Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-06-20

Republican Platform.

Philadelphia, June 20.-Tne platlJrm
as adopted by the National Republican
Convention ut Philadelphia SETS forth:
The republicans of the United States
through their chosen representatives
met 10 national convention, looking
back upon an unsurpassed record OF
achievement and looking forward into
great field of duty and opportunity,
aud appealing to the judgment OF their
countrymeD, make these declarations:
The expectation in which the Ameri-
can people, turning from the demo-
cractic party, entrusted power four
years ago TO a republican chief magis-
trate and a republican Congress, has
cen met and satisfied. When the
people then assembled at the polls after
term of democratic legislation, bust
ness was dead, industry paralyzed, ana
the national credit disastrously i'm
paired. The country's capital was
hidden away and its labor distressed and
unemployed. The democrats had no
other plan with which to improve the
ruinous conditions which they had
themselves produced than to coin sill
yer at the ratio Of 16 to l.
The republican party, denouncing this
plan ss sure to produce conditions even
worse than those from which relief
was sought, promised to restore pros
perity by means of Two legislative
measures-a protective tariff and law
making gold the standard Of value.
The people by great msjorities issued
to the republican party a commission
to enact these laws. This commission
has been executed, and the republican
promise is redeemed. Prosperity
more general and more abundant than
we have ever known has followed
these enactments. There ia no longer
controversy as to the value OF any gov
eminent obligations.
Every American dollar is q gold dol.
lar or its assured equivalent. and
American credit stands higher than that
of any other nation.
Capital is fully employed and labor
everywhere Is profitably occupied. No
single fact can more strikingly tell the
story OF what republican government
means TO the country than this-that
while during the whole period OF one
hundred and seven years from 1880 to
1897 there was an excess of exports
over imports, OF only 1888, 02S, 497,
there has been in the short three years
of the present republican administra'
ton an excess OF exports over imports
In the enormous sum OF 81 ,483 ,537 ,O94
And while the American people, sus-
tanned by this republican legislation,
nave been achieving these splendid
triumphs In their business and COM
merce, they have conducted and in
victory concluded a war for liberty and
human rights. No thought of national
ACKNOWLEDGMENT furnished the high pur-
pose with which American standards
were unfurled. 1t was war unsought
and patiently resisted, but when II
came the American government was
ready. Its fleets were cleared for &C.
ton. Its armies were in the field and
the quick and signal triumph of its
forces on land and sea bore equal
tribute to the courage Of American SOL
diers and sailors, and to the skill and
foresight of republican craftsmanship.
To ten millions of the human race
there was given "a new birth Of free.
DOM" and to the American people q
new and noble responsibility.
We endorse the administration Of
William Mckinley. Its acts have been
established 10 wisdom and in patriot
ism, and at home and abroad it has dis
tinctiy elevated and extended the in
huence of the American nation. Walk
ing untried paths, and facing unfore-
seen responsibilities, President McKin-
ley hss been in every situation the true
American patriot and the upright
statesman, clear in vision, strong in
judgment, firm in action, always in-
spring, aud deserving the confidence
OF his countrymeD.
10 asking the American people to en-
dorse the republican party, we remind
them of the fact that the menace to
their prosperity has always resid-
ed in democratic principles and
no less in the general incapsci-
ty OF the democratic party to
conduct public affairs. The prime es-
sential OF business prosperity is public
confidence 10 the good sense OF the gov
eminent and its ability to deal intel
ligently with each new problem of ad-
ministration and legislation. That con-
idence the democratic party has never
earned. 1t is hopelessly insdequ ,te
and the country's prosperity when DEM
ocratic success at the polls is announced,
halts and ceases in mere anticipation OF
democratic plumbers and failures.
We renew allegiance to the principles
OF the gold standard and declare our con-
fidence in the wisdom of the Legislation
of the fifty.sxth Congress by which the
parity of all our money and the stsbiI
ity of our currency upon gold basis
mas been secured. We recognize that
interest rates are q potent factor Ia
production and business activity, and
for the purpose OF futher equal
ling and of fur,hs lowering the
rates Of interests, we favor such
monetary legislation as will enable
the varying needs of the season
and OF eli sections to be promptly
met in order that trade may be eveoly
labor steadily employed, and
commerce enlarged. The volume of
money in circulation Was never 80 great
per capita as it is today. We declare
Dur stesdfast opposition to the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. No meas
nre to that end could be considered
which was without the support of the
leading commercial countries OF the
world.
However firmly republican leeisla.
ton may seem to have secured the coun-
Try again It the peril of base and dis,
credited currency, the election Of
democratic President could not
fail to impair the country's credit and
TO bring once more into question the
fa 81 ha Annar;oor ,.a1nla 80