The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-12
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Party Principles as Defined by the
Convention I'm st. LOuis-Thfs Was
Unanimously Adopted. Without De-
bate.

I n Democratic party OF the United
states in national convention assembled
decuares its devotion to the essential
principles of the Democratic faith
which brings las together in party
communion. Under them local self
government \ national unity and
prosperity were alike established.
They ~underlaid our Independence.
the structure Of our free republic. and
every Democratic extension from
Louisiana 20 California and Texas TO
Oregon, which preserved faithfully in
ali the states the tie between taxation
and representation. They yet inspire
the masses of our people. guarding
jealousy their rights and liberties and
cherishing Their fraternity, peace and
orderly development. They remind us
or our duties and responsibilities as cit
liens and impress upon us, particularly
at this time the necessity OF reform.
and the rescue Of the administration OF
government from the headstrong, ar
bitrary and spasmodic methods which
distract business by uncertainty, and
pervade the public mind with dread,
distrrst and perturbation.
Fundamental Principles.
I, l. The application of these funda-
mental principles to the living issues
of the day is the first step toward
the assured peace safety and progress
of our nation. Freedom of the press,
of conscience 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 untrammel-
ed by sumptuary laws; the supremacy
of civil over military authority; a wei.
disciplined militia; the separation OF
church md cro-a. annn,or ;n 4~-arl
lures: low taxes. that labor may be
lightly burdened; the prompt arc
sacred fulfillment OF public ana
private obligations; fidelity to trea-
ties; peace and friendship with
all nations, e~ntangling alliances with
none; absolute acquiescence in the
will of the majority, the vital principe
of republics-these are doctrines which
democracy has established as prov
cribs of the nation and they should be
constantly invoked and enforced.
Capital and Labor.
We favor the enactment and admin
iStration of laws giving labor and CAPT.
tai impartially their just rights. Capital
n labor ought not to be enemies.
Each is necessary to the other. Each
has it's rights, but the rights of labor
are certainly no less vested no less
sacred and no less ~"alienable," than
the rights of capital.
Constitutional Guarantees.
Constitutional guarantees are violat
ed whenever any citizen is denied the
right of labor, acquire and enjoy prop
erty, or reside where interests or in
ciination may determine. Any denial
thereof by individuals, organizations
or governments, should be summary
rebuked n punished.
We deny the right OF any executive
to disregard Or suspend any constitu-
tional privilege or limitation. Obed-
fence to the constitutional privilege or
limitation, obedience to he laws and
respect for their requirements are alike
the supreme duty of the citizen n
the official.
The military should be used only TO
support and maintain the Jaw. We un-
qualifiedly condemn it's employment for
the summary Punishment of citizens
without trial at or for the control Of
the elections.
We approve the measure which pass
ed the United States Senate in 1896, but
which a Republican Congress has ever
since refused to enact, relating to con-
tempts in federal courts, and providing
for the trial by jury in cases of indirect
contempt.
Waterways.
We favor liberal appropriations for
the case and improvement of the wat
| erways of the country. When any wat
erway like the Mississippi river is OF
sufficient Importance to demand special
aid of the government, such aid should
be extended with a definite plan of con-
tinuous work until permanent improve
ment is secured.
We oppose the Republican policy of
starving home development in order to
feed the greed for conquest n the
, appetite for national "prestige' and
display Of strength.
Economy Administration.
Large reductions can lreadily be
made in the annual expenditures of the
government without impairing the ef-
ficiency of any branch Of the public
service, and we shall insist upon the
strictest economy and frugality COM
atible with vigorous and efficient civil,
military and naval administration as
a right of the people, too clear to be
denied or withheld.
We favor honesty in the public
service and to that end a thor
ough legislative investigation in those
executive departments of the Govern
ment, already known to TEEN with
corruption, as we'll as other depart
ments suspected of harboring corrup-
ton and the punishment Of ascertain~
ed corruption without fear or favor or
regard to persons. The persistent and
deliberate refusal of both the Senate
and House of Representatives to permit
such investigation to be made demon
strates that only by a change in the
executive and the legislative depart
| ments can complete exposure, punish
| ment and correction be obtained.
Federal Government Contract With
Trusts.
We condemn the action of the Re-
publican party in Congress in refus-
ing to prohibit an executive depart
| ment from entering into contracts with
convicted trusts or unlawful combi-
nations in restraint of interstate
trade. We believe that one of the
best methods of procuring economy
and honesty in the public service is
to have public officials, from an oc-
cupant of the White House down to
the lowest of the,m returned as nearly
as may be to Jeffersonian simplicity
of living.