The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-02
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
For the Existing Colo Standard and
Protection.


publican National Convention is as
follows:
The Republicans of the United
States assembled, by their represen-
tatives in National Conyention, APP
pealing for the popular and histor-
zeal justification of their claims to
the matchless achievements of
thirty years of Republican rule,
earnestly and confidently address
themselves to the awakened intelli-
gence, experience and conscience of
their countrYmen in the following
declaration of facts and principles:
For the first time since the Civil
War the American people have wit
messed the calamitous consequences
of full and unrestricted Democratic
control of the government. 1t has
been a record of unparalleled inca
pacity, dishonor and disaster. In
administrative management it has
ruthlessly sacrificed indispensable
revenue, entailed an unceasing de-
felt, eked out ordinary current ex-
penses with borrowed money, piled
up the public debt by @2G2, 900, 200
in time of peace, forced an adverse
balance Of trade, kept a perpetual
menace hanging over the redemp-
ton fund, pawned American credit
to alien syndicates, and reversed all
the measures and results Of success
full Republican rule. In the broad
effect of its policy 1t has precipitat-
ed panic, blighted industry and
trade with prolonged depression,
closed factories, reduced work and
wages, Matted enterprise and Grip
pied American production, while
stimulating foreign production for
the American market. Every con-
sideration Of public safety and in-
diyidual interest demands that the
Government shall be rescued from
the hands Of those vino have shown
themselves incapable of conducting
it without disaster at home and dis
honor abroad, and shall be restored
to the party which for thirty years
administered it with unequalled
success and prosperity. And in
this connection we heartily indorse
the wisdom, patriotism and the sue
cess of the administration of Presi-
dent Harrison.
We renew and emphasize our al
legiarce to the policy Of protection
as the bulwark of American indus
trial independence and the founda-
ton of American development and
prosperity. This true American
policy taxes foreign products and
encourages home industry; it puts
the burden Of revenue on foreign
goods; it secures the American
market for the American producer.
it upholds the American standard
of wages for the American working
man; it puts the factory by the side
of the farm, and makes the Amer
lean farmer less dependent on for
eign demand and prices; it diifuses
general thrift and POUNDS the
strength Of all on the strength of
each. In its reasonable applica-
ton it is Just, fair and impartial,
equally opposed to foreign control
and domestic monopoly, tosectional
discrimination and individual favor
itism.
We denounce the present Demo
cratic 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 competi-
ton with American products as will
not only furnish adequate revenue
for the necessary expenses Of the gov
eminent, but will protect American
labor from degradation to the wage
level of other lands. We are not
pledged to any particular schedules.
The question Of rates is practical
question, to be governed by the
conditions Of the time and of pro
duction; the ruling and uncompre.
missing principles is the protection
and development Of American labor
and industry. The country de.
mands a right settlement, and then
1t wants rest.
We believe the repeal OF the reclp'
rocitY arrangements negotiated by
the last Republican administration
was a National calamity, and we de-
mand their renewal and extension
on snch terms as Will equalize oul
trade with other nations, remove
the restrictions which now obstruct
the sale of American products il
the ports of other countries, and Sc
cure enlarged markets for the pro
ducts Of our farms, forests and fac
tories.
Protection and reciprocity are
twin measures of Republican polic7
and go hand in hand. Democratic
rule has recklessly struck dowr
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