The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-19

Ing dusies for the upbuilding of our mer-
chant marine and the protection OF our
shipping ln the foreign carrying trade,
so that American sh.ps--the product OF
American labor, employed I'M American
ship-yurds, sailing, under the Stars and
Stripes and manned. ofilcered and owned
by AmericanS-may regain the carrying
of our foreign commerce..
FOR SOUND MONEY.
The Republican party is unreservedly
for sound money. 1t caused the enact
ment of the law providing for the re-
sumption of specie payments in 1879;
since then every dollar has been as
good as gold. We are unalteiably op-
posed to every measure calculated TO de-
base our currency or impair the credit
of our country. We are therefore op-
posed to the free coinage OF silver cx-
cept by International agreement with the
leading commercial nations of the world.
which we pledge ourselves to promote
and until such agreement can be OBJ
tanned, the existing gold standard must
be preserved. All our silver and paper
curr ehcy must be maintained at parity
with gold, and we favor all measures
designed to maintain bly,, the obli-
cations OF the United States and all our
money. whether coin or paper at the
present standard the standard of the
most enlightenened nations of the earth
PENSIONS.
The veterans of the Union army de-
serve and should receive fair treatment
and generous recognition. Whenever
practtcaHe they should be given the
preference In the matter of employment,
and they are entitled to the enactment
of such laws as are best calculated to Sc
cure the fuliillment of the pledges made
TO them IN the dark 6a-s OF the coun-
try's peril. We denounce the practice
In the pension bureau, so recklessly and
unjustly carried on by the present ad-
minlstration, of reducing pensions and
arbitrarily dropping u,ames from the
rolls, as deserving the severest condem-
nation of the American people.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our foreign relations should be at all
times firm, vigorous and dignified, and
all our interests In the Western Hemi-
sphere carefully watched and guarded.
The Hawaiian Islands should be con-
trolled by the United States and no for
eign power should be permitted TO inter
fere with them; the NicaraRuan canal
should be built owned and operated by
the United States. and by the purchase
of the Danish islands we should secure
a proper and much needed naval station
in the West Indies
ARMENIAN MASSACRES.
The massacres In Armenia have arous-
ed the deep sympathy and just indigna-
ton OF the American people, and we be-
lieve that the United States should ex-
ercise all the influence 1t can properly
exert to bring these atrocities to an end
In Turkey American residents have been
exposed to the gravest dangers and
American property destroyed. There
and everywhere American citizens and
American property must be absolutely
protected at all hazards and at any cost
MONROE DOCTRINE.
We re-assert the Monroe doctrine In
It's fIill extent. and we affirm the light
OF thr'unhed States to give the doctrine
effect by responding to the appeals OF
any American State for friendly inter
venthn In case Of European encrouch-
ment. We have not interfered. and
shall not interfere with the existing pos
sessions of any European power In this
hemisphere. burt those possessions must
not. on any preteXt be extended We
hopefully look forward TO the eventua1
Wlthdtewal OF European powers from
thls hemisphere, and to the ultimate
union of all English speaking parts OF
the continent by the free consent Of tie
Inhabitants.
CUBA.
From the hour OF achieving their own
independents thei people of the United
states have regarded with sympathy
the struggles ofOther American peoples
10 free themselves from European doml-
nation. We watch with deep and abid-
ing interest the heroic battle of the
Cuban patriots against cruelty and op-
'pressio,r, and our best hopes go OUT for
the tulj success of their determined con-
sst FOR liberty. The Government OF
spain hating lost control of Cuba and
peins urable to protetis the property
or lives of resident American citizens
or complYa with its treaty obligations
we beEeVe that i'he Cove .nment OF the
United States should actively use its In
huence and good Offices to restore peace
and give independence to the Island
THE NAVY
The peace and security of the Re
public and the maintenance of its in
nuence among the other nations demand
the ma val power commensurate with its
position and responsibility. We favor
the continued enlargement OF the navy
and complete system Of harbor and
coast defences.
IMMIGRATION.
For the protection of the quality of
our citizenship ard wages of our work
ingmen against the fatal competition OF
low priced labor we demand that rhs
immigration laws be thoroughly enforc-
ed ard so extended az 10 exclude from
entrance TO the United States. those
who can neither read nor write
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
The civil service law was placed on