Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-26
ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.
IT MAKES UP IN LENGTH WHAT
IT LACKS IN BREADTH.
IL Is 50 Long That IL Suggests the
Idea of a bridge to Cross Over
to the Promised Land of Ca

Idea of a bridge to Cross Over
to the Promised Land of Ca
maam.
Following is the platform adopted
at St. Louis, in full:
The Republicans of the United
States assembled by their representa-
tives in National Convention appeal
ing for the popular and historic justi-
fication OF their claims 10 the match
less achievements of thirty years of
Republican rule, earnestly and conf
IDENTIFY address themselves to the
awakened intelligence, experience and
conscience of their countrymen in the
following declaration OF facts and
principles:
For the fist 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, dis
honor and disaster. In administrative
management it has ruthlessly sacri-
feed indispensable revenue, entailed
an unceasing deficit, eked out ordinary
current expenses with borrowed money,
piled up the public debt by $262 'OOO.-
600 in time OF peace, forced an adverse
balance Ct trade, kept a perpetual men
ace ha nging over the redemption fund,
pawned American credit to alien syn
dicates and reversed all the measures
and results OF successful Republican
rule. In the broad effect of its policy
it has precipitated a panic, blighted
industry and trade with prolonged de-
PRESTON, closed factories, reduced work
and wages, halted enterprise and Grip
pied American production while stim-
ulating foreign production for the
American market. Every considera-
ton of public safety and individual in
terest demands that the government
shall be rescued from the hands OF
those who have shown themselves in
capable to conduct without disaster
at home and dishonor abroad and shall
be restored to the party which for 80
years administered it with unequalled
success and prosperity, and in this
connection we heartily endorse the
wisdom, patriotism and success Of the
administration of President Harrison.
THE TARIFF.
We renew and emphasize our allegl-
ance to the policy OF protection as the
bulwark of an American industrial in
dependence az the foundation OF Amer
lean development and prosperity.
This true American policy taxes for
eign products and encourages home
industry and it puts the burden OF
revenue on foreign goods; it secures
the American market for the Ameri-
can producer; it upholds the Ameri-
can standard of wages for the Ameri-
Can workingman; it puts the factory
by the side of the farm and makes the
American farmer less dependent on
foreign demand and price; it diffuses
general thrift and founds the strength
of all on the strength of each. In its
reasonable application it is just, lair
and impartial, equally opposed to ior-
eign control and domestic monopoly
to sectional discrimination and indi-
vidual favoritism.
We denounce the present domestic
tariff as sectional, injurious to the pub
lie credit and destructive to business
enterprise. We demand such an equi'
table tariff on foreign imports which
come into competition with American
products as will not only furnish ade-
quate revenue for the necessary ex.
penses of the government, but will
protect American labor from degreda-
ton to the wage level oi other lands.
We are not pledged to any particular
schedules. The question of rates is a
practical question to be governed by
the conditions OF the time and of pro-
duction; the ruling and uncompro-
missing principle is the protection and
development of American labor and
industry. The country demands a
right settlement and then it wants
| rest.
RECIPROCITY.
We believe the repeal OF the reci-
procity arrangements negotiated by
the last Republican administration
was a national calamity and we de.
mand their renewal and extension on
such terms as will equalize our trade
with other nations, remove the re-
strictions which now Obstruct the sale
of American products in the ports o
other countries and secure enlarged
markets for the products OF our farms
forests and factories. Protection and
reciprocity are twin measures OF he
publican policy and 60 hand in hand
Democratic rule has recklessly etruck
down both and both must be re-estab
Iished. Protection for what we pro
duce; free admission of the neces
ssries of life of which we do not pro
duce: reciprocal agreements of mutua
interest which wilt again open market'
in return for our open markets t(
others. Protection builds our Amerl
can industry and trade and secures