Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-14
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

I'VE, the democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assembled.
declare it's devotion to the essential prin-
ciples 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
resentation. They yet inspire the masses
rights and iibertiss. and and ciherishing their
ment. They remind US Of our duties and
responsibilities as citizens and impress
upon us. particularly at this time. the
administration OF government from the
methods Which a distract Business s spe1e BY une
with dread, distrust and perturbation.
The application OF these fundamental
principles to the living issues of the day
sured peace, safety and progress OF our
nation. Freedom Of the press. Of con-
science sci q and ar ;, of speech: Equality before
by jury; freedom Of the person defended
by the writ OF habeas corpus; liberty of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
tUary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; well disciplined
militia; the separation of church and
STATE eco economy N in exPsndt41eis; low
dened; the prompt and sacred fulillment
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 principle of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
established as proverbs of the nation,
ard they should be constantly invoked,
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling E2 pcnses.
81; Large reductions can readily be
government without impairing the eff
cheney OF any branch Of the public service,
and we shall insist upon the strictest
economy and fruSality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil, military and
naval administration a right Of the
people, too clear to be denied or with
20. The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end thorough
legislative investigation of those eNecu-
ready known to TEEN With corruption, as
well 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
either branch of congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and in the house of Representatives can
rection be obtained.
In broader furtherance Of that end the
federal government should not permit it
self to bs robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations In restraint Of interstate
SeeS. that of the Sest Of
procuring economy and honesty In the
public service is to have public officials.
down U to- to the lowest o Of them, ret return. uas as
nearly as may be. to JeHersonian SIM
plicity of living.
Presidential Recommendations.
"s We favor the nomination and elec-
the constitution, who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation Of
legislat tive and judicial functions whether
that usurpation be ruled under the guise
of executive construction of existing
laws, Or whether it take refuge in the
tyrants 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-
mitted, through Congressional favor, to
draw Il heavy tribute from the American
people This monstrous perversion Of
those equal opportunities, which our po-
Mtical 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,
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 Es EspqsGafn {sI6f PaylE W;sa conservative and
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
burdens and equality Of Opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose of raising
port OF the federal government, in al us
Integrity and virility, but in simplicity
and keeping also IN view, as men of com
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: % The general principle that
the sole derivation of the power of tax
alton is the support of the federal gov
ernemnt, economically. effectively AND
constitutionally administered; and (2)
| the equal truth that in the assertion OF
| any general principle and in reaching
| any ultimate end. however sacred anc
! logically unavoidable, due regard, but
| only due regard. must and should be paC
| to actual existing conditions
1--WE favor the reduction OF tariff tax
alton upon trustproduced articles to thu
points where foreign competition may en-
| ter the American market whenever trusts
| and combines. seeking monopoly, laiSt
| their prices to the American consumer
| above reasonable and just profit, b,
such reduction depriving trusts and mo
nopolies OF the power to extort from th'
| American people, under shelter of Amer
lean law, prices higher than those charged
| foreigners for Identical articles.
The IsthmiNn Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestl!
| advocated the construction of interoceani
! canal for the purpose Of national defens
! and commerce between the states ant
| with foreign nations we favor the earl.
| completion of the fsthmian canal.
But while making this declaration AM
accepting the results as an accomplishe
| and irreversible fact, we can not to-
| forcibly express our disapproval OF tn
methods by which. In disregard Of tn
| ol>lf