The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-29
THE PLATFORM.
The Declaration of Principles of the
Republican Party.


form adopted by the Republican party at
the National Convention in Minneapolis
The representatives Of the Republicans
of the United States, assembled IN general
convention on the shores of the Mississippi
River. the everlasting bond OF an indestruc'
tible Republic. whose most glorious chapter
Of history is the record Of the Republican
party, congratulate their countrymen on the
majestic march of the Nation under
the banners inscribed with the prin.
cip.es Of our platform Of 1888, vindicated oy
victory at the polls and prosperity IN our
fields, workshops and mines, and make the
following declaration Of principles:
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 Repuoiican
Congress. ,.,
We believe that all articles which cannos
be produced in the United States, except
!uxuries. should be admitted free OF duty.
and that on all imports coming into compe'
tition with the products Of American LABOR
there should be levied duties equal to the dlt-
florence between wages abroad and at nome.
1--WE assert that the prices Of manufac.
tured articles of general consumption have
been reduced under the operations OF the
tariff act Of 1899. ~,
We denounce the efforts of the Demo-
cratic majority Of the House Of Representa-
tives to destroy our tariff laws plecemeai,
as is manifested by their attacks upon wool,
lead and lead ores, the chief products OF a
number Of States, and we ask the people
for their judgment thereon. =, Witt.
We point to the success OF the Repubn
can policy of reciprocity, under which our
export trade has vastly increased and new
and enlarged markets have been opened Tor
the products of our farms and workshops.
We remind the people Of the bitter op-
position of the Democratic party to TINS
practical business measure, and n.tian claim tnas
executed by Republican administrator
our preselit laws will eventually give us con-
troll Of the trade Of the world.
The American people, from tradition and
interest, favor bi-metallism, and the Repuo.
Iican party demands the use of both gold
and silver as standard money, with such re-
strictious and under such provisions, TO Do
determined by legislation, as will secure
the maintenance Of the parity OF values OF
the two metals, 80 that the purchasing ano
debt-paying power Of the dollar, whether OF
silver cold or paper shall be at all times
equal. The interests Of the producers OF
the country, its farmers and its worklngmen
demand that every dollar, paper or coin, Is
sued by the Government, shall be as good as
any other. .;.
steps already taken by our Government to
secure an international conference, to adopG
such measures as will insure parity OF
value between gold and silver for use as
money throughout the world.
We demand that every citizen OF tho
Tinted 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 Con-
stitution.
The free and honest popular ballot, the
lust and equal representation OF all the peo-
Die, as we'll as their just and equal protec.
tion under the laws, are the foundation or
our republican institutions, and the party
will never relent its efforts until the integri-
ty of the ballot and the purity OF eectlons
shall be fully guaranteed and protected In
every State.
outrages perpetrated upon American citi-
1ens for political reasons in certain Southern
States OF the Union.
We favor the extension Of our foreign
commerce, the restoration OF our mercantile
marine by home built ships and the creation
of a navy for the protection of our National
interests and tine honor of our dag; the
maintenance Of the most friendly relations
with all foreign powers, entangllny alliances
with none and the protection OF the rights OF
our fishermen.
We reafirm our approval OF the Monroe
doctrine and believe in the achievement OF
the manifest destiny Of the Republic in its
broadest sense.
We favor the enactment of mora strin-
gent laws for the restriction Of criminal,
pauper and contract immigration.
We favor efficient legislation by Con-
eress to protect the life and limos OF en-
ployes Of transportation companies en-
gagged in carrying on Interstate commerce,
and recommend legislation by the respective
States that will protect employees engaged
in State commerce, ia mining and manutac-
turing.
The Republican party has always besn
the cham pion Of the oppressed. and re-
cognizes the dignity Of manhood, irrespec-
tive OF faith, color or nationality: it sym
pathlzes with the cause of home rule in Ire
land. and protests against the persecution
Of the Jews in Russia.
The ultimate reliance Of free popular
government is the intelligence of the people,
and the maintenance Of freedom among men.
We therefore declare anew our devotion to
liberty of thought and conscience, OF speech
and press, and approve all agencies and In
strumentalities which contribute to the edu'
cation Of the children Of the land; but, while
insisting upon the fullest measure OF religious
liberty, we are opposed to any union OF
Church and State.
We reafirm our opposition. declared in
the Republican platform OF 1883, to all COM
binations of capital organized in trusts or
otherwise to control arbitrarily the condl-
ton Of trade among our citizens.
We heartily indorss the action already
taken upon this subject and ask for such
fur ther legislation rs may be required to
remedy any defects in existing laws and to
render their enforcement more complete ana
effective.
We approve the policy of extending to
towns villages and rural communitles tne
advantages Of the free delivery sevrlce now
enioyed by the larger cities Of the country,
reafirm the declaration contained in the
Republican platform Of 1858, pledging the
reduction of letter postage to one cent at the
earliest possible moment consistent with the
maintenance of the Postoffice 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 Republican
party of the laws regulating the same.
The construction of the Nicaragua Canal
is of the highest Importance to ths Ameri-
can people, but as a measure of National de-
fence and TO build up and maintain Amerl-
can commerce it should be controlled by the
United States Government.
We favor the admission of the remaining
Territories at the earliest practical date, haV-
ing due regard to the interests of the people
of the Territories and Of the United States.
All the Federal officers appointed for the
Territories should be selected from bona tide
residents thereof, and the right of self-gov-
ernment should be accorded as far as practi-
cable.