Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-02
The DEMOCRATIC
pLATFORI

I'VE the democratic party of The United
States. in national convention assembled,
declare its devotion to the essential prln-
ciples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local government and
national unity and prosperity We're alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence, the structure of our free republic
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California and Texas to ore
eon which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet Inspire the masses
Fl sh aRd pd0Rs and s ssr
fraternity, peace and orderly develop
ment. They. remind US of our duties and
upon US, particularly at this time the
necessity of reform and the rescue OF the
administration Of government from the
methods method 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 first step toward the as
sured peace, sosa safety and PROGRESS se OF our our
science 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 untrammeled by sump-
tCary laws; the supremacy of The civil
over mluldfy 6ulhOfltyi We'll I-GlSGlpilneG
militia; the separation of church and
state: economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that iabor may be iis4t!y, bur
dened: the prompt and sacred futti]lment
Of public ana private Obligations; fidelity
to treaties: peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acqHiescence III the vii! OF the
majority, the vital principle OF republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs Of the nation,
ard they should be constantly invoked,
Con1rolinS ESpeuscs.
"1 Large reductions can readily be
made i'll the annual expenditures of the
government without impairiMg the efli-
and We shah insist upon the stricteSt
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration as a right Of the
people. too clear to be denied or With
% The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end thorough
legislative investigation of those eXecu-
tive departments of the government al
we'll as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
OF ascertained corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons. The per-
sistent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house Of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
that only by change in the executive
and in the house Of representatives can
complete - exR3su5e; siaea punishment and eor>
I'm broader furtherance OF that end the
federal government should not permit it
:elf to be robbed by entering into con- er,
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. as
.fafrorCont1n
plicity OF living.
Presidential Recon- me N dations.
r.. We favor the nomination and cleo
ton Of president trained in the ways of
sternly against executive usurpation of
| legislative and judicial functions whether
that usurpation be ruled under the .guise
| Of executive construction of existing
| laws or whether 1t take refuge In the
! tyrant's pleas OF necessity Of superior
| wisdom.
II. 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-
mitted, through congressional favor, to
draw a heavy tribute from the American
! people This monstrous perversion of
those, equal opportunities, which our po-
| litical institutions We're established to Sc
| cure, has caused what may once have
| been infant industries to become the
greatest combinations of capital that the
| world has ever known These publicly
| favored enterprises have. through trust
methods been converted into monopolies,
thus bringing to an END domestic COM
| petition, which was the only check upon
| the eXtravagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
they can give. now control the policy of
! the republican party.
| "We favor a wise, conservative and
! businesslike revision and gradual re-
| duction of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal. and
not by the friends of its abuses, its ex-
tortions and its determinations, keeping
in view the altimate end of equality OF
burdens and equality Of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose Of raising
a revenue by taxation, to-Wit, the sup
| port Of the federal government, in all its
integrity and virility, but in Simplicity
, and keeping also in view, as men Of com
however wrongfuliy. mistakenly or un-
| Justly brought about. end the danger te
the cause OF tariff reform Itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal of policy.
I'VE should bear in mind, in short, these
two things: a The general principle that
the sole derivation OF the power of tax
ernemnt, econonaieai!y: effectively anc
! consututionaHy administered; and (2l
the equal truth that in the assertion oi
any general principle and in reaching
| any ultimate end however sacred ant
logically unavoidable, due regard, bu1
| only due regard. must and should be paiC
! to actual existing conditions.
! I'VE favor the reduction of tariff tax
| alton upon trust-pI odUccd articles 10 thu
! points where foreign competition may en-
| ter the American market whenever trust:
and combines. seeking monopoly, laist
| their prices to the American CONSUMER
| above a reasonable and just profit. by
| such reduction depriving trusts and mo
| nopolies Of the power 10 eXtCIt from th'
| American people. unde% shelter of Amer
| lean law, prices higher than those charget
! foreigners for identical articles
The Isihminn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestl.
| advocated the construction of internceanit
canal for the purpose OF national defens'
and commerce between the states an(
with foreign nations. We favor the earl!
completion of the isthmian canal.
But while making this declaration ant
accepting the, results as an accomplished
and ilreversible fact, we can not to'
foreibly express. our disapproval of th
| methods by which, in disregard Of tn
usages and obligations of internationa
law and treaty obligations. the cana
route has been acquired, or too solemn.
record our hope that this precedent o
| defiant diplomacy may never be uset
| against us to our humiliation and injury
| Trusts and Unlawful Com binatiOns
I'VE recognize that the gigantic trusts
and combinations designed to enable cap
ital to secure more than its just share o
- Al> "a ~lA- l~Y