The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-13

substantial and laboring many who
live at home, and upon home products,
go entirely free.
"'By the direct tax system none can
| escape. However strictly the citizen
may exclude from his premises all for
eign luxuries-fine cloths, fine silks,
rich wines, golden chains and diamond
r3ngs-still, for the possession of his
house, his barn, and his homespun, he Is
! to be perpetually haunted and harrass-
ed by the taX-gatherer. With these
views we leave it to be determined
whether we or our opponents are the
more truly democratic on the subject
Perhaps it was not entirely acciden-
tai that these views of Mr.. Lincoln
| found almost literal expression in the
Republican national platform Of 1860.
Nor is il strange that this year, as in
( 1860, no chart is needed to make the
Republican position upon this great
economic question. The whole world
knew a year in advance of its utter
ance what the Republican platform Of
1860 would be. and the whole world
knows now, and has known for a year
past, what the Republican platform OF
1896 will be.
The the battle was to arrest the
spread Of slave labor in America; now
it is to prevent the increase of .ll-paid
and degraded free labor in America.
| The platform of 1896. I say, is already
written-written in the hearts and the
homes of the masses OF our country
men. Il has been thought cut around
( hundreds of thousands of American fire
sides-literally wrought out. by the new
conditions and harsh experiences of the
past three years.
on the great questions still unsettled.
or indiSpute, between the dominant
parties. we stand now just as we did in
1850. for Republican principles are IN
alterable. On the subject of protection
10 American labor and American inter-
| eSts we can re-affirnl, and Will -e-affirm
the Lincoln platform OF 1860. II needs
neither amendment nor eIabora ton. In
/ deed We could begin the platform OF 1895
in the exact words with which the ia
| theirs Of the Republican party began the
! platf0r of 1860 Its first plank, YOU
viii remember, reads as follows:
Resolved. That the history 90 the
nation during the last four years, has
| fully established the propriety and ne
| cesSity Of the organization and perpet-
alton OF the Republican party. and
| that the causes which called Z into
existence are permanent in their ma
| ture. and now, more than ever before,
| triumph"
This was said near the close Of the
! last Democratic adm,nistra ZION, which
| for time controlled all branches Of the
national government. With " hat truth
| il applies to the present Democr2 tic
administration which for two years fol-
/ lowing March (. 1928. again had con-
trol of all branches OF the national gov
eminent
Now let me read the Lincoln platform.
on the tariff. adopted on May l.. 1860.
by the second Republican national con-
greSs. and I submit whether Il does not
express the sentiment Of the great ma
| jority OF the people Of Illinois ana or
the whole country. even better today
! than i did then. Here Is what II said:
Resolved. That. while prov. ding rev
| snue for the support OF the general gov
! eminent by duties on imports, SourI
| policy requires such an adjustment Of
! these imports as - encourage the oe-
| VelopmeHt OF the Industrial interests Of
! the whole country: and We commend
| tnat policy Of national exchanges which
| secures % the workinSnen liberal HaE-
| =, 10 agriculture TemuneratIve prices.
| % mechanics and manufacturers an
! adequate reward Tor their skill, labor
| and enterprise. and 70 the nation COM
! mercial prosperity and Independence. "
Better protection 10 Republican could
| ask or desire; and poorer none should
| advocate nor accept We are faithfully