Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-11-03
THE POLICIES
OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
~ Gen. !. b. 0larkson, Of the National
Rep ublioan Conmittss.
(T1sn "Ths Independent" Of New YoIh,
Rant 90 1901

~ Gen. j. b. OlArkson, Of the National
Rep ublioan Conmittss.
tFssn "Ths Independent" Of New YolA.
sept. 20, 1881
In American politics there 10 the differ
enc between the upper and the under side.
The Democratic party is deeply imbedded
in its ) ut. Its policies are like moscow
cred slsvsstonss In an abandoned csms-
tory with The under side turned away from
the hight Of 6ay-barrsn memorials of the
hopes. pssjudicss and fears Of earlier gen.
ssatsnA Rspublicanism is widely diff.
fersnt 1t In enriched with the traditions
Of glorious past; but its life il in the pres
snt age Of growth and development, and its
hopes are fixed upon q future better than
nj! that has gone before. Its policies are
not skeletons Of by-gone theories exciting
Spurely scientific curiosity as studies OF
arrested development. In q workaday
word they are principles of organized life
and impulses OF creative energy.
If the Republican party were content
like the Democratic, to live ON reminiscent
ces of its past achievements, it would have
unfailing resources in the heroic period
to III Ike an end of slavery in free country
But it is not satisfied with the pleasures of
memory. Its working power has been
steadily developed by wholesome exercise
and its mission has been to create, not to
destroy and resist. II cannot remain idle
and stagnant. Whenever there is anything
20 ba done in public affairs the Republican
party must do it while the Democratic
party is tagging behind to hinder and re-
.ard the work. As sooA as the Democrats
have an interval Of power they strive to
undo what the Republican party has DONE
but do not always know how. Not motive
however, but capacity is lacking.
The records Of the Fifty first and Fifty
lecond congress offer striking contrast be-
tween Republican action and Democratic
incompetency. In the Republican con.
sress there was a very narrow majority
with powerful minority, bent upon par
alyzing all legislative energies; but it was a
working body with the courage necessary
to stamp out obstruction. After vindicat-
ing the American principle of majority rule
1t left in tho statute books record of Iegis-
lative industry unparalleled since the Civil
war. In the Present Democratic house
there is an overw he lminI ma ority; but it
has shown that it can neither legislate, nor
redeem party pledges, nor prevent star
ling increase OF priations nor con-
Cuct bushes. wit decency and order. As
Il legislative mob it has not been without
Distinction; but i'll other directionsit has
been a complete failure. Bound hand and
foot by its own rules, it was hopeless, in
ert mass, Its promises made to the people
were mono OF tn Ii carried out in positive
legislation. With this we ought not, how
ever, to quarrel; for the best thing that can
Iva OF nay,,n rtxv x-st
destructive policies, is that whenever it has
q chance to do the work of q Republican
congress it can do nothing but smonstrsts
It's incapaclty. ..a-,-
The record of the Flfty-frst congress en-
bodies the policies of the Republican party
rs it exists to-day. Mr.. Reed who, al
speaker led that congress- said. with char
fore declaring thshouse adjourned:
mo man ever received more ungrudging
bnd untilnching support from q band Of
men more unselhsh and more patriotic. I
Am. prepared to acknowledge in all that
has been done l have been Tut one in
The multitude, and that the honors OF
the tiity-frst Congress belong to you
alone"
The legislation Of that congress, with the
exception of tho reform of the rules, which
was peculiarly Mr.. Reeds, was not the
work of any group of leaders, but OF q
united party. The Democratic party had
controlled the administration Tor four
years and the house Tor six years. Legis-
lation was in arrears, and the work OF
great task the Republicans faced, and, so
Ear as possible, accomplished.
Chief among the Republican policies
then enacted into law was the revision OF
the protective system in detail and in en-
frety. The tariffs established during the
s'orm and stress of the civil war had been
partially rcadjusted to altered conditions
revision was demanded. After thirty years
Of material progress and vast diversihcation
OF industries this was an undertaking OF
great magnitude and many difficulties.
