Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-06-15
THE PLATFORM.
Declaration of Principles of the National
Republican Convention.


pi River, the everlasting bond Of an indie
stu table republic, whose most glorious
chapter of history is the record of the Re-
publican party, congratulate their COun-
trymen on the majestic march of the ma
tiOn. under the banners incribed with the
principles of our platform of 1885, vlndl-
Gated by victory at the polls and prosper
lty in our helGS, workshops and mines, and
make the following declaration Of prin
cipleS:
We reaffirm the American doctrine of
protection. We call attention to its growth
abroad. We maintain that the prosperous
condition of our country is largely due to
the wise revenue legislation of the Repub-
ican Congress.
We believe that all articles which cannot
be produced in the United Estates, except
luXurles; should be admitted free Of duty,
and that on all imports coming in COMPETE
ton with the products OF American labor,
there should be levied duties equal to the
difference between wages abroad and at
home.
We assert that the prices of manufact-
ured articles OF general consumption nave
tariff act of 1890.
We denounce the efforts of the Demo
cratic majority of the House OF Representa-
tives to destroy our tariff laws by piece
meal, as manifested by their attacks upon
wool, lead, and lead ores, the chief prod
people for their judgment thereon.
We point to the success Of the Republi-
can policy Of reciprocity, under which our
export trade has vastly increased and new.
and enlarged markets have been opened
for the products of our farms and work
shops.
We remind the people of the bitter oppo-
sition Of the Democratic party to this praC
tlcal business measure, and claim that, eX-
ecuted by a Republican administration,
our present laws will eventually give us
control OF the trade of the world.
The American people, from tradition
and interest, favor bi-metalliSm, and the
Republican party demands the use OF both
gold and silver as standard money, with
such restrictions and under such prOVlS-
ions, to be determined by legislation,
as Will secure the maintenance of the par
ity Of values OF the two metals, so that the
purchasing and debt-paylng power Of the
dollar, whether silver; gold or paper. shall
be at all times equal The interests of the
producers of the country, its farmers and
it's wOrkmen, demand that every dollar,
paper or coin, issued by the government,
shall be as good as any other.
We commend the wise and patriotic
steps already taken by our government to
secure an international conference, TO
adopt such measures as will insure par
ity of value between gold and silver for
use as money throughout the world.
We demand that every citizen Of the
United States shall be allowed to cast one
free and unrestricted ballot in all public
elections, and that such ballot shall be
counted and returned as cast that such
laws shall be enacted and enforced as will
secure TO every citizen, be he rich or poor,
native or foreign born, white or black,
this sovereign right guaranteed by the
constitution. The free and honest popular
ballot, the just and equal representation
of all the people, as we'll as their Just and
equal protection under the laws, are the
foundation Of orr republican institutions,
and the party will never relent It's efforts
until the integrity of the ballot and the
purity of elections shall be fully guaran-
teed and protected IN every state.
We denOunce the continued inhuman
outrageS perpetrated upon American citi-
zens for political reasons IN certain South
ern states of the Union.
owe favor the extension of our foreign
commerce, the restoration of our mercan-
tile marine by home-built ships, and the
creation Of navy for the protection of our
national interests and the honor Of our
flag; the maintenance Of the most friendly
relations with all foreign powers; entang-
ling alliances with none, and the prOtec-
ton Of the rights of our fishermen.
We re-atflrm our approval Of the Monroe
doctrine and believe in the achievement of
the manifest destiny of the republic in its
DrOadeSt sense.
w u ldFOr Inc ondCIInCnC Oh more SCrln-
gent laws and relations for the restriction
of criminal, pauper and contract immigra-
ton.
We favor efficient legislation by Con-
greSS to protect the life and limb of en-
plOyeS Of transportation companies en-
gagged in carrying on interstate commerce,
and recommend legislation by the respec-
tive states that will protect employees en-
gagged in state commerce, in mining and
manufacturing.
The Republican party has always been
the champion of the oppressed, and recog-
nlzeS the dignity OF manhood. irrespective
OF faith, color or nationality; it Sympa-
thizes with the cause of home rule In IIe-
land, and protests against the persecution
OF the Jews in Russia.
The ultimate reliance of free popular
government is the intelligence Of the peo-
pie, and the maintenance Of freedom
among men. We therefore declare anew
our devotion to liberty Of thought and con-
science, OF speech and press, and approve
all agencies and lnStrumentalitieS which
contribute to the education of the children
of the land; put while insisting upon the
fullest measure Of religious liberty, we are
opposed to any union Of church and state
We reaffirm our opposition, declared in
the Republican platform of 1885, to all
combinations OF capital organized in trusts
or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the con.
dition of trade among our citizens.
we heartily endorse the action already
taken upon this subject and ask for such
further legislation as may be required to
remedy any detects in existing laws and
to render their enforcement more complete
and etfecuve.
We approve the policy of extending TO
towns villages and rural communities the
advantages o. the free delivery service,
now enjoyed by the larger cities of the
country, and 1eatfirm the declaration con-
tanned IN the Republican platform of 1888,
pledging the reduction OF letter postage to
one cent at the earliest possible moment
consistent with the maintenance of the
POSt-otfice Department and the highest
class Of postal service.
We commend the spirit and evidence of
reform in the civil service. and the wise
and consistent enforcement by the Repub-
Ican party OF the laws regulating the
same.
The construction of the Nicaraguan
Canal IS OF the highest importance to the
American people, both as measure of ma
tional defense and to build up and main
tain American commerce, and it should
be controlled by the United States govern
ment.
We favor the admission Of the remaining
territories at the earliest practicable date,
having due regard to the interests of the