The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-01-28
FULFILLED THE PLATFORM.
The Promises of the Republican Par
ty Have Been Faithful
ly Kept.

| A party that keeps faith with the
people deserves the commentator of
all who believe that political platforms
are guides for action, not mere rhetor-
ic 70 catch votes. The platform adopt
ed by the republican national conven-
tion in ST. Louis June IS, 1896, has al
ready been wrought into history. Every
intelligent voter asks that his party
not only have full purpose to vita!ize
its principles as announced, but that it
shall show the capacity to do it when
intrusted with power. Tested by this
standard the republican party has per-
formed It's duty with rare promptness
and ability. Its promises of two years
ago are accomplished facts. 1t was
hoped and believed when the platform
was adopted that it could be carried in
to effect peacefully; but chain of un-
expected events impelled the people
to engage in foreign war as last re-
sort. This crisis came upon a repub-
lean administration and was met with
complete success. Emergencies. NO
matter how extraordinary. have been
faced with a uniformly favorable re-
suit, and now that peace has returned
the party feels that congratulations are
in order.
In view of what has happened the
language of the platform in regard to
Cuba is deeply significant. After an ex-
preston of sympathy with the Cubans
in their fight for independence the
plank continued: 1.-THE government of
Spain. having lost control of Cuba. and
! being unable to protect the property
and lives of resident American citizens,
or to comply with its treaty regula-
tons. we believe that the government
| of the United States should actively
use its influence and good offices to
restore peace and give independence
to the island" The good offices of the
| United States were rendered and re-
| jected. Peace is restored in Cuba. Its
independence is assured. All came to
| pass in less than two years after the
| republicans assumed control. Another
passage in the platform reads: 1.-The
! Hawaiian islands should be controlled
by the United States. and no foreign
power should be permitted to interfere
with them But one way existed to
carry this into effect, and that was an
nexation. Hawaii. accordingly, has
| been made part of our territory. No
one foresaw in June. 1896. that before
January /. 1899. Cuba would be free
and Hawaii under our flag. But both
ideas were in the republican platform.
and when the occasion came a repub-
lican administration turned the Amer
lean aspirations into deeds.
There was in the platform the
promise of escape from an era of hard
times and political disaster, and it has
been kept. "All our silver and paper
currency must be maintained at parity
! with gold" was another declaration
! which stands INDICATED. The protec-
tive tariff outlined is on the statute
books. The enlargement of the navy
and improved coast defenses are the
| fufilment of another plank. In the
last paragraph of the platform occur
these words: such are the principles
and policies of the republican party.
BY these principles we will abide. and
these policies we will put into execu.
ton" The sincerity of the avowal has
been placed beyond question. A strik-
ing parallel might be drawn between
the realization of the republican ma
tional platform of 1896 and the neglect
and perversion of the democratic plat
form of 1892 in which the people trusted
tc the full extent of executive and legis,
latlve power. But the bitter disappoint-
ments of that period are not pleasant
subject to dwell upon. The point to be
impressed is that every party must
stand by its platform. and be equal to
its demands, to be worthy the respec,
and confidence of the American people.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.