The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-06-23
THE PLATFORM.


pealing to the judgment of their countrymen,
make these declarations:
The expectation in which the American peo-
pie, turning from the Democratic party, in
trusted power four years ago to a Republican
Chief Magistrate and a Republican Congress,
has been met and satisfied. When the people
then assembled at the polls. after period OF
Democratic legislation and administration. bust
ness was dead, industry pa-alyzed and the
national credit disastrously impaired. the
distressed and unemployed. The Democrats
had no other plan with which to improve the
ruinous conditions which they had themselves
produced than to coin silver at the ratio of 10
The Republican party, denouncing this plan
those from OF which relief was sought promised
to restore prosperity by means of two legisla-
tive measures