Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-25
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM
New York Tribune.

The Convention has put Mr.. Blaine into
its platform, whatever candidates it may
nominate. The principles for which he
stands, the ideas which make him strong
with the Nation, make this grand platform
lasting memento Of his brave spirit and wise
leadership. There is no timid tenderness
here for the men who want Free Trade while
they posture as purists and platltudlnize
about reform of the Civil Service. The
main issue, Protection or Free Trade, is met
with the courage Of men who know
that their principles have made the
growth and prosperity of the country great
beyond all precedent and who believe that
American voters can be trusted to defend
American interests. The explicit declaration
against the Mills bill, and against free trade
III wool, let it be noted by Congressman who
hesitate. was adopted unanimously, without
word of dissent or debate, in convention
which represents the Republicans of every
State and Territory, and which all observers
admit, is in peculiar degree a deliberative
body. The issue which Mr.. Clevelands con-
vention made with candor the Republican
party meets without the slightest hesitation or
evasion. 1t wisely adds the assurance that if
power is entrusted to Republicans all needed
reduction of the National revenue will be eff
fected by repeating internal taxes upon to-
bacco and upon spirits used in the arts, by
more effective protection of Industries now
exposed to excessive foreign competition, by
repeal of duties upon foreign articles which
cannot be produced in this country, and If
there is still occasion. by the repeal of all in
ternal taxes. That is precisely the solution
which would be adopted in Congress at once,
by the union of many Democratic and Re-
publican members, but for the usurped die
tatorship of the President and the Speaker
which deprives Democrats of freedom to
serve constituents.
Boston journal.
The resolution upon the tariff takes up
unequivocally the challenge of the Cleveland
administration It declares for the mainte-
nance of the protective system; affirms that
its temporary abandonment has always been
| attended with disaster to all interests except
| those of the usurer and the sheriff, and de-
nounces the Mills bill in general and the free
wool proposition in particular. The plat
FORM however, recognizes the necessity of
reducing the national revenue, and marks
out "a definite policy to this end, comprising,
first, the repeal of the tax upon tobacco, as
ian annoyance and burden to agri-
culture; secondly, the removal of
the tax upon spirits used in the arts
and for mechanical purposes; and, thirdly,
such revision of the tariff as will tend to
check imports of such articles as are pro-
duced by our people, and will free from
duties such articles of foreign production,
except luxuries, as cannot be produced at
home. If the revenues are still excessive,
the platform declares the entire repeal of
internal taxes to be preferable to the sur
render of, and part of the protective system
4
nounced Americanism which will commend
them to the approval of the people. The
idea underlying them is that viglant care
over American interests, and the protection
of American industry.
Portland Press.
The platform adopted by the Republican
National convention is very clear and
straightforward expression of the party S
views on the pressing questions of the day
There is no ambiguity about it and no strait
ding. The key note of the campaign is
struck in the resolutions declaring in favor
of protection TO American in lustry, and de-
uouncing the Mills bill as a step in the di-
rection of free trade. Nothing could be
stronger than this committal of the Republi
can party to the work of preserving Ameri-
can markets for Americans and guarding the
laUoElliR against tut CompttltiOH
of the underpaid labor of Europe. On this
point the platform is virtually the opposite
of the Democratic platform. The latter
aims at tariff for revenue only, tariff in
which the protective principle shall be ig-
nored. 1t would reduce the surplus by plac-
ing on the free list such articles of produc-
tion in this country as wood, lumber and
salt, exposing the capital and labor embarked
in them TO the killing competition of foreign
ers. The Democratic plan would paralyze
great industries from which thousands and tens
of thousands of American citizens derive
their livelihood The Republican plan is to
save these industries and reduce the surplus
by cutting down the internal revenue taxes
and putting on the free list such articles
are not produced, or produced very sparing-
ly, in this country. In short, the Republic
can tariff plank is framed in the interest of
American capital and labor; the Democratic
in the interest of European capital and labor
The former seeks to keep the. American
market, the best in the world, for Americans;
the latter seeks to open it to foreigners. 1t
will be for the American people to choose
between these two plans in the coming cam
paigu