, 1896-09-08

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 secur 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, SC
recklessly and unjustly carried on by
the present administration, of reduc-
ing pensions and 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 our interests in the western hemis-
phere carefully watched and guarded.
The Hawaiian islands should be on
trcl1ed by the United States, and no
Foreign power should be permitted to
interfere 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 property must be absolutely pro-
tected at all hazards and at any cost.
MONROE DOCTRINE.
We reassert the Monroe doctrine in
Its fullest extent, and we reafirm the
right of the United States to give the
doctrine effect by responding 10 the an
peals of any American state for friend
ly Intervention in case OF European en-
croachment. We have not interfered
and shall not interfere with the exist
ing possessions of any European power
in this hemisphere; but these possess
slons 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 common
surate with its position and RESPONSE
bility. We, therefore, favor the con-
tinued enlargement Of the navy and a
complete system OF harbor and e a
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, we
demand that the immigration laws be
thoroughly enforced, and 80 extended
as to exclude from entrance to the I'm
tied States those who can neither read
nor write.
HOMESTEADS.
We believe in an immediate return to
the free homestead policy Of the re-
publican party, and urge the passage
by congress Of the satisfactory free
homestead measure which has already
passed the house and is now pending in
the senate.
CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service law was placed on
the statute books by the republican
party. which has always sustained It,
and we renew our repeated declara-
tons 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 Jul unqualified con-
domination Of the hncivifixed and bar