The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-27
THE 70 ClEs
or THl
REPUBLICAN, PARTY.
~ 0es. J. .. ClARkssa, 81 the Naslon,
Republics CoMmttaee.
lJrom "Ths Independent" Of New York,
IA aank 20. 1907

~ 0OOs Os - fN1oI1ooOS 81 t0O 1ot1000l
RsDablissA Connittee.
From 'Ths Independent" Of New York,
81. Sept. 20, 1902.
In American politics there il the differ.
ence between the upper and the under side.
The Democratic party is deeply Embedded
in ito past. Its policies are like moscow
terry with the under side turned away from
the light Of day-barren memorials of the
hopes. prejudices and fears of earlier gen.
erations. Republicanism is widely diff.
ferent. It is enriched with tho traditions
OF . glorious past; but its life Is in the pres.
ent age of growth and development, aud its
hopes are fixed upon future better than
all that has gone before. Its policies are
not skeletons Of by-gone theories exciting
purely scientific curiosity a. studies OF
arrested development. In . workaday
world they are principles Of organized life
and In pulses OF creative energy.
II the Republican party were content,
like tho Democratic to live on reminiscent
ces Of its past Achievements. it would have
unfailins resources in tho heroic period
when its mission was to save tie union and
to m ke an end Of slavery in a free country.
But 1t is not satisfied with the pleasures OF
memory. Its working power las been
steadily developed by wholesome exercise,
and its mission has been to create. not ia
destroy and resist. II cannot remain idle
and staSnant. Whenever there is anything
to DO done in public affairs the Republican
party must do it while the Democratic
party is tagging behind to hinder and re-
taTd tho work. As sool 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 Fi!ty.tirst and ! if,y-
second congress offer striking contrast be-
tween Republican action and Demo cratic
incompetency. In the Republic N con.
Rress there was very narrow maiority
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 vindica;-
Ing the American principle of majority ru 9
it left in the statute books a record OF ,eris-
lative industry unparalleled since the Civil
war. In the present Democratic house
there Is AL overwhelming majority; but it
has shown that it con neither legisIate, nor
redeem Lar'y pledges nor prevent Il star :
ling increase Ut appropriations, nor con-
duct business with decency and order. As
Distinction; but in ether directions it has
been . complete failure. Bound hand and
loot by its own rules, it was hopeless. in
ert mass. Its promises made to the people
were none Of tn Ill carried out in positive
legislation. With this we ought not. how
ever, to quarrel; tor the best thing that can
bs said Oi the Democratic party, with its
6nRfFnCtiVn n0lioioQ 10 hof bon - L.
chance to do the work Of a Republican
congress it can do nothing but demonstrate
It's incapacity.
The record Of the F,fty- first congress, EN-.
bodies the policies Of tho Republican party
a. it exists to-day. Mr.. Reed who, as
speaker: led that congress, said. with char
acteristic generosity, IN his speech Just be-
for. declaring the house adjourned:
NO man ever received more ungrudging
and uhfinching support from band O.
men more unseltish and more patriotic.
am prepared to acknowledge in all that
has been done have been Tut one in
the multitude and that the honors OF
the f1ity.hrst Congress belong to you
The legislation of that congress, with the
exception of the reform OF the rules, which
Was peculiarly Mr.. Reeds, was not the
work Of any group of leaders, but OF a
united party: The Democratic parry had
controlled the administration Tor Jour
years and the house :or six years. Legis.
1ation was in arrears. and the work OF
eight years had to be done in two. This
great task the Republicans faced. and, 50
far as possible accomplished.
Chief among the Republican policies
then enacted into law was the revision OF
the protective eysten in detail and in en-
storm and stress of the civil war had been
partially readjusted to altered conditions
in 1883. but more thorough ard scientific
revision was demanded. Alter thirty years
of material progress and vast Investigation
Of industries this was an undertaking OF
great magnitude and many difficulties.
The party was pledged to reduce the sur.
from unnecessary taxation without inter
ruptinE the beueicent operation OF the pro.
iective ,ystem. This was COM
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 last two years. Heavy burdens of
revenue taxation having no protective
motive have been removed. The surplus
annual income Of the government has been
cut off without disturbing any industrial
interest. An enormous volume has been
added to foreign trade, both in exports aud
whole, has been rendered more compre-
hensive In scope. more symmetrical in de-
sign and moro practical in operation than
it has ever been before. The tariff act of
1880 has its defects, for no great measure of
that kind con he perfect; but in its opera
lions It has succeeded ar beyond the ex-
pectations OF its friends ana has signally
Confuted all the false prophecies Of its foes.
The continuance OF system, which has
promoted the establishment Of industries
Of the widest possible range and which
guards the WAGES OF the most prosperous
working class In the world, is the most i'm.
portant Republican policy. 1t has ceased
to be either producers or a consumers
question. 1t touches every man who earns
through free or less restricted importations
to European or American labor then
American labor will have less to do and
will get lees money for it. Protection is
practical question OF we'll being for the
great mass of Americans. The increased
du.try involve necessarily q higher cost OF
production in the United States than in
Europe. In order to maintain the existing
level Of wages and at tho same time to pre-
servo our diversified forms Of oc-
cupation It 10 necessary 10 offset the
conditions OF European competition.
which the tariff was revised.
Some duties were raised and Others
were lowered. and specific and ad valorem
duties were intercharged with view to
Gqualizing the difference between the cost
OF labor at home and abroad. The meth
DDS OF adjustment differed, but there was
throughout common aim.
Republican policy is adjusted to industri-
al aid social conditions now existing in the
United States. Protection has been for a
long period tho foundation OF the invest
ment OF capital and the value of labor. 1t
- no longer profitable to consider whether
have been accomplished under free trade
That 10 all abstract speculation which does
not concern practical men. They have to
deal with facts as they now find them. With
the protective tariff rs foundation and q
defense, m industrial system OF unexam-
Piled magnitude and variety has been estab-
lished. All the conditions OF capital. bust
ness sad commerce are now adjusted to it.
A nation of workers has become accustomed
10 being we'll paid and to living with de-
gree of comfort and even luxury which
Is not attainable in Europe. Republican
policy aims to strengthen and perpetmate this
.ystem by which thriving working pc uls-
of AMERICAN capital are prohtably invested.
Democratic iree traders propose to knock
nut the foundations and to bring down
the walls upon the heads of investors and
Worksr1 alike. Republican policy aims ut
The protection and support OF all the forces
which have tended to Greats and develop
tndxstFial America. Democratic policy j,
. leycltpg process which will work in the
interest Of foreign countries with cheaper
labor; it is . destructive force menacing the
debility Of immense masses of invested
capital; it marks tie beginning Of the end
OF social revolution by which the earn
tngs and conditions of labor in Europe and
A,,orfco III h0 enuQIiZp1
The tariff work otthe Republican congress
wasesseutially constructive. The foundations
OF the protective system were not disturbed.
bit strengthened within and without.
Wherever it was found that there was un-
due vAxht and needless completely there
dactons Rsses were nereasei soI t with
che intention Of correcting errors or in.
sqaalities, OF. wherever il was practicable
of improving the quality of home manu-.
factures and thereby increasing the earnings
81 skilled labor. New industries were Gre
aisd and encouraged by converting i'm