Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-07
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

We, the democratic party Of the United
states. IN national convention assembled
oeeidte Us dcVotlon to the essential prin-
slpIcs OF the democratic faith which
ofl1ss US together in party communion.
nder them local self-government and
hatlonai unity and prosperity We're alike
established. They underlaid our independ-
ence, the structure of our free republic
ana every democratic extension from
Louisiana to California and Texas to Ore
Fon' which preserved faithfully in all the
resentation. They yet inspire the masses
Q! our people. guarding jealousy their
Ilghts ana liberties, and eherishing their
ment. They remind US Of Of ur our r duties tseup and
responsibilities as citizens and impress
upon us, particularly at this time. the
administration Of government from the
headstrong, arbitrary and spasmodic
methods which distract business, by un-
with dread, distrust and perturbation
The application of these fundamental
principles to the living issues Of the day
constitutes the first step toward the as
nation. Freedom of the press, of con-
science and of speech; equality before
the law of all citizens; the right Of trial
by the writ of habeas corpus; liberty Of
personal contract untrammeled by sump-
1Iary laws; the supremacy of the civil
over military authority; a WelI-disciplined
militia the separation of church and
state; economy in expenditures; low
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur
dened: the prompt and sacred fultillment
OF public and private obligations, fidelity
TO treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acquieseenee in the will of the
majority, the vital principle Of republics
these are doctrines which democracy has
estabhshed es,5 tI as as, proverbs Of the nation,
preached, fes0fted to and enforced.
Sohtroiin&, EA penses.
81. Large reductions can readily be
made III Tile annual expenditures OF the
government without impairing the efli-
clency Of any branch Of the public service,
and we shall insist upon the strctcSt
economy and frugaIity compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil military and
1iaVai ADMINISTRATION as a right ef the
RRsSR's' Rs.d. too clear 10 be denied or with
''2. The enforcement of honesty in the
public service, and to that end a thorough
legislative investigation of those eNecu-
tive departments of the government al
ready known tG TEEN with corruption, a s
Web as other departments suspected of
harboring corruption, and the punishment
OF ascertalned corruptioniSts without fear
Or favor or regard to persons. The per-
slstent and deliberate refusal of both the
senate and house of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
either branch of congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and in the house of representatives can
complete exposure, punishment and cor
rection be obtained.
"In broader furthersnce Of that end the
federal government should not permit it
self to be robbed by entering into con-
tracts with convicted trusts or unlawful
combinations in restraint Of interstate
trade, existing in violation of law We
believe that one of the best methods OF
procuring economy and honesty in the
public service is TO have public officials,
down to the lowest of them, return, as
nearly as may be, to Jeffersonian SIM
pGcity of living.
Presidential Recomme mendatfons.
SO We favor the nomination and cleo
ton of president trained in the ways of
the constitution. who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of
legislative and judicial functions, whether
of executive construction of existing
laws, or whether it take refuge in the
tyratnt's pleas of necessity OF superior
- 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 heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perversion of
those equal opportunities, which our po-
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 monopoles,
thus bringing to an end domestic COM
the extravagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
rs {hey yrepaAsS saA EsSS psry aoy control the policy of
I'VE favor 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 it's determinations, keeping
in view the ultimate END of equality OF
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
mon sense should, existing conditions.
however wrHngfully mistakenly add 1na or un
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
alton is the support of the federal gov
ernemnt, economically, effectively and
constitutionally administered; and =, CD,
the equal truth that in the assertion of
any general principle and in reaching
any Ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable, due regard. but
only due regard, must and should be paid
to actual existing conditions
I'VE 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
Of the
American people, under. shelter of Amer.
lean law. prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
The Isthms,n 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 isthmian canal.
'.But while making this declaration and
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact. W! we can can not , toe toe
methods by which, in disregard of the
usages and obligations Of internationa tSn
route has been acquired, or too solemnly