, 1896-09-01

and generous recognition. Whenever
practicable, they should be given the
preference in the matter of employ
ment, and they are entitled to the en-
actment Of such laws as are best cal
culated to secure the fulfllment OF the
pledges made to them in the dark days
of the country's peril. We denounce
the practice in the pension bureau, 50
recklessly and unjustly carried on by
the present administration, OF reduc-
ing pensions a..,i arbitrarily dropping
names from the rolls, as deserving the
severest condemnation of the Ameri-
can people.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our foreign policy should be at all
times firm. vigorous and dignified and
all ouC interests in the western he1nis-
phere carefully watched and guarded.
The Hawaiian islands should be on
trolied by the United States, and no
foreign power should be permitted to
int rferc with them: the Nicaragua
canal should be built, owned and oper-
ated by the United States, and by the
purchase of the Danish islands we
should secure the proper and much
needed naval station in the West In
dies.
ARMENIAN MASSACRES.
The massacres in Armenia have
aroused the deep sympathy and just
Indignation of the American people
and we believe the United States
should exercise all the influence it can
properly exert to bring those atrocities
to an end. The Turkey-American resi-
dents have been exposed to the gravest
danger, and American property de-
stroyed. There and everywhere Ameri-
can pi operty must be absolutely pro-
tected At all hazards and ait any cost.
MONROE DOCTRINE.
We Ieassert the Monroe doctrine in
Its fullt't extent, and we reafirm the
right of ne United States to give the
doctrine effect by responding to the ap-
peals of any American state for friend
iy Intervention in case of European en-
~croachment. We have not interfered
and shall not interfere with uhe exist
ing possessions of any European power
in this hemisphere; but these possess
sions must not on any pretext be ex-
tended. We hopefully look forward to
the eventual withdrawal of the Euro
pean powers from this hemisphere, and
to the ultimate union of all English
speaking parts of the continent by the
free consent of its inhabitants.
CUBA.
From the hour of achieving their
own independence. the people of the
United States have regarded with SYM
pathy the struggles of other American
people to free themselves from Euro
pean domination. We watch with deep
and abiding interest the heroic battle
OF the Cuban patriots against cruelty
and oppression, and our best hopes go
out for the full success OF their deter,
mined contest for liberty.
The government Of Spain, having
lost control Of Cuba, and being unable
to protect the property or lives of resi-
dent American citizens, or to comply
with its treaty obligations, we believe
the government OF the United States
should actively use its influence and
good offices to restore peace and give
independence to the island.
THE NAVY.
The peace and security Of the repub-
lie and the maintenance OF its rightful
influence among the nations of the
earth, demand a naval power commen-
surate with its position and RESPONSE
bility. We, therefore, favor the con-
tinued enlargement of the navy and a
complete system Of harbor and sea-
coast defenses.
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION.
For the protection of the quality of
our American citizenship and of the
wages Of u workingmen against the
fatal competition of low-price labor.w we
demand that the immigration laws be
thoroughly enforced, and SO extended
as to exclude from entrance to the I'm
tied States those who can neither read
nor write.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service law was placed on
the statute books by the republican
party, which has always sustained II.
and we renew our repeated declara-
lions that it shall be thoroughly and
honestly enforced and extended wher-
ever practicable.
A FREE BALLOT.
We demand that every citizen Of the
United States shall be allowed to cast
one free and Unrestricted ballot. and
that such ballot shall be returned and
counted as cast.
LYNCHINGs.
we proclaim our unqualified CON-
domination of the unciviEized and bar,
barous practice well known as lynch.
Ing, or the killing of human beings sus.
pected or charged with crime. withont
process of law.
NATIONAL ARBITRATION.
we favor the creation of a national
board OF arbitration TO settle and adj
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