Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-17

must impress the mind of any intelligent
voter here that his natural place ia with
the great army of progress represented by
the Republican party
1t SO happens that our Democratic
friends in Ohio have emphasized this fact
by taking as their candidate for Governor
IN nearly every case a man reared in the
Republican ranks.
But there is another way to test the Dem
ocratic party. They boast that they are
followers of the principles of Jeffersonian
Democracy, but the truth is that the cal
leaders and founders of the Democratic
! party were a comparatively few of the
! great men Of the revolution who were op-
posed to the adoption of the constitution of
the United States. Jefferson was absent
| in the heated atmosphere of the incipicnt
French revolution when the constitution
was framed, but his sympathies were all
against the new Government founded in
/ his absence. The real leaders were such
men as Patrick Henry and Samuel
Adams who had no faith in, and
/ openly and ardently opposed, the
/ new Government They honestly
! believed in confederacy of the
States, and were opposed to the formation
OF National Government with indie
! theories were engrafted into the creed of a
! party opposed to the constitution From
/ the beginning it has given a narrow con-
struction to the constitution and sought by
strict and iliiberal construction to cripple
the powers granted by it to the general
! Government The best act that Mr. Jeffer-
son carried into execution was the pur-
chase Of louisiana which he believed to
be unconstitutional and placed its adop-
ton upon the necessity of the case And
so ali through the history of the Demo-
cratic party it has been opposed, in theory
to the measures that made our country
great and powerful, and has only been use
full when it disre garded its theories Be-
cause OF this narrow construction they OBJ
structed the National growth by opposing
internal improvements, prevented us from
having National money, were opposed to a
wise disposition of the public lands. and at
the end of their power left our Govern
ment a cOnfederacy of States, weakened by
the doctrine OF secession and involved in
the war of the rebellion Instead of this.
under Republican rule, it has become Ma
tional republic. I believe the intelligent
men who hear me now appreciate the fact
that the United States of America could not
be in its present proud posi- lion if the Dem
ocratic construction of the constitution had
prevailed until this time, but these theories,
if carried out, would have led to a weaken
ing and dissolution of the Union and to the
success of the civil war.
The Republican party, on the other hand,
inheriting the principles of Washington,
Marshall Clay and Lincoln have given q
liberal construction to the powers of the
National Government, and have thus been
Id g.,
is now, powerful nation, commanding the
respect of the world, a model and example
for all nations looking to free institutions
as the strongest and safest basis of pros
perity Following out these ideas we have
secured the rapid settlement of our coun-
try over the fairest part of our continent
have diversified our industries by protec-
ton, have expanded a weak confederacy
OF thirteen States into republic of forty
two States, more closely united in SYM
pathy, feeling, pride of country and gener-
al prosperity than any nation in the world
And now, more than ever. that we have
grown so great. the full exercise of all the
powers of the National Government is alb
solutely necessary for the growth that
surely awaits US in the future Every new
invention, the wonderful development of
modern devices, such as railroads, tele-
graphs, telephones, electricity, gives occa-
sion for the exercise of all the powers con-
ferred by the constitution to keep us in the
vanguard of progress. If l were called
upon now to name the strongest single
reason in support of the Republican party,
1t would be the fact that we honest
ly believe in such construction of the
powers of the Government that we can
propose measures that the Democrat
ie party can not honestly do We
are able to adopt affirmative measures for
the continued growth and expansion of the
Republic. The Republican party must con-
tinue to be, as it has been in the past, an
affirmative, progressive party, meeting all
questions boldly as they arise, while the
Democratic party must continue to be, as
1t has been in the past, a negative party, a
hold-back party, without any definite
measures Of public policy, but purely a
party in opposition to measures essential
to our growth and prosperity proposed by
the Republican party. Therefore, believe
it is better for every man who chooses his
party upon broad principles of public pol
icy, to choose the Republican party rather
than the Democratic party.
And now, fellow-citizens. let us turn
from these general theories to the actual
present canvass. In National politics the
great question is whether the policy of
protecting and diversifying American in
dustry by our tariff laws shall
be sustained and supported by fur
Their legislation, or shall be aban-
doned to return TO the old policy of
Indifference or insufficient protection.
The Republican party is strongly commit
ted to the protective policy. The Demo-
cratic party is opposed to this policy with q
strong tendency towards free trade. We
believe that in levying duties on imported
goods, which is and must be the main |
source of National revenue, every article |
that can be readily made or produced
in this country should have the |
benefit of such duty on for |
eign productions competing with it |
as will induce their production or man. |
ufacture here. We believe that this |
should be impartially extended |
to all branches of industry, whether on |
the farm or in the workshop or in the |
mine; that this policy will add to our |
wealth, make us independent of other |
nations. give profitable employment to |
our own people and better wages to our /
men, and that this Is far more
important than to be able to purchase |
cheaper goods in foreign markets This |
issue was fairly met In the last campaign |
upon the message of President Cleveland,
and was decided in favor of the Republic
an policy by tho vote of nearly every North
ern State. But this policy is constantly as
sailed by the Democratic party, and will be
the chief subject of controversy in the next
Congress.
1 do not deny that there is a propriety in
= revision of the tariff laws Changes OF