Saint Mary's beacon., 1904-07-14
Democratic Platform.

st. Louis convention, is as follows:
''The Democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assem-
bled, declares it's devotion To the essential
principles Of the Democratic faith which
bring US together in party communion.
Under them local self government and
national unity and prosperity were alike
established They underlaid our indepen-
dence, the structure Of our free republic.
and every democratic extension from
Louisiana tn California and Texas To
Oregon, which preserved faithfully i'm all
the States the tie between taxation and
representation. They yet inspire the
nrasses of our people, guarding jealOusly
their rights and liberties and cherishing
their fraternity, peace and orderly de-
yelopment. They remind us four duties
and responsibilities as citizens and i'm
press upon us, particularly ut this time.
the necessity Of reform and the rescue OF
the administration of government from
the headstrong, arbitrary and spasmodic
methods which distract business by un-
certainty and pervade the public mind
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
Fundamental Principles.
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues Of the day
IN the first step toward the assured pea6 e,
safety and progress of our nation. Free
dom Of the press, of conscience and of
speech equality before the law of all citi-
zens; right Of trial by jnry freedom Of
the person defended by the writ of habeas
corpus; liberty or personal contract un
trammeled by snmptuary laws; suprem-
acy of the civil over military authority n
weil-disciplined militia; the separation Of
church and state; economy in expendi-
lures low taxes, that labor may he light
ly burdened; prompt and sacred fulfill
ment OF public and private obligations;
fidelity tO treaties; peace and friendship
with all llnatiOns, entangling alliances with
none; absolute aequiescence in the will of
the majority, the vital principle of repub-
lics-these are doctrines which democracy
has established, approved by the nation
and they should be constantly invoked
and enforced.
Capital aud Labor.
I'VE favor the enactment and admins
tratiOn of laws giving labor and capital
impartially their just rights Capital and
labor ought not to be enemies. Each is
necessary to the other. Each has it's
rights, but the rights Of labor are certain
~ no less vested no less sacred and
no less 'inalienable' than the rights Of
capital.
Constitutional Guarantees.
'fConstitutionalgua guarantees are violated
whenever any citizen il denied the right
tn labor, acquire and enjoy property or
reside where interest or inclination may
determine. Any denial thereof by indi-
viduals, organizations or governments
should be summarily rebuked and punish
ed.
I'VE deny the right Of any executive to
disregard or suspend any Constitutional
privilege or limitation. Obedience to the
laws and respect for their requirements
are alike the supreme duty Of the citizen
and the official
The military should be used only to
support and maintain law We unquali
fieslly condemn it's employment for the
summary Punishment Of citizens without
trial or for the control Of elections.
I'VE approve the measure which passed
the United States Senate i'm 1896, but
which Republican Congress has ever
since refused To enact, relating to con-
tempts in Federal courts and providing
Tor trial by jury in eases of indirect con-
tempt
NatAOnS WatcrW0ySs
Eve favor liberal appropriations for
the care and Improvement of the water.
ways of the country. %yhen any water
way like the Mississippi river is of suffi-
e!ent Importance to demand special aid of
the Government such aid should be ex-
tended with n definite plan of continuous
work until permanent Improvement is &C.
cured.
I'VE oppose the Republican policy of
starving home development in order to
Heed the greed for conquest and the appe-
tite Tor national prestige and display of
strength.
Economy OF Administration.
Large reductions can easily be made
in the annual expenditures of the Govern
ment without imparing the efficiency of
any branch oil the public service. and we
shall insist upon the strictest economy
and frugality compatible with vigorous
and efficient civil, military and naval ad-
mlnistratlon as a right of the people too
clear to be denied or withheld.
I'VE favor honesty in the public service.
the enforcement of honesty in the public
service, and to that end thorough legis-
lative investigation of those executive de-
partments of the Government already
known to TEEN with corruption. as well
as other departments suspected Of har-
boring corruption, and the punishment
of ascertained deorruptiOnists 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 DEM