Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-09-23
THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM

PLATFORM
I'VE, the democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
declare its devotion TO the essential prin-
ciples of the democratic faith which
brings us together in party communion.
Under them local self-government Rpd
national unity and prosperity were alke
ence, the structure OF our free republic
snd oe,,s;sy every dGem1:2sra.c sAlsnsien from from
states the tie between taxation and rep
resentation. They yet inspire the masses
Of sBs psoR ,hsF ,her
fraternity. peace and orderly develop.
ment. They remind uc Of our duties and
{Tssnensibilitiss a. eiti.sna and impress
necessity Of reform And the rescue Of the
administration Of government from the
Which Sg Sn
certainty and pervade the public mind
with dread, distrust and per erturbation:
The ne, application Of these fundamental am ,aa
constitutes the first step toward the as
sored peace. safety and progress OF our
.eeDee OF The Of
the law Of all citizens; the right. Of trial
by Jury: freedom Of the person defended
personal contract untrammeled by stump.
tuary laws: the supremacy Of the civil
over military authority; well.disciplined
militia; the separation OF church and
taxes, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; the prompt and sacred fulhllment
to treaties; peace and friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none;
absolute acQufescence in the will Of the
these these ar are Doctrines a y Which democracy has
established as proverbs OF the nation.
and they should be constantly invoked.
preached. resorted to and enforced.
Controlling Expenses.
made in the annual expenditures OF the
government without impairing the eff
cheney OF any branch Of the public service,
and We shall insist upon the strictest
economy and frugality compatible with
vigorous and efficient civil. military and
naval standardization ~ right OF the
S:siR''' S:iaR. too clear 70 be denied or with
'9. The enforcement Of honesty in tho
legislative investisatson Of those execu-
tive departments OF the government al
ready known to teem with corruption, as
well as other departments suspected Of
harborinE corruption. and the punishment
sf ascertained corruptionists without fear
or favor or regard to persons. The per
senate and house Of representatives to
permit such investigation to be made by
other branch of congress demonstrates
that only by change in the executive
and in the house Of representatives can
1sction be obtained.
federal government ehould 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 sno honesty II the
from the occupant OF the White House
down to the lowest Of them, return. as
nearly as may BE- to Jsnersonian SIM
Dhcity of living.
Presidential Resomme dations.
20 We favor the nomination and elec-
tion of a president trained in the ways Of
the constitution, who shall set his face
sternly against executive usurpation of
Legislative and judicial functions, whether
that usurpation be- ruled under the guise
- executive construction Of existing
laws, or whether ii take refuge in the
tyrant's pleas Of necessity Of superior
wisdom.
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 eongressional favor. to
a
people This monstrous perversion Of
those equal opportunities which our po-
Ntlcal institutions were established to Sc
cure, has caused what may once have
been infant industries to become 1he
greatest combinations of capital that the
world has ever known. These publicly
methods been converted into monopolies,
thus bringing to an end domestic com
petition. which was the only check upon
the extfavagant profits made possible by
the protective system. These industrial
combinations, by the financial assistance
they can give now control the policy OF
1--WE favor a wise, conservative and
businesslike revision and a gradual re-
ductlon Of the tariff by the friends of the
masses and for the common veal, and
! not by the friends Of it's abuses, its ex-
tortione and its Determinations, keeping
In view the ultimate end Of equality Of
burdens and equality Of opportunities,
and the constitutional purpose of raising
q 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 wrongfully, mistakenly or un-
the cause Of tariff reform itself of abrupt
and revolutionary reversal OF policy.
I'VE should bear In mind, in short these
| two things: Q1 The general principle that
the sole derivation OF the power of tax
alton IL the support OF the federal gov
ernemnt. eeonomieally % effectively and tn
the equal truth that in the assertion of
any general principle and in reaching
any ultimate end, however sacred and
logically unavoidable, due regard, hut
only due regard, must and should be paid
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 a reasonable and just profit, by
! such reduction deprivng trusts anc mo.
| nopolies of the power to extort from Tho
! American people, under shelter of Amer.
| lean law, prices higher than those charged
| foreigners for identical articles.
The IsthmiNm Canal.
"Our party having long and earnestly
| advocated the construction of interoceanit
| canal for the purpose of national defense
and commerce between the states ant
| with foreign nations, we favor the early
! completion of the isthmian canal.
But while making this declaration ant
accepting the results as an accomplished
and irreversible fact. we can not. too
forcibly express our disapproval Of tn
| usages and obligations Of internationa