Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-25
THE PLATFORM.

Il
ST. Louis. June 19.-The finance
plank in the platform recommended
by the committee on resolution was
adopted by the convention by a vote of
s1aH ayes to 11O1z nays, the balance
being adopted by a viva voce vote.
The plato rm is as follows:
The republicans OF the United States, as
semoled by their representatives in national
convention, appealing for the popular and his
torlcal ]ustlhcation OF their claims to the
matchleSS achievements of 30 years of repub-
lfcan rule, earnestly and confidently address
themselves to the awakened intelligence, ex-
perience and conscience OF their countrymen
in the following declaration OF facts and prin-
c1ples: For the first time since the civil war
the American people have witnessed the ca
lamitous consequences of full and unrestricted
democratic control of the government It has
been a record of unparalleled incapacity. dis
honor and disaster. In administrative man
agement it has sacrificed indispensable reve-
nue.. entailed an unceasing deficit, eked out
ordinary current expenses with borrowed
1852 100000 in time OF peace. forced
an adverse balance of trade, kept perpetual
menace hanging over the redemption fund.
pawned American credit to alien syndicates and
reversed all the measures and results OF sue
cessful republican rule In the broad effect of
its policy it has precipitated panic. bhghted
industry and trade with prolonged depression,
closed factories. reduced work and wages,
duction while stimulating foreign production
for the American market. Every considera-
ton of public safety and public interest de-
mands that the government shall be rescued
from the hands OF those who have shown them
selves inca pable of conducting it without dis
aster at home and dishonor abroad. and shall
De restored to the party which for 80 years ad-
ministered it with uneQualed success aud
prosperity. And in this connection we heartily
indorSe the wisdom, the patriotism and the
success Of the administration of President
Harrison.
We renew and emphasize our allegiance to
me policy of protection as the bulwark of
American Industrial independence and the
foundation of American development and pros
perity. This true American policy taxes for
e1gn products and encourages home industry
it puts the burden of revenue foreign goods
it secures the American market for the Amer
lean producer; it upholdS the American stand
ard of wages for the American workingman; &c
puts the factory by the side OF the farm and
makes the American farmer less dependent
foreign demand and price it diffuses general
thrift and POUNDS the strength of all the
strength of each In its reasonable applica-
ton il is just. fair and impartial. equally OPP
posed to foreign control and domestic monop-
oily. to sectional discrimination and individual
favoritiSm.
We denounce the present democratic tariff
as sectional, injurious to the public credit and
destructive to business enterprise We de-
mand such an equitable tariff on foreign i'm
ports which come into competition with Amer
revenue for the necessary expenses of the gov
eminent, but will protect American labor from
degradation to the wage level of other lands.
We not pledged to any particular sched-
uleS. The question of rates is practical
question to be governed by the conditions of
the time and production: the ruling and IN
compromising principle is the protection and
development of American labor and industry.
The country demands a right settlement, and
then it wants rest
We believe the repeal of the reciprocity ar
rangements negotiated by the last republican
administration national calamity, and
we demand their renewal and extension
such terms as VIII 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 products OF our farms. forests
and factories. Protection and reciprocity are
twin measures OF republican policy and go
hand in hand. Democratic rule has reckleSSly
struck down both. and both must be re-estab-
liShed. Protection for what produce; free
admission for the necesSarieS of life which
90 not produce; reciprocal agreements OF
mutual interest which gain open markets for
US in return for our open market to others.
Protection builds up domestic industry and
trade, and secures our own market for our
selves; reciprocity builds up foreign trade and
finds an outlet for our surplus.
We condemn the present administration for
not keeping faith with the sugar producers of
this country. The republican party favors
such protection will lead to the production
on American SOIL OF ali the sugar winch the
American people use and for which they pay
other countries more than 500, CO. 900 annually
To all our productS-to those Of the mine and
field, well TO those Of the shop and fac |
tory, to hemp, to wool, the product OF the great
OF sheep husbandry. as we'll as to the |
finished woolens of The mill-we promise the |
most ample protection
We favor restoring the early American pol |
icy of discriminating duties for the up-build- |
ing Of our merchant marine and the protection |
Of our shipping in the foreign carrying trade. |
so that American ships-the product of Amer |
lean labor. employed in American shipyards, |
sailing under the stars and stripes and manned. |
and owned by Americans-may re- |
gain the carrying of our foreign commerce
The republican party is unreServedly for !
sound money. It 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 op-
posed to every measure calculated to debase |
Dur currency, or impair the credit of our eoun- |
Try. We are, therefore. opposed to a free coin
age of silver except by international agreement |
with the leading commercial nations Of the /
world, which pledge ourselves to promote, |
ind until such an agreement can be obtained /
the existing gold standard must be preserved
ALI our silver and paper currency must be |
maintained at parity with gold, and we favor
all measures designed to maintain inviolably |
che obligation of the United States and our
money, whether coin or paper. at their present
standard. the standard Of the most enlightened
oa tionS of the earth
The veterans of the union army deserve and
should receive fair treatment and generous
Whenever practicable they should