The Tupelo journal., 1904-06-24

Parker delegation to the Natlonal
Democratic Convention which meets
in st. Louis early next month. The
delegates are pledged to work for his
nomination by the party, and can alb
solve themselves from these instruc-
tions only by a two-thirds vote of the
entire delegation.
The convention proved to be the
most notable gathering in Mississippi
history for several years, delegates
being present from every county In
the State. All the big and brainy men
of Mississippi were there, and most OF
them made ringing Democratic
speeches when called upon by friends
and admirers among the delegations
composing the convention. In short,
the meeting proved to be an old-time
Democratic love feast, II the work
of the body flowed as smoothly n
quietly as the waters on the bosom
of a placid river. No hitch occurred
at any time in the proceedings OF the
convention.
The platform deals particularly with
national issues, and was written by
that matchless leader and idol OF Mis-
sissippi Dem0cracy-John Sharp Will
liams. of YaZC0-and it proclaims in
words which cannot be misunderstood
the principles of Mississippi Democ-
racy in the coming campaign. The
-I.+fo,1, u-ac rood in a n1par and dis
tinct voice by Mr.. Williams himself,
and was adopted unanimously. 1t is
as follows:
The Platform.
The Democracy OF Mississippi, in
convention assembled, renews and en-
phasiZes its repeated expressions OF
confidence in the Democracy OF the
country and the expression OF its firm
belief that those fundamental prln-
ciples of republican government, as
expressed and eXemplified by Thomas
Jefferson, in contradistinctlon TO the
governmental principles espoused and
adopted by Alexander Hamilton and
by the Federalist party, which ne ere.
ated and dominated, lie at the oasis OIL
all good government. In the appllca-
ton of these principles to present
conditions. the Democracy OF Mlssls'
sissippi favors:
First-Economy in Federal admins
tration. and to that end cutting of all
u-nnecessary and imperialistic eX-
renditures. the former as soon as
possible after our access to power
and the latter gradually, but surely
and safely. Government has no indie
nendent source of revenue n every
dollar unnecessarily and unjustly
spent is a dollar wrung by taxation
from the citizens and is, moreover, a
dollar DETECTED from use in some bet
ter way,
Second-The enforcement of hon
Csty in public service, and to that END
a thorough legislative investigation OF
those executive departments OF the
government already known TO TEEN
with corruption, as well as other de-
partments suspected of harborlng cor
ruption, and the punishment OF ascer-
tanned corruptionists without fear Oh
favor or regard 10 persons. In broader
furtherance of that end the Federal gov
eminent should not enter into con-
tract with trusts or unlawful comDlna-
lions in restraint of interstate trade
and in violation of law. We belleve
that one of the best methods OF pro-
curing enocomy and honesty in pub
lie service is to have public officials,
from the occupant of the White House
to the lowest of them, return, as near
lv as may be. to Jeffersonian sim
pIicity of living. A Democratic presl-
dent will so set that fashion.
Third-We favor the nomination
and election of a president trained
to the ways of the Constitution, who
shall set his face sternly against ex-
ecutive usurpation of legislative and
judicial functions. whether that usur-
nation be yelled under the guise Of ex-
e~cutive construction of existing laws or
whether it take refuge in the tyrant's
pleas of necessity and superior wis
dom.
Fourth-A wise, conservative and
business-like revision and reduction
of he tariff by the friends of the
masses and common veal and not by
the friends of its abuses, its extor-
tions and it's discriminations; keep
ing in view the ultimate end OF equal
ity of burdens and equalities OF op-
portunities and the constitutional pur-
poses of raising a revenue by taxa
ton; and keeping also in view, as
men of common sense should, existing
conditions, however wrongfully
brought about, and the danger to
cause itself too sudden and rev
~lutionary a reversal of policy.
We should bear in mind. in short,
these two things: First, the general
principle that the sole right deriva-
ton of the power of taxation is the
SUPPORT of the Federal government,
economically, effectively and constltu-
tionally administered, and, second, by
the equal truth. that in he assertion
of any general principle and in reach
ing any ultimate end, however sacred
and logically unavoidable, due regard,
but onlv due regard, must and should
he paid to the actual existing condi-
lions. however mistaken, artificia8ly
or unjustly created.
Fifth-The reduction of tariff taxa
ton upon trust-produced articles to
the point where foreign competition
NAV enter the American market,
wherever trusts and combines seeking
monopoly raise their prices to the
American consumer above a reason
able and just profit, by such u
ton depriving trusts and monopolles
of the power to extort from the Amer
lean people, under shelter OF American
law. prices higher than those charged
foreigners for identical articles.
Sixth-The restoration. as far as
possible. under prestige OF the Democ'
racy-the historic and ever-existing
marty of America-of the foreign
roodo cacred m the American