The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-09-10


the efficacy of the legislation of ls9J 20 Justify
thu speedy restoration of its reciprocity pro-
visions. In my Judgment congress should I'M
medlately restore the reciprocity section Of
the old law, with such amendments, II any, is
time and expe riencc sanction as wise and prop
. n. The underlying principle OF this legisla-
ton must. however, be strictly observed. 1t is
10 afford new markets for our surplus agricul.
tural and manufactured products, without losi
to the American laborer Of "a single day 3 work
that he might otherwise procure.
Foreign Immigration.
The declaration Of the platform touching
foreign immigration IL one Of peculiar impor
tunee At this time, while our own laboring
people are in such great distress. am in
hearty sympathy with tho present legislation
restricting foreign immiP grafton and favor such
extension Of the laws as VII secure the United
States from invasion by the debased and Grim
inal classics Of the old world. Nhio we adj
here II the public policy under which our
country has received great bodies OF honest,
industrious citizens who have added to the
wealth, progress and power OF the country,
and while We welcome II or shores the well
disposed and industrious Immigrant who CON
tributes BY his energy and intelligence to the
cause Of free government We want no lmml'
grants who do not seek our shores TO become
citizens We should permit none to partici-
pate IN the advantages Of our civilization who
do not sympathize with our aims and form OF
government. We should receive none who
come to mako war upon Our institutions and
profit by public disquet and turmoil Against
all such our gates must be tightly closed.
The Soldiers and Sailors.
I The soldiers and sailors IF the Union should
neither be neglected nor forgotten. The gov
ernment which they served 81 well must not
make their lives or condition harder by treat
ing them as suppiant7 for relief IN old age
or distress or regard Wlfh dlsdaln or con.
tempt the earnest interest one cpmrade natu'
rally maniftst7 in the welfare Of another.
Doubtless there have been pension abuses and
frauds IN the numerous claims allowed by the
government, bat the policy governing the ad-
/ mlnlstraflon Of the pension bureau must al.
ways he fair aad liberal 40 deserving appli.
cant should ever sufier because If wrong
perpefrated ly or for another. oar soldiers
and sailors gave the government the best they
had. Thy freely Offered health, strength,
limb and life To save tie country in the time
Of its greatest peril, AMI the government must
honor them in their need as III their service
with tho respect and graf uae due TO brave,
noble and self -Acridcing mn who are justly
entitled to generous md ia their increasing
necessities.
The declaration Of tho Republican platform
in favor of the uphuiidiHg of ctr merchant
marine has my hearty approval. Tho policy of
discriminating duties in favor If our shipping
which prevailed in the early years Of our his
4
vigorously supported until our prestige and
supremacy on the seas are fully attained. We
should no longer contribute directly or indi-
rectly to the maintenance of the colossal ma
rine OF foreign countries, but provide aa eff
I cient and complete marine Of our own. Now
that the American navy i assuming position
commensurate with our Importance a. ma
ton, a policy am glad u observe the Repub-
lican platform strongly lndorses, We must sup
pement 1t with merchant Tariue that VIII
give ua the Il advantages IN both our coastwise
and foreign trade that W ought naturally and
properly to enjoy. 1t should be- ut once mat
ter Of public policy and national pride to re-
possess this immense and prosperous trade.
Civil Service Reform.
Tho pledge Of the Republican national con
vcntion that our civil service laws "shnl be
sustained and thoroughly and honestly en-
/ forced and extended wherever preferable Is
/ in keeping with the position Of the party for
| the past q years and VIII be- faithfully OBJ
served. our opponents decry these reforms
They appear willing to abandon all the ad
vantages gained after SO many years agitation
4 and effort. They encourage "A return to meth
! DDS Of PARTY fivoritism which both parties
| have often denounced, that experience has
| condemned and that the people have repeat
! eddy disapproyed. The Republican party ear
nesty opposes this reactiGnary and entirely un.
| justihable policy. 1t viii take no backward
| step upon tins question. IL Will seek to i'm
prove but never degrade the public service
There are other important and timely dec
/ lArations in the platform which | cannot here
| discuss. | must content myself with saying
| that they have my approval. II as Republic
| ans we have lately addressed our attention
| with what may seem great stress and earnest
! ness to tho new and unexpected assault upon
| the financial integrity or the government, We
| hayu done IL because thu menace is so grave az
! to demand especial consideration and because
| We are onyirccd that IL the people are aroused
| to the true understanding and meaning OF this
| silver iusIation movement they will avert the
| danger. In doing this We feel that we render
| the best service possible to the country, and
we appeal to the intelligence, conscience aud
and such employment is certain to follow
! the re=establishment of II wisc protective
! policy which shall encourage manufactur-
| ing mt home. Protection has lost none If
! its virtue and impurtanee The first duty
of the Republican party if restored to pow
! or in the country will he the enactment Of
IA tariff law which will raise all the money
necessary t. conduct the government,
economically and honestly administered
and 50 adjusted rs To give preference to
| home manufactures aud adequate protec
! ton to home labor and the home market
We are not c mmittcd to any special sched-
ules or rates of duty They are and should
be always subject to change to meet new
conditions, but the principle upon which
rates of duty are imposed remains the
satne. our duties should always be high
! enough To measure the difference between
! the wages paid labor at home and in Compel
| ing countries and To adequately protect Amer
| lean Investments and American enterprises.
Our farmers have been hurt by the changes
| in our tariff legislation as severely aS our la
| borers and manufacturers, badly IA they have
suffered The Republican platform wisely de-
clares in favor of such encouragement to our
sugar interest 'as will lead to the production
| on American soil OF all the sugar which the
| American pecrle use. "
| Tho Principle OF Reciprocity.
| 1t promises to our wool and wooden interests
| "tho most ample protection, IA guarantee
that ought TO commend itself to every patriotic
| citizen. Never was "a more grievuus wrong
done the farmers of country than that 50
unjustly inf. ;ted during the past three years
upon tho woolgrowers of America. Although
among our most industrious and useful cti-
zens. their interests have been practically do
stroyed and our wooden manufacturers in.
volved In similar disaster. At no time within
the past 81 yo1rs and perhaps never during
any previous period have so many of our wool.
! en- factories been suspended as now. The r.
| publican party be relied upon to correct
these great wrongs If again intrusted with the
| control of congress-
Another declaration Of the Republican plat
form that has my most cordial support IS that
which favors reciprocity The splendid results
Of the reciprocity arrangements. that were
made under authority Of the tariff law of 1874
are striking and suggestive. The brief period
they were in force in most cases only three
years, was not long enough to thoroughly test
their great value, but sufficient was shown by