relief
from the abuses to which they are sub
jected in the matter of transportation.
The "striet enforcement of existing
civil and criminal statutes" against
trusts and combinations and mOnopo-
lies and "the enactment of such further
legislation as may be necessary to eff
fectually suppress then" are demanded.
A pledge is made to construct the
Panama canal speedily, honestly and
economically"
Opposition to ship subsidy is pro-
claimed.
Generous pensions to deserving sol
diers and sailors are favored.
Liberal trade arrangements with Can
ada is urged.
Adherence to the Monroe doctrine is
declared.
A large standing army is opposed
The maintenance of the navy is fav-
ored.
Election of United States senators by
direct vote is made a party doctrine.
Irrigation of the public lands is fav-
ored.
The determination of polygamy is de-
handed
The usurpations of the Roosevelt ad-
ministratiOn are denounced
These are the essential features of
the platform. In its treatment of vital
issues it is thoroughly Democratic and
is in harmony with the party's past at
titude.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Justice Alton. Brooks Parker of New
York state, whom the Democrats have
named us their candidate for president,
has lived in the Empire state all his life.
He was born at Cortland, May IA, 1851,
was educated in the public schools of
Cortland and the Cortland Normal
school, He also graduated from the
Albany Law school in 1872 and was adj
mitted to the bar.
He was elected surrogate of Ulster
county twice, on the Democratic ticker,