The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-09
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated Press.)
st. Louis, July 1.-THE Committee
on Resolutions spent the entire day
until 5 o'clock in perfecting the de-
tails of the Democratic platform, con-
Guiding at that hour the adoption of
a gold standard plank. The plank
was voted in during the absence of Mr..
Bryan and Congressman Williams, and
the ballot stood Z to 3, the Affirmative
votes being cast by Daniel, Hill. Pat
tison, Hamlin. Gable, Poe and Davis,
and the negative votes by Gubers,
Shiveley and NeWlands.
The understanding was that if
Bryan and Williams had been present
they would have cast their votes in
the negative, thus bringing the oppo-
Sition vote to five.
PRINCIPLES OF THE PARTY.
AS agreed upon by the sub-commit-
tee the platform follows:
We, the delegates of the Democratic
party of the United States. in national
convention assembled, declare our de-
votion to the essential principles of
the Democratic faith which bring us
together in hearty communication.
Under them local government
and national unity and prosperity
were alike. established. They under
laid our Independence. the structure
of our free republic, and every Dem
ocratic extension from Louisiana to
California and Texas to Oregon
which preserves faithfully in all the
States the tie between taxation and
representation. They yet inspirit the
masses of our people guarding jeal-
ously their rights and liberties, and
cherishing their fraternity, peace and
orderly development. They remind
us OF our duties and responsibilities
VS. citizens and impress upon us, par
tlcularly at this time, the necessity of
reform, and the rescue of the admin
1Stratlon OF government from the
headStrong, arbitrary and spasmodic
methods which distract business by
uncertainty, and pervade the public
mind with dread, distrust and per-
turbation.
The application of these fundamen-
tai principles to the living issues of
the day constitutes the first step to-
ward the assured peace, safety and
progress of our nation. Freedom of
the press, Of conscience and of speech;
equality before the law of all citi-
zens; the right of trial by jury; free
dom of the person defended by the
writ of habeaS corpus; liberty of per-
Sonal contract untrammeled by Sump-
tuary laws, the supremacy of civil
over military authority: a we'll dis
ciplined militia; the separation OF
church and State: economy i'll eX-
penditureS: low taxes. that labor may
be lightly burdened: the prompt and
sacred fulfillment of public and
private obligations: fidelity to treaties;
peace and friendship with all ma
tons; 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 and they should be con-
stantly invoked, preached. resorted to
and enforced.
L. Large reductions can readily be
made in the annual expenditures of
the government without impairing the
efficiency of any branch of the public
service, and we shall insist upon the
strictest economy and frugality COM
patible with vigorous and efficient
civil, military and naval administra-
ton as right of the people, whether
to be denied or withheld
Honesty i'm Public Service.
2. The enforcement of honesty in
the public service and to that end
thorough legislative investigation of
lHoSe executive departments or the
government, already known to TEEN
with corruption, as we'll as other de-
partments suspected of harboring cor
ruption and the punishment of ascer-
tanned corruptionists without fear or
FAVOR or regard to persons. The per-
Slstent and deliberate refusal of both
the Senate and House of Representa-
yves 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 expo
sure. punishment and correction be
obtained.
In broader furtherance of that end
the Federal government should not
permit itself to be robbed by enter
ing into contracts with convicted
trusts or unlawful combinations in re-
Stfalnt 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, from
the occupant of the White House
down to the lowest of them, return
as nearly as may be. to Jeifersonian
simplicity of living.
.. we favor the nomination and
electlon OF president trained in the
ways of the CONSTITUTION, who shall
set ms face sternly against executive
usufpation of legislative and judicial
Iunctlons, whether usurpation be
ruled under the guise of executive
construction of existing laws, or
whether it take refuge in the tyrants