Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-06-20
ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.

ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.
The Republicans of the United States,
assembled by their representatives in
national convention, appealing for the
popular and historical Justification of
their claims to the matchless achieve
ments for 80 years of Republican rule,
earnestly and confidently address them
selves to the awakened intelligence, ex-
perience and conscience of their coun-
Gymen In the following declaration of
lacts and principles:
For the first time since the Civil War
the American people have witnessed
the calamitouS consequences of full and
unrestricted Democratic control of the
government. 1t has been a record of
unparalleled incapacity, dishonor and
disaster. In administrative manage
ment it has ruthlessly sacrificed indis-
pensible revenue, entailed an unceasing
deficit. eked out ordinary current eX-
penses with borrowed money, piled up
the public debt by $262, O0O, 900 in time of
peace, forced an adverse balance of
trade, kept perpetual menace hanging
over the redemption fund. pawned
American credit to alien syndncates and
reversed all the measures and results
of successful Republican rule. In the
broad effect of it's policy, it has precip-
itated panic, blighted industry and trade
with prolonged depression, closed fac
tories, reduced work and wages, halted
enterprise and crippled American pro-
duction, while stimulating foreign pro-
duction for the American market. Fv
cry consideration Of public safety and
individual interest demands that the
government shall be rescued from the
hands of those who have shown them
selves incapable to conduct it without
disaster at home and dishonor abroad,
and shall be restored to the party which
for 80 years administered it with I'M
equalled success and prosperity. And
in this connection, we heartily endorse
the wisdom, patriotism and success of
the administration of President Harri-
son.
We renew and emphasize our allie
glance to the policy of protection as the
bulwark of American industrial lnde-
pendence and the foundation of Ameri-
can development and prosperity. This
true American policy taxes foreign prod
uctS and encourages home industry: it
puts the burden Of revenue on foreign
goods; 1t secures the American market
for, the American producer; 1t upholds
the American standard Of wages for the
American workingman; it puts the fac
tory by the side of the farm, and makes
the American farmer less dependent on
foreign demand and prices; it diffuses
general thrift, and POUNDS the strength
Of all on the strength Of each. In it's
reasonable application it is just. fair
and impartial, equally opposed to for
eign control and domestic monopoly,
the sectional discrimination and indl-
vidual favoritism.
We denounce the Democratic tariff as
sectional injurious to the public credit
and destructive to business enterprise.
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 govern
ment, but will protect American labor
from degradation to the wage level of
other lands. We are not pledged to any
rates is practical question, to be gov
e1ned by the condition of the time and
of production; the ruling and uncom-
promising principle is the protection
and development of American labor and
industry. The country demands right
settlement and then it wants rest.
We believe the repeal of the recip-
rocity arrangements negotiated by the
last Republican administration was u
national calamity, and we demand their
renewal and extension on such terms
as will equaliEa our trade with other ma
tons, remove the restrictions which now
obstruct the sale of American products
in the ports of other countries, and Sc
cure enlarged markets for the products
of our farms, forests and factories.
Protection and reciprocity are twin
measures of the Republican policy and
go hand in hand. Democratic rule has
lesistleSSly struck down both, and botf,
must be re-estabiished,
Protection for what we produce; free
admission for the necessaries of life
which we do not produce: reciprocal
agreements of mutual interest which
gain open markets for us in return for
our open markets to others. Protec-
ton builds up domestic industry and
trade and secures our own market foI
ourselves; reciprocity builds UP foreign
trade and finds an outlet for our surplus
We condemn the present administra
ton for not keeping faith with the sugar
producers of this country. The Republic
can party favors such protection as will
lead to the production on American soil
of all the sugar which the American peo-
pie USE and for which they pay other
countries more than 500, 000,0 00 an
nually
To all our products-to those of the
mine and field as well as to those of the
shop and factory-tO hemp, to wool. the
product of the great industry of sheep
husbandry as well as to the finished
woolens of the mills, we promise the most
ample protection.
We favor restoring the early American
pOl1cy OF ulScfliilindtiiS uueieS ioi 'he
up building of our merchant marine and
the protection of our shipping in the car
rying trade, so that American ships
tho product of American labor, employed
in American shipyards. sailing under the
Stars and Stripes, and manned. differed
and owned by Americans-may regain
the carrying of our foreign commerce."
The Republican party is unreservedly
for sound money, it caused the enact
ment OF the law providing for the re-
sumption of specie payments in 1879.
since then every dollar has been as good
as gold.
We are unalterably opposed to every
measure calculated to debase our cur
rency or impair the credit of country
we are therefore opposed to the free
coinage of silver except by International
agreement with the leading commercial
nations of the world. which we pledge
q e~selves to promote. and until such