The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-22

for the construction Of coast fortifcation,
modern ordnance and other approved
modern means Of defence, for the protection
Of our defenceless harb0rs and cities, for
she payment Of Just pensions TO our soldiers,
I0r necessary works OF national Importance
In the Improvement OF the harbOrs and
channels OF internal, cOastwise and foreign
commerce, Tor encouragement Of the ship
ping interest OF the Atlantic, Gulf
and Pacific States, as well az for
the payment OF the maturing public debt.
This policy will give employment to our la
Dor, activity TO various industries, increase
the security OF our country, promote trade
open new and direct markets for our produce
and cheaper the cost Of transportation. We
affirm this TO be far better Tor the country
than the Democratic policy Of loaning the
governments ve money without interest, to
The. The conducting Of foreign affairs by the
gulshed by its inefhcieney and It's cow
ardiee. Having withdrawn from the Senate
all pending treaties effected bya Republican
administration Tor the removal Of foreign
burdens and restrictions upon our commerce.
and for Its extension into better markets, 1t
mas neither effected nor proposed any others
In their stead. Protesting adherence 10 the
Monroe doctrine, 1t has seen with idle com
Piaceency, the extension Of foreign influence
IN central America, and Of foreign trade
everywhere among our Leighbors. IL has
refused 10 charter. sanction or encourage any
American organization for the Construction
OF the Nicaragua Canal, work Of vital inn
Rsai RRoasaince 70 tne maintenance Of the Monroe
doctrine and Of our national influence In
central and South America, and necessary
Ior the development Of trade with our Pacific
territory, with South America and with the
Islands and further coasts Of the Pacific
We arraign the present Democratic admin
istration for its weak and unpatriotie treat
ment OF the fisheries question aud its pusil-
luminous surrender OF the essential privi-
leges to which our fishing vessels are enti-
tied In Canadian ports under the treaty of
1873, the reciprocal maritime legislation OF
1880, and the comfy Of nations, and which
Canadian hshing vessels receive Of the Unit
ed states. we. condemn the policy Of the
cratic majority In Congress towards
our nsheries, as unfriendly and conspicuous
ly unpatri0tic and as tending TO DESTROY a
valuable national industry and an Indispen-
slDle resource OF defence against a foreign
enemy. The name Of American applies
alike TO all the citizens Of the republic and
imposes upon all alike the same Obligation
OF obedience to the laws. At the same time
that citizenship Is and must be the panOply
anu safeguard Oh him who wears IL and pro-
tect him, whether high or low, rich or poor.
In ala his civil rights IL should, and must, az
lord him protection at home and follow and
protect him abroad, In whatever land he NAV
be on any lawful errand.
t ~ =. men a VINO aoahuOned the Republican
party In 1884, and continue 10 adhere 10 the
democratic party, have deserted, not only
the cause OF honest government. Of sound r.
nance, OF the freedom and purity Of the bal
10y but especially have. deserted the cause Of
reform In the civil service We will NOT fail
TO keep our pledges because they have
broken, theirs or because their candidate
has broken his. We, therefore. repeat our
declaration OF 1884, to wit, that the reform Of
the elvil service auspleiousiy begun under
a Republican administration should be com
pletely by the further extension Of the re-
form system already established by law 10
an grades OF the service to which 10 Is ap-
PEeable. The spirit and purposelof reform
should DC observed In all executive appoint
ments and all laws at variance with the OBJ
Ject OF existing reform legislation should be
repeated, to the end that the dangers 10 free
institutions which lurk In the power OF ofic-
lal patronage may be wisely and effectively
The gratitude Of the nation to the de-
lenders Of the Union cannot be measured by
laws The legislation OF Congress shOuld
conform to the pledge made by loyal people
ana De 50 enlarged and extended as to pro-
VIDE against the possibility that any man
VINO honorably wore the Federal uniform
shall become the inmate OF an almshouse or
dependent upon private charity. In the
presence OF an Overtlowing treasury. II
Would pe public scandal TO do less for
those whose valorous service preserved the
government. We denounce the hostile
spirit shown by President Cleveland in his
numerous vet0es Of measures for pension
Tellef, and the action Of the Democratic
House OF Representatives in refusing even
the consideration OF general pension ieeisla-
tion.
In support Of the principles herewith
enumerated, we invite the cooperation Of
patriotic men Of all parties and especially OF
the workingmen whose prosperity Is serious
ly threatened by the free trade policy OF the
present administration.
When the protection plank was read every
member Of the convention rose to his feet.
Handkerchiefs and hats were thrown into
the air. and the cheering and shouting lasted
a number Of minutes The demonstrations
broke out afresh when the denunciation Of
the Mills bill was reached.
The platform as read was adopted unanl-
mously by the convention by rising vote.