The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-07
REPUBLICATION. RHODE ISLAND,
CURA.

seem 20 make 1t desirable to recall the
utterances of the Republican party as
prsaanpced by ~ national conventions
at 81 Louis. June IS 1896. Ihe attitude
OF the Republican patty upon the Cuban
question at that time. nearly two yearg
ago. was thus expressed:
From the hour of achieving their own
Independence the people OF the United
States have regarded with sympathy the
struggles of other American people To
free themselves from European domina-
tion. We watch with deep and abiding
interest tho heroic battle OF the Cuban
patriots against cruelty and oppression,
ana our best hopes 90 out for the full
success OF their determined contest for
liberty.
.'Ihe government OF Spain having
lost control Of Cuba and being unable To
protect property or lives or re esident Amer
lean citizens. or to comply with Its
treaty obligations. We believe that the
government of the United States should
actively use its influence and good Offices
TO restore peace ana give Independence to
the Island"
Upon that plank, with all the others
in the platform. the Republican party
was restored to power by an unpreced
ed electoral vote. There were no starv-
ing reconoentrados in November, 1885,
there was no Ds LONE incident there
was no Maine horror. But the Republi-
osn party then pledged itself to the
American people TO actively use Its in
fiuence and good Offices not alone ''to
restore peace" In Cuba. put more than
that, "to give Independence to the
island" 1t Ia just as we'll to refresh
time. when some people appear to have
doubts as to what Is the fundamental
policy of the governm ent Of the United
States In the Cuban matter, as pledged
by the Republican party to the people,
long before there were any diplomatic
incidents or bloody treachery demanding
that that policy, already endorsed by the
people, be accelerated.
Yesterday Rhode Island had an elsction
in which the Republican party received
an unqualified endorsement on national
issues. The contest was fought and won
by the Republican party on the well
grounded assumption that the issues Of
prime Importance to the peopls were ma.
tional and not local. As against that as
sumption the Democratic managers set
up . puerils platform Of so.called local
issues, while the so-called Goo Goo party
hugged to their souls the delusion that
somehow some vague and underlined in
terests of che municipal corporation of
Providence were ut stake. But the teo-
pie we're not to bs deceived. They reoog-
nized the vital questions involved and re-
fused to be hoodwinked by paltry politi-
cal claptrap. Many Democrats and
former Goo Coos who were too strongly
partisan TO permit themselves to vote the
Republican ticket but recognizing that
the broad issues delared In the KepubI,-
can platform were tho only issues, stayed
at home. The result was nm overwhelm-
ing Republican victory.
1t was victory for the administration
of Governor Dyer 1t was a victory for
Senator Aldrich. And. beyond all, 1t
was triumph for tho national admin
istration In Its sound money policy, its
tariff policy ana pre- eminently in bshaIr
Of vigorous Cuban policy.
The Republican State convention
was held on March 10 just one month
after the blowing up Of our battleship,
and in the platform adopted was the fol-
lowing patriotic and restrained DECLARE
tion:
1--WE sympathize with the unfortunate
and distressed people OF the island of
Cuba In their efforts to obtain a larger
measure of liberty and security in their
government Fsrvsntly do we hope that
wise counsel may prevail. and that the
privations and sufferings of that gallant
people may not lorser be u repronch to
Oui huwnulbys oiuSoIcly uu We
desire TO remain at peace with all the
nations Of tho earth, but II the vindica-
tion OF the national honor and the fem
maintenance OF well-considered princi-
Piles of Justice shall necessitase resort
TO the arbitrament of arms. we pledge
Rhode Island 20 the natiopsl defense and
the supremacy OF our flag"
Upon that declaration Rhode Island
stands by the vote voicinR her sentiments
yesterday: ''if the vindication OF the ma
tionsl honor and the firm maintenance
Of we'll considered principles of justice
shall necsssitate q resort to the arbitra-
ment of arms" Mr. President. Rhode
Island is pledged by the voice of her peo.
pie expressed at the ballot "to the ma
tionsl defense and the supremacy of our
flag. -