The party was pledged to reduce the sur
plus revenues and to relieve the people
from unnecessary taxation without inter-
ruptins the beneficsnt operation OF the pro-
pick and difficult work; but SO
successfully was it accomplished that every
important forecast o. the committee report.
ing the new tariff had been confirmed by
The revenue returns and trade statistics of
The last two years. Heavy burdens Of
ssvenus taxation having no protective
motive hnys been removed. The surplus
annual income Of the government ha. been
suit of without disturbing any industrial
interest. An enormous volume has been
sSdsd to foreign trade, both In exports aud
imports and tho protective system, - q
whole, has been rendered more comprs-
hensivs in scope, more symm etrical In de-
Ngn and II ore practical in operation than
1t has ever been before. The tariff act of
1880 has its defects, for no great MEASURE of
chat Kind can be perfect; but in its opera
lions II has succeeded ar beyond the ex-
Esctali cns G! its friends and has signally
fonfutea all the false prophecies Of its Toes.
The continuance OF system, which has
promoted the establishment OF industries
VI tbs widest possible range and which
guards the wages OF the most prosperous
working class in the world, is the most i'm
postsnt Republican policy. 1t has ceased
- De either a producers or . consumers
question. 1t touches every man who earns
his living. If the preference is to be given
through tres or less restricted importations
to European or American labor then
Am erican labor will have less to do and
will get less money for it. Protection il
practical question OF well being for the
rewards of labor in nearly all forms of In
duttry involve necessarily higher cost Of
production in the United States than in
Europe. In order to maintain the existing
ievs! of wages and at the Same time to pre-
serve our diversified forms of oc-
cupation 1t is necessary 10 Offset the
conditions Of European competition.
which the tariff was revised.
Sons duties were raised and others
were lowered, and specific and ad valorem
duties were intercharged with view to
e9ualizing the difference between the cost
OF labor at home and abroad. The meth
DDS OF adjustment differed, but there was
common aim.
s,o tolk ~ I'D, 49,
81 ard social conditions now existing in the
United States. Protection has been for
ong period the foundation OF the invest
ment OF capital and the value of labor. II
is no longer profitable to consider whether
.esults equal or in erior in magnitude could
have been accomplished under free trade.
That is an abstract speculation which does
not concern practical men. They have to
1eal with facts as they now find them. With
he protective tariff as foundation and
defense, an industrial system OF unexam-
pied magnitude and variety has been estab-
ished. All the conditions of capital, bust
ness and commerce are now adjusted to 1t.
a nation of workers has become accustomed
10 being we'll paid and to living with de-
Is not ettainable in Europe. Republican |
policy aims to strengthcn and perpetlate this |
system by which thriving working pc ula- |
Ton is employ ed and hundreds of millions |
Of American capital are prohtably invested
Democratic free traders propose to knock |
cut the foundations and to bring down
his walls upon the heads of investors and |
workers alike. Republican policy aims at |
The protection and support OF all the forces |
which have tended TO create and develop |
industrial America. Democratic policy j. |
= ieveling process which will work in the |
interest OF foreign countries with cheaper |
abor; it is q destructive force menacing the |
stability Of immense masses of invested |
capital; it marks t e beginning of the end |
ot a social revolution by which tho earn |
ngs end conditions Of labor in Europe and |
Americx will be eQualized.
The tariff work otthe Republican congress
"a, essentially constructive. The foundations |
If the protective system were lot disturbed, |
3ut Strengthened within and without |
Wherever 1t was found that there was un-
1us weight and needless completely there
vas a readjustment Of balances by tariff re-
auctions. Rates were increased solely with |
The intention of correcting errors or in |
squalities, or, wherever il was practicable |
Of improving the quality of home manu- |
seizures and thereby in creasing the earnings
Of skilled labor. New industries were Gre |
Ated and ENCOURAGED nv convart;n1 tn. Il