The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1906-06-16
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the State Convention last
Week.

Week.
The Democrats of Missouri, in con-
vention assembled, hereby renew
their faith in the immortal, immuta-
bic principles of Thomas Jefferson.
Founded as they are upon high con-
ceptiOns of human justice and ex-
pressing as they do the rights OF
<freemen, the perpetuity of the re-
public depends upon their malnte-
nance. Breathe their spirit into the
laws of the state and nation and you
have a government which safeguards
the rights Of every man, be his sta
ton high or low. Depart from their
sacred teachings and you create eth
er a n oligarchy of the few or a cha
otic condition where respect for law
Isl banished and the mob rules.
II DANGER FROM WEALTH.
The American people are con-
fronted to-day by their spectre
which often disturbed the medita-
lions of the fathers of the republic
the fear of inordinate, lawless, sell
fish wealth rather than foreign foes.
To promote the accumulation of hon
est wealth is one of the chief objects
of sane political organizations-to
prevent the accumulation of inordi-
nate wealth by dishonest and law de-
fying methods is to-day one of the
grave duties which devolve on the
Democratic party
We find ourselves face to face with
two forces, either of which, If left
TO itself, will drive the nation upon
the shoals of destruction. On the
one hand are those who violate
every principle of fair play among
men and trample upon the law in
their mad struggle for the dollar; on
the other hand are those who, smart
ing under the gross inequalities Of
the time, would appeal to force, rath-
er than to reason and the laws OF the
land. In this great emergency it is
the duty of the Democratic party to
interpose itself between these forces
and to saw to the so-called captains
of industry that they must accumu-
late honestly or be sent to the peni-
Tertiary and to men who would Aaunt
+he red fac that thew mnst appeal &c
4 the law, not to the club or torch, OF
suffer the consequences.
THE ANTI.PRoTECTION PLANK.
OF the innumerable political iniqui'
ties visited upon the people by the
Republican party, we hold that the
most intolerable is the protective
tariff. AS far back as 1916 all partie:
had practically agreed that the tariff
then known as the American system
had accomplished its purpose anc
that the erstwhile infant industrie:
were able to hold their own in the
markets of the worlds commerce
AS a result the protective feature OF
all duties were practically abrogated
A little later, however, the clouds o.
Civil war settled upon the nation
and, under the pretext of raising
funds for the Federal cause, specia
interests, ever watchful, saw .thei
opportunity and fastened this sys
TEN upon the people, and there thu
Republican party has not only KEEP
it, but has continually added to it
enormity.
Insisting that the American manu-
f%acturer still needs protectio
against the cheaper labor of Europe
1t has enabled them first, to rails
the prices on American manutactul
ed goods to the American consumer
and then to invade foreign market
and undersell this so-called foreig
pauper in his w markets. Pretend
ing to protect American labor the
have encouraged the immigration il
to this country of cheap foreig
labor, and thus the greatest menac
to the American laboring man of t
day is not the foreign pauper in FL
rope but the foreign pauper in tn
United States. On the II han,
the Republican party demands til
open door in other nations. while, c
the other hand, it maintains a wa
of commercial prohibition around ii
United States.
FEAR EUROPEAN BOYCOTT.
Despairing of sane and just reciprC
ity with our nation. the nations
Europe are gradually coming toget
err upon a retaliatory policy, and, Il
less some concessions are made
the near future, the American pc
pie will find themselves confrontt
with a world boycott against IL
staples of American commerce.
While such a blow will be directC
mainly against the great surplus pr
ducts of American agriculture,
will also be injurious to other indu
tries, and if European statesmen a
persistent in their newly formed pc
CIV, the result will be most dis5
trous to u country.
Under this tariff policy, supp
mented by our navigation laws, o
merchant marine has been driv.
from the high seas and to-day t
only American flag seen in foreis
ports floats from American bait.
ships. We would not remove it frC
the battleships, but W. would tie
TO the mastheads of merchant shil
loaded with the surplus products
farm and factory, and supply t
markets of the world.
THE DINGLEY ACT FOSTERS TRUST
The Dingley act fosters the tru
which wakes fat beneath its shelt'
ing care and enables it to take t
American consumer by the thro
and rob him to its hearts confer
Again, a tax which is levied up
what men consume is vicious,
cause it takes no account OF thu
ability, and therefore does not belo
to the enlightened age in which
live. The Democracy OF Missouri
-. a. 4,,if o,tactiOn ~ thp ore.