The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-11
SEATTLE, sATURDAT, JUNE IL.
THE kEPU BLICAN NATIONA
PLATFORM.

THE kEPU BLICAN NAAAONAA
PLATFORM.
The platform of the Republican party,
constructed and accepted by the national
convention ut Minneapolis. reafiirms the
American doctrine of protection; it de-
clares that call articles which can not be
produced in the United States, except lux
uries, should be admitted free of duty, and
that on all imports coming into COMPETE
ton with the products Of merican labor
there should be levied dutie, ,1ual to the
difference between the wages abroad and
Ut home" This was the platform of the
party in 1883, but the sincerity of the
party faith in this definition of protection
has since been assured in the enactment
of the Mckinley tariff, which places sugar
on the free list. The tariff resolution calls
attention to the fact that the prices of
manufactured articles of general con-
sumption have been reduced under the
operations Of the tariff act of 1890, and
dcnounces the efforts of the Democratic
majority of the House of Representatives
to destroy our tariff laws by piecemeai, as
Is manifested by attacks upon wool and
lead ores, the chief products of number
of states. This resolution will appeal
strongly to the people of Washington for
approval, as the congressional Democracy
have introduced bills to decrease the pres
ent protection on lumber, wool and hops,
three leading industries of this state. The
Republican party is congratulated upon
the success Of its policy of reciprocity,
under which our export trade has been
vastly increased and new and enlarged
markets have been opened for the products
of our farms and workshops.
On the subject of the coinage the party
demands 1.-THE use of both gold and silver
as standard money, with such restrictions
and under such provisions. to be deter
mined by legislation, as will secure the
maintenance Of parity of the values of the
two metals. SO that the purchasing and
debt-paying power of dollar, whether of
silver, gold or paper, shall be at all times
equal. The interests of the producers Of
the country, its farmers and workingmen,
demand that every dollar, paper or coin,
issued by the government, shall DO as good
rs any other. We commend the wise and
patriotic steps already taken by our gov
eminent to secure an international confer
ence to adopt such measures as will insure
parity of value between gold and silver for
nse as money throughout the world"
This resolution is in effect against the free
coinage of silver. as of course the only
way hat the parity of silver, gold or pa
per in respect to the purchasing and debt
paying power of dollar can be MAIN
tanned is through the ability of the gov
eminent TO pay gold dollar for silver
or paper dollar on demand of the holder.
The government is believed able to do this
today under the silver act Of July, 1890,
which issues treasury notes every dollar
OF which rests on one hundred cents worth
OF silver bullion. With limited silver
coinage and limited issue of paper we can
keep the silver. gold and paper dollar equal
as TO debt-paying and purchasing power.
but of course we could not do this
II we should have fat money, whether IN
shape of unlimited issues of paper or free
silver coinage of deprecated dollars, so
that that the coinage resolution can only
be made good in legislation by forbidding
free coinage of silver. The approval of
the International conference to adopt a
common ratio of value between gold and sill
yer for the commercial world is in itself a
confession of the fallacy of free silver
coinage undertaken by the United States
alone. Under this plank of the platform
there seems to be no reason why the Re-
publican party might not approve the
Recommendation of Senator John Sher-
man in his last great speech, in which con-
GLIDING he said that acting for itself, this
country should change the ratio between
gold and silver, and, making it accord
with the market ratio. throw the minis
open 70 the coinage of both metals. "
Sherman here declares. like the convention
for the bi-metallic policy, but thinks the
time has come 20 substitute thi:
plan for the present act OF 1890,
which he has come 10 regard
with great distrust. IL has disappointel
him in not Improving the price Of silver.
1t has become menace through rapid
increasing the silver issues with no in
crease in gold redemption fund. Even j
the governments silver could be sold, TIT
sale on s falling market would be only
adding misery 10 ruin" And the yer,
attempt 70 sell bonds to increase the gol,
fund would probably impair our credit
Under the breadth of the Republican
platform Sherman's plan could be enter
tanned and enacted. The Democrats o.
Minnesota and Missouri and some other
states have already Set up for silver pol
icy the very plan now favored by the sen
ator--a new legal ratio between the metals
10 accord with the market ratio. Tn
failure Of the Republican platform TO sps
ciflcaliy endorse the silver act 81 July
1890. and the breadth of its ooinage resoiu
ton implies that Senstor sherman's view
were not unknown 10 nor without inaa
ence upon the convention.
The resolution urging the importance Q
the Nicaragua cansl and fsvorlng It's con
troll by the United States government Wi
lie heartily approved by the people Of thu
Pacific states. as win the resolution favor
ins the eessioa Of the arid public lands 9
the states and territories IN which the.