The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-06-26
Text of Declaration of PrinCi-
pies Adopted by the Ma
tional Convention.
Democratic Rule Denounced
and Allegiance to Pro-
lection Renewed.
FinananCial Plank a Strong En-
dOrSement of the Present
Gold Standard.

Republican convention at St. Louis.
Senator Teller moved a free coinage
substitute for the financial plank, but
the motion was defeated by vote of
81S11a to 1861:
The Republicans of the United States,
assembled by their representatives in ma
tional convention, appealing for the pop
ular and historical justification of their
claims to the matchless achievements of 80
years of Republican rule earnestly and
confidently address themselves to the
awakened intelligence, experience and
conscience of their countrymen in the fol-
lowing declaration of facts and principles:
Calamities of Democratic Control.
For the first time since the Civil War
the American people have witnessed the
calamltous consequences of free and I'M
restricted Democratic control of the gov
| eminent 1t has been a record of unpar-
alelled incapacity, dishonor and disaster
In administrative management it has
ruthlessly sacrificed indispensable reve-
nue., entalled an unceasing deficit, eked
out ordinary current expenses with Dor
rowed money, piled up public debt $780,
100000 in time OF peace, forced an adverse
hanging over the redemption fund pawned
American credit to alien syndicates and
reversed all the measures and results of
successful Republican rule In the broad
effect of its policy it has precipitated pallid,
blighted industry and trade with pro-
| longed depression, closed factories, re-
duced work and wages, halted enterprise
and crippled American production, while
stimulating foreign production for the
American market. Every consideration
of public safety and individual interest de
mands that the government shall be res
cued from the hands of those who have
shown themselves incapable to conduct it
without disaster at home and dishonor
abroad, and shall be restored to the party
which for thirty years administered it with
! unequalled success and prosperity.
Renew Allegiance to Protection.
We renew and emphasize our allegiance
to the policy of protection as the bulwark
of American industrial independence and
the foundation of American development
and prosperity. This true American pol
icy taxes foreign products and encourages
home industry; it puts the burden of
revenue on foreign goods; it secures the
American market for the American pro-
Queer; it upholds the American standard
of wages for the American workingman;
it puts the factory by the side of the farm
and makes the American farmer less de-
pendent on foreign demand and price; it
diffuses general thrift, and POUNDS the
strength of all on the strength of each.
In its reasonable application, it is lust,
fair and impartial, equally opposed to
foreign control and domestic monopoly to
inn in nd
favoritism.
We denounce the present Democratic
tariff as sectional, injurious to the public
credit and destructive to business enter
prise. We demand such an equitable tariff
on foreign imports which come into COM
petition with American products as will
not only furnish adequate revenue for the
necessary expenses of the government, but
still protect American labor from degrade
ton to the wage level of other lands. We
are not pledged to any particular sched-
ules. The question of rates is a practical
question, to be governed by the conditions
of the time and production; the ruling and
Incorporating principle is the protec-
ton and development of American labor
and industry. The country demands
right settlement and then it wants rest.
We believe the repeal of the reciprocity
arrangements negotiated by the last Re
publican administration was a national
calamity, and we demand their renewal
and extension on such terms as will equal
ize our trade with other nations, remove
the restrictions which now obstruct the
sale of American products in the ports of
other countries and secure enlarged mar
kets for the products of our farms, forests
and factories.
Protection and reciprocity are twin
measures Of Republican policy and go
hand in hand. Democratic rule has reck-
lessly struck down both, and both must
be re- esta blished
Protection for what we produce; free
admission for the necessaries of life which
we do not produce; reciprocal agreements
of mutual interests which gain open mar
kets for us in return for our open markets
to others. Protection builds up domestic
industry and trade, and secures our own
market for ourselves reciprocity builds up
foreign trade and finds an outlet for our
surplus.
Protection For Sugar.
We condemn the present administration
for not keeping faith with the sugar pro-
ducers of this country. The Republican
party favors such protection as will lead tc
the production on American soil of all the
sugar which the American people use, and
for which they pay other countries more
than 800 700, 900 annually.
Wool and WOolens.
To all our products-to those of the
mine and the field as well as those of the
shop and the factory-to hemp, to wool,
the product of the great industry of the
sheep husbandry, as well as to the finished
woolens of the mill-we promise the most
ample protection.
Merchant Marine.
We favor restoring the early American
policy OF. d Eliminating duties for the up
building OF our merchant marine and the
protection OF our shipping in he foreign
carrying trade, so that American ships
the product of American labor, employed
in American ship yards, sailing under the
stars and stripes, and manned, differed
and owned by Americans-may regain the
carrying of our foreign commerce.
The Financial Plank.
The Republican party is unreservedly
or ,=ad hQ