Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-10-06
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

we. the democratic party of the United
States in national convention assembled,
declare its devotion to the essential prin-
cfpieS OF the democratic faith which
brings US together in party communion.
Under them local self-government and
national unity and prosperity were 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
gon, which preserved faithfully in all the
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation They yet Inspire the masses
ri fights ahd sd hs hs
men, they remind Us Of io' our dutie, s.eiUn and
upon us. particularly at this time, the
necessity of reform and the rescue OF the
administration Of government from the
methods 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. safety and progress OF our
nation. Freedom of the press, Of con-
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 Intrammeleo by sun1p-
tuary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; well ell-dsci,pliEed
militia; the separation Of church and
state; economy In expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
Of public and private obligations: fidelity
to treaties; peace and Friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none:
majority. the vital principle OF republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs OF the nation.
preached resorted to and enforced.
Controlling ExDenses.
81: Largo reductions can readily be
made In the annual expenditures of the
government without ,napairing tho eff
end we shall insist upon the strtctest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and eftioisnt civil. military and
naval administration a. 4 right OF the
People too clear to b denied or with
public service, and TO that end q thorough
legislative investigation OF those exeeu-
tive departments OF the government al
well az other departments suspected Of
harboring corruption. and the punishment
Of ascertained corruptionists without fear
sistent and deliberate refusal Of both tho
senate and house Of Representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
that only by q change In the executive
and in the house Of representatives can
complete :. e1Rs:Hssa s''nishmsnt and cor
I'm broader furthsranoe Of that end the
federal government should not permit It
.slf to be, be roonsa eX entering into con;
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade. existing in violation Of law. We
that S the % Of
public service is to have public officials,
from the occupant OF the White House
asarjy as may be. to jsnerson,an Sim
Dlicity Of living.
Presidential Reoomm ndations.
'a. We favor the nomination and cleo
tion Of president trained in the ways Of
tho constitution, who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be ruled under the guise
OF executive constr Guction of existing
laws, or whether 1t take refuge in the
tyrant's pleas OF necessity OF superior
a. 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-
mttted, through congressional favor, to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perversion of
those equal opportunities which our 20
litical Institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant Industries to become the
greatest combinations of capital that the
favored enterprises have. through trust
methods been converted into monopolles
petition, which was the only check upon
the extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system, These industrial
they can give, now control the policy of
I'VE favor wise, conservative and
Ax,C4 H.. vfrtnr ny6
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 discriminations. keeping
in view the ultimate end Of equality OF
burdens and equality of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose Of raising
port of the federal government, in all Its
Integrity and virility. but in simplicity;
mon sense should, existing conditions
however wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
justly brought about. and the danger to
the cause Of tariff reform itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal Of policy.
1--WE should bear in mind, In short, these
two things: a. The general principle that
the sos Is ss Of Of s
constitutionaly administered; and 0).
any any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable due regard, but
only Quc TeSdIO Huok &Ilu 1nOulO DS pa1O
to actual existing conditions.
1--WE favor the reduction of tariff tax
alton upon trust-produced articles to the
points where foreign competition may en-
ter the American market whenever trusts
and combines. seeking monopoly, raise
their prices to the American consumer
above reasonable and Just profit, by
such reduction depriving trusts and mo-
nopolies Of the power to extort from the
American people. unde1 shelter Of Amer
lean law. prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The lsthmlMM Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
advocated the construction Of interoceanic
canal for the purpose of national defense
and commerce between the states and
with foreign nations, we favor the early
completion of the tsthmian canal.
"But while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact. we can not toe
forcibly express our disapproval OF the
methods by which. In disregard Of the
usages and obligations Of International