The record-union., 1896-10-18
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Principles Adopted by the National
Convention at ST. Louis.

The platform adopted by the National
Republican Convention held at st.
Louis, June IS, 1896 was as follows:
The Republicans of the United States,
assembled, by their Representatives in
national convention, appealing for the
popular and historic justification of
their claims to the matchless achieve
ments of thirty years of Republicas
rule, earnestly and confidently address
themselves to the awakened intelli-
gence experience and conscience OF
their countrymen in the following dec
laration of facts ana principles:
For the first time since the civil war
the American people have witnessed
the calamitous consequences Of full and
restricted Democratic control of the
Government. 1t has been a record of
unparalleled incapacity, dishonor and
disaster. In administrative manage
ment, it has ruthlessly sacrificed indis-
pensable revenue, entailed an unceas-
ing deficit, eked out ordinary current
expenses with borrowed money, piled
up the public debt by $262 100000 in
time of peace, forced an adverse bal
ance of trade, kept a perpetual menace
hanging over the redemption fund,
pawned American credit to alien syndi-
Gates, and reversed all the measures
and results of successful Republican
rule.
In the broad effect of its policy, it
has precipitated panic, blighted indus
try and trade with prolonged depres-
sion, closed factories, reduced work and
wages, halted enterprise and crippled
American protection while stimulating
foreign production for the American
market Every consideration of public
saftey and individual interest demands
that the Government shall be rescued
from the hands of those who have
shown themselves incapable to conduct
it without disaster at home and dis
honor abroad, and shall be restored tC
the party which for thirty years admin
istered it with unequaled success and
prosperity; and in this connection we
heartily indorse the wisdom, patriotism
and success of the administration of
President Harrison.
PROTECTION.
We renew and emphasize our allie
glance to the policy of protection as
the bulwark of an American industrial
independence and the fiuctuation of
American industry. This true Ameri-
can policy taxes foreign products and
encourages home industry, and it puts
the burden of revenue on foreign goods;
it secures the American market for
the American producer; it upholds the
American standard of wages for the,
American workingman it puts the fac
tory 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, fair
and impartial, equally opposed to for
eign control and domestic monopoly; to
sectional discrimination and individual
favoritism.
We denounce the present Democratic
tariff as sectional and injurious to the
public credit and destructive to business
enterprise We demand such an equit-
able 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 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 a
practical question to be governed by the
conditions of time and of productions
the ruling and uncompromising princi-
pie is the protection and development of
American labor and industry. The
country demands a right settlement
and then it wants a rest
RECIPROCITY DEMANDED.
We believe the repeal of the reciproc-
ty arrangement negotiated by the last
Republican administration was a ma
tional calamity. and we demand their
renewal and extension on such terms
as will 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 fac
tories.
Protection and reciprocity are twin
measures of Republican policy, and go