The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-06-23
PLATFORM IN FULL.
DECLARATION CT PRINCIPLES OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The Financial Plank Declares In
Favor of tho Present Gold Stand
ard and Against Free Silver, Elk
ceDt By International Agreement,
Also for Protection and the Re-
Enactment of Reciprocal LegisIa-
tion.

uuOpteu is as 1Gll0WS
Inc Republicans of the United States,
assembled by their representatives in ma
tio1'ai CONVEX tion, appealing for the popu-
lar and historical justification of their
GAINS to the matchless achievements OF
thirty years of Republican rule, earnestly
ar confidently addr SIS themselves to the
awakened intelligence, experience and con-
science OF their couL trymen in the following
declaration Of facts and principles:
For tho first time since the civil war,
the American people have witnessed the
calamitous consequences of full and un-
restricted Democratic control of the gov
eminent. 1t has been a record of un-
paralleled 1ncapscity, dishonor and disaster.
In administrative management it has ruth,
lessly sacrificed indispensable revenue, ems
tailed an unceasihg deficit, eked out ordi-
nary current expenses with borrowed money,
piled up the public debt by $263, 0OO,0 iii
time OF peace, forced an adverse balance of
traue, kept perpetual menace hanging
over the redemption fund; pawned American
credit to alien syndicates, and reversed all
the measures and results Of successful Re-
publican rule. In the broad effe IT'S Of it's
policy 1t has preciptated panic, blighted in
dustry and trade with prolonged depression;
closed factories, reduced work and wages;
halted enterprise and crippled American pro-
Guction while stimulating foreign produc-
ton for the American market. Every con-
sderation Of public safety and individual in
terest demands that the government shall
be rescued from the hands of those who
have shown themselves incapable to conduct
1t without disaster at home and dshonor
abroad, and shall be restored to the party
which for thirty years administered it with
unequaled success and prosperity. And in
this connection we heartily indorse the wis
dom, patriotism and the success of the adj
ministration of President Harrison
We renew and emphasize our allegiance
to the policy of protection as the bulwark
of American industrial independence ard
the foundation of American development
and prosperity. This true American policy
taxes foreign products and encourages
home industry; 1t puts the burden of rev.
enue on foreign goods: 1t secures the Amer
lean market for the American producers
1t uphoids the American standard of wages
for the American w0rkingmaIi; it puts the
factory by the side Of the farm and makes
the American farmer less dependent on
general thrift, and POUNDS the strength Of
all on the strength Of each. In it's reason
able application; it is just, fair and impair
tial, equally opposed to foreign control and
domestic monopoly, to sectional discrim-
ination and Individual favoritism. We de-
hounce the present Democratic tariff as sec
tiUnal, injurious to the public credit and
destructive to business enterprise We de-
mand such an equitable tariff on foreign
imports which come into competition with
American products as will not only fur
hish adequate revenue for the necessary
expenses Of the government, but still pro-
tect American labor from degradation to
the wage level of other lands. We are not
pledged to any particular schedules. The
question of rates is q practical question,
to be governed by the conditions of the
time and of production The ruling and un-
compromising principle is the protection
and development of American labor and
industry. The country demands right set
Element and then 1t wants rest.
We believe the repeal of the reciprocity
arrangements negotiated by the last Repub-
lican administration was national ca
lamity and we demand their renewal on
such terms as wili equalize our trade with
other nations, remove the restrictions
which now obstruct the sale of American
products in the ports of other countries,
and secure enlarged markets for the pro-
ducts OF our FARMS forests and factories.
Protection and reciprocity are the meas
ures Of Republican policy and go hand in
hand. Democratic rule has recklessly
struck down both, and both must be re-
established Protection for what we pro-
duce; free admission for the necessaries OF
life which we do not produce; feclprocal
agreement of mutual interests which gain
open markets for us In return for our open
markets to others. Protection builds do
nestle industry and trade, and secures our
own market for ourselves; reciprocity
builds up foreign trade and finds an out
let for our surplus,
We condemn the present administration
for not keeping faith with the sugar pro-
ducers of this country The Republican
party favors such protection as will lead
TO the production OH American soil Oh all
the sugar which the American people use
and for which they pay other countries
more than 500, 900 annually.
TO all our products to those of the
mine and field, as we'll as those of the
shop and the factory-to hemp, to WOOL
the producers of the great industry or
sheen husbandry. as we'll as to the nm
ished woolens of the .mills-We promise
the most ample protection
We favor restoring the early American
Dolicy of discriminating duties for the
upbuilding of our merchant marine and
the protection of our shipping in the for
eign carrying trade, so that American
CARRYING ships, the 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. 1t caused the enactment
of the law providing for the resumption
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 our country.
We are therefore opposed to the free coin,
are of silver except by international
agreement with the leading commercial
nations of the world, which we pledge our
selves to promote, and until such agree
ment can be obtained, tho exisliUg gold
standard must be maintained at parity
with gold and we favor measures de-
signed to maintain inviolably the obliga-
tions of the United States and all our
money, whether coin or paper, at the
nresent standard the standard of the most
enliphtened nations of the earth
The veterans of the Union army deserve
and should receive tair treatment and gem