The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-02-21
League Platform.

We, the delegates of the Ohio Repub-
lican League, in convention assembled,
declare our allegiance to the original
fundamental principles of the Rspubli-
can party; that party was born to stay
the onward march of oppression; liberty
and humanity have been its watch
wordf; and it has found its inspiring
ideals in the declaration of all men are
created free and equal, that lie, liberty
and the pursuit OF happiness are in
alienable rights, that governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent
of the governed.
To these principles we dedicate our
selves anew on the annual return of the
day that gave birth to the martyred
Lincoln, who lived to give the Republic
"a new birth of freedom" and who died
that government of the people, by the
people and for the people should not
perish from the earth.
We congratulate the country that
under the present National Admins
tration the blessings of civil and relig-
ious liberty have been extended; that
burdens have been lifted from the
shoulders Of the oppressed; Spain has
been driven from the American CONT
nent, and Cuba stands before the world
reRenerated and free.
We heartily endorse the action of the
President and our Senators and Repre-
sent atives who, by word or vote, con-
tributed to his glorious achievement,
and especially do we approve the courne
of our senior Senator. J. B. Foraker, for
his able and faithful advocacy of the
cause of the Cuban patriots.
We rejoice over the heroic achieve
ment of our army and navy in and the
desirable results of the Spanish-A Amerl-
Can war under the Administration of our
honored President, William Mckinley.
We are especially gratiied at the
declaration of his last annual message
that it is our duty to see that Cuba
shall have "a free and independent
government" and we ask Congress to
act speedily on this recommendation, to
the end that the island under the fl .g Of
the single star shall take its rightful
place among the Nations of the earth.
We point with pride to the record OF
each and every department of our state
Government; especially do we commend
the patriotism and fidelity of our honor
ed Governor, Asa 8. BUSHNELL; in peace
and war he has kept the standard OF
Ohio at the front, and has given US an
administration of State affairs equaled
by few of his predecessors, and surpassed
by none.
We declare our uncompromising hos
tility to unlawful trusts and combines,
and call upon the good people of the
State, regardless of party to hold up the
hands of Attorney General Monnett in
his vigorous efforts to procure the en-
forcement of the law.
We express the confident hope that
the General Government will continue
the present generous pension laws and
with liberal construction of same by the
Administration, will extend them to in
clude those who served and are yet serv-
ing in the Spanish-American war.
We are in favor of change in the
method of electing the United States
Senators, and 30 that they shall be
elected by direct vote of the people.
We are in favor of the Inauguration ol
such system in the various reforma-
tory and penal institutions of the State
as will at once provide employment fol
the inmates, and prevent tie product oi
the labor from coming in competition in
the open market with the product of the
labor of free, law abiding citizs ans, and o.
prohibiting the employment of said in
mates 90 that the profit and the product
of their labor will 60 to any party othel
than the State.
We congratulate the vigorous activ,
uncompromisin g young Republicans o
Ohio on the large attendance at and un
surpassed interest in the work of thi
convention and on the Efficient labors O
the Republican clubs throughout th'
State, end we pledge the loyal and con
slant support of this organic alton to th'
promotion of the true and fundamenta
principles of the Republican party.