The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-06-03
THE STATE CONVENTION.

THE STATE CONVENTION.
The Democratic State Convention met in
Baltimore on Thursday of last week and
selected eight electors and sixteen delegates
to the ST. Louis Convention. In the list is
Senator Thomas II. Robinson of this county.
The work of the convention was watched
carefully all over this country, in view of the
fact that the platform adopted is supposed
to represent the views of Senator Arthur
Puc German, who occupies a commanding
position in the list of presidential possibili-
ties. The platform is carefully worded and a
most excellent state document. We publish
the same in full so that our readers can be-
come familiar with its provisions, it is
more than likely on the same lines that the
National Convention will adopt.
"Thc represent atives of the Maryland De
mocracy. in convention assembled. rejoice that
the opening of the present national cam
discussions, firmly resolved to retain control
of our State administration and ready to CO.
operate vigorously with our brethren
throughout the Union in a supreme effort to
recover possession of the Federal government
In common with the Democracy of our
sister States, VIC view with great alarm the
dangerous departure, under Republican adj
ministration, from the cardinal principles So
earnestly inculcated by the fathers of the
Republic as to the structure. powers and limi-
tationS of our Federal Government and
peatcdly declared and enforced i'll the plat
forms of our national Democracy, and we
now proclaim anew our steadfast adherence
to those principles as necessary, in our judy
ment. to the preservation of our Democratic
institutions in their original simplicity, pur-
ty and power.
More and more persuaded by the stirring
events of the last six years that there is no
rightfui place under our system of constitu-
| tional American liberty for the conquest,
OF
remote islands of the sea and for the dangers
and evils of colonial and imperial expansion,
we pledge ourselves to the adoption of all
conservative and practicable measures to
rescue the Government from the evil conSe-
quences of so deplorable departure from the
fundamental principles of the Constitutions
To this end we demand that at the earliest
possible moment independence shall be
granted to the Filipinos, with same general
relationship to this country as that now en-
joyed by the people of Cuba.
The Democratic party has been foremost In
advocating the construction of inter
oceanic canal for the purpose of national de-
fensc and commerce between the States.
ITO obtain the cesSion of the required terri
tory it has steadily aimed to cultivate friend
~ relations with our neighbors of the Ameri-
can Continent, whose destiny is closely
| linked with our own.
While accepting the result of the negotia-
lions conducted by President Roosevelt we
cannot loose sight of the disturbing fact that
| the methods under which the territory was
| acquired were in defiant disregard of law and
too weak to resist the ungenerous action of
our Government.
While struggling under the burden of n
heavy national debt, Sacredly bound to pro-
vide adequate pensions for our heroic soldiers
and sailors, and compelled, for the purpose
of meeting all our obligations, to demand
large sacrifices from the people in the shape
of cuStonl-house duties and Internal revenue
taxation, which, but for these demands
| would be in large degree unnecessary, it is
manifeStiy the duty of the Government to
practice in every department the strctcSt
economy compatible with efficient civil,
military and naval administration. and,
| pointing to the lavish and wastcful expend-
| ture of the public revenue under Republican
| rule, we call for great and far-reaching re-
trcnclment in every branch of the public
service.
we are sure that such retrenchment can
readily be made.
I've profoundly feel that unnecessary tax
alton Is unjust taxation, and at this time of
excessive luxury, extravaganza and imperial
expansion we earnestly ask careful conSidera-
| ton by our countrymcn of the impressive
| uttcrance Of Andrew Jackson that lit is not
i'll q splendid government supported by
| powerful monopolieS and aristocratic esta alb
lishments that The people will find happiness
or protection of their liberties but in a plain
system void of pomp, protecting all and
granting special favors to none, dispensing
its blessings like the dews of heaven, unseen
and unfelt save i'll the freshness and beauty
they contribute to produce
The recent painful and alarming disclosures
of official mafeaSance have created Il univer-
sal and wcll-founded belief in the existence of
widespread corruption and Justify the most
vigorous demand for thorough investiga-
ton of all the departments, to the end that
fraud and dishonesty may be promptly
brought to light and punished and n pure
! and upright administratic II of public affairs
be secured.
THE persistent and deliberate refusal of
both the Senate and House of Representa-
tives to permit such Investigation to be made
by either branch of Congress demonstrates
that only by change in the Executive and.in
the House of Representatives can complete
exposure, punishment and correction he
obtained
I'VE charge the Republicans with establish
ing and maintaining an unnecessary. oppres-
sive and unjust system of Federal taxation
and we demand relief for the people from it's
burdens
I'VE charge them with great and reckless
extravaganza in the expenditure of large
sums nccdlcssly collected from the people by
their excessive protection of favored branches
OF industry beyond all precedent reason
and incapable of Justification or excuse.
"Wechargc them with the existence of fraud
and corruption in the administration of
many Of their public trusts and with shelter
punishment.
I'VE dcpatir of amendment at their hands,
and going back to the ringing words of our
hunored Samuel J. Tildcn, we declare that
the reforms which are now so badly needed
i'll the mode and measures of taxation, in de-
partmental administration, i'll lavish and in
delcnS1ble appropriations, can only be had
by 4 peaceful civic revolution.
we earnestly cnllupon the people to rise in
their resistless power and give us this cffectual
remedy.
I'VE demand Il change of system a change of
administrations change of parties, that we
may have change of measures and of men.
I'VE realize that, under the domination of
the corporate interests and mighty and
dangerous trusts and monopolies which con-
troll the policy and shape the legislation of
the Republican party, relief to the masses of
the people from the Glar ing inequalities and
gross injustice of our existing tariff is ;IbSo-
Iutely hopeless, and that only under the re-
nt
any Improvement whatever be obtained.
with Democratic President and House of
Representatives. our party can and will take
the vigorous initiative toward the prompt,
effective and just relief which the existing in
dustrial situation of the country Imperative
" demands.
1T is pledged to this wise and benefcent
policy.
1T will revise the tariff i'll Il conservative
spirit of fairness to all interests.
Its anxious purpose will he to legislate
with such due regard for the labor and
capital Involved in our industrial enterprise
as to promote their healthy growth and to
carefully guard against the inhiction of in
jury upon established industries by abrupt
unjust and radical measures.
"OdiOuS and powerful onopolieS may ex-
pcct reduction of the excessive rates under
which they have been enabled to cxtort OPP
prcssive tribute from the people.
The Illegal combination of trusts, which
within the last few years under the Rcpubli-
can tariff have grown so great and which in
unlawful restraint of legitimate trade have
crushed, honest competition, must be stripped
of the power which they have so mercilcssly
abused.
Appalled, by the decentralization which Re
publican expansion and extravaganza have
generated, the Democratic party may also
be relied on to dedicate itself to the iudispen-
sable task of purifying the administration
of corruption.
lit viii reSolutcly restore economy, revive
respect for law and enforce obedience from
high and low rich and poor alike.
Hearing in mind that one Of the cardinal
maxims of our constitutional system is that
the legislative, executive and judicial powers
of government ought to he forever separate
and distinct from each other, and that each of
these several departments should he wholly
free from interference by the others, we call
public attention to the repeated and unpar-
donablc dictation of President Roosevelt to
both branches OF Congress.
1--WE denouncc his nagrant encroaChmcnts
upon their rightful powers and independence,
and. while amazed nj the suhscrvicncy of n
RcIuhlicnn Scnatc and u Republican HnmSc