Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-02-19

| lican platform of 1896 will be-
Then the battle was to arrest the
spread of slave labor in America; now 1t
Is to prevent the increase of illy-paid
and degraded free labor in America.
| The platform of 1896, l say, is already
written-written in the hearts and at
| the homes of the masses Of our coun-
| trymen. 1t has been thought out
around hundreds of thousands of Amer
| lean ENTHUSIASTICALLY wrought out
| by the new conditions and harsh ex-
| periences of the last three years.
On the great questions still unsettled.
| or in dispute, between the dominant
| parties, we stand now just as we did
in 1860, for republican principles are UNI
| alterable. on the subject of protection
| to American labor and American inter
| ests we can reaffirm, and will reaffirm,
| the Lincoln platform of 1860. 1t needs
neither amendment nor elaboration. In
deed, we could begin the platform of
| 1896 in the exact words with which the
| fathers of the republican party began
| the platform of 1860. It's first plank
| you will remember, reads as follows:
| Resolved, That the history of the
nation during the last four years has
| fully established the propriety and ne
| cessity of the organization and perpetu-
| alton of the republican party, and that
| the causes which called 1t into exist
| ence are permanent in their nature, and
now, more than ever before. demand its
| peaceful and constitutional triumph"
This was said near the close of the
| last democratic administration, which
| for time controlled all branches of the
national government. With what truth
| 1t applies to the present democratic ad-
| nistration which for two years fol-
| lowing March T. 1898, again had control
| of all branches of the national govern
ment
Now let me read the Lincoln platform
| on the tariff, adopted on May II, 1850
| by the second republican national con-
vention; and | sumbit whether it does
not express the sentiment of the great
majority of the people of Illinois, and of
the whole country, even better today
than 1t did then. Here is what 1t said:
Resolved, That, while providing rev.
enue for the support of the general gov
| eminent by duties on imports. sound
policy requires such an adjustment OF
these imports as to encourage the de-
| velopment of the industrial interests of
the whole country; and we commend
that policy of national exchanges which
secures to the workingmen liberal
wages. to agriculture remuneratlve
| prices, to mechanics and manufacturers
| an adequate reward for their skill, la
| Dor and enterprise, and to the nation
| commercial prosperity and independ-
| ence."
Better protection no republican could
| ask or desire; and poorer none should
| advocate or accept We are faithfully
| welded to the great principle of protec-
| tion by every tie of party fealty and af-
! lection, and it is dearer to US now than
| ever before. Not only is 1t dearer to us
as republicans, but 1t has more devoted
| supporters among the great masses of
| the American people, irrespective Of
| party than at any previous period in
our history 1t is everywhere recog
| nized and Endorsed rs the great, master
| full, triumphant American principle
| the key to our prosperity in business,
| the safest prop to the treasury Of the
| United States, and the bulwark of our
| national independence and financial
| honor.
| TARIFF ALWAYS AN ISSUE.
The question of the continuance or
| abandonment of our protective system
| has been the one great, overshadowing,
| vital question in American politics ever
| since Mr. Cleveland opened the contest
| in December 1887, to which the lament
| ed James q. Blaine made swift reply
from across the sea, and II will con-
tinue the issue until a truly American
policy, for the good OF America. is firm
ly established and perpetuated. The
fight will go on and must go on, until
the American system is everywhere rec
ognized, until all nations come to I'M
i . IfGtfY 90,
and all Americans come to honor or love
it as dearly, as they do the American
flag. God grant the day may soon come
when all partisan contention over ii is
forever at an end
The republican party only is compe
tent to carry this policy into effect
Whenever there is anything to be done
for this country. it is to the republican
party we must look TO have it done. We
are not contending for any particular
tariff law or laws, or for any special
schedules or rates, but for the great
principle--the American protective pol
icy-the temporary overthrow of which
has brought distress and ruin to every
part of our beloved country.
1t may he asked what the next repub-
lican tariff law will provide, | can not
tell you. / can not tell you what the
rates will be, but they viii measure the
difference between American and Eu-
ropean conditions, and will be fully ade-
uuate to protect ourselves from the in
vasion of our markets by Oriental prod
ucts TO the injury of American labor.
and will in no case be too low to protect
and exalt American labor, and promote
and increase American production.
| can not better answer this grave
question than by an illustration of Mr.
Lincolns Some one asked him. How
long a mans legs ought to be-" He
said: THAT is a very serious question;
and ! have given much thought to it a
great many times. Some should be
longer and some shorter; but | want TO
tell you that mans legs ought always
to be long enough to reach from his
body to the ground. And so l tell you,
my inquiring free trade friend, that the |
legs of the next republican tariff law
will be long enough to firmly support
the American body polite; sustain its
public treasury; lift up our national
credit; and uphold the dignity and in
dependence of American labor, and the
enterprises and occupations of the
American people.
REPUBLICANISM DEFINED.
No one need be in any doubt about
what the republican party stands for.
g hiafnrty has "a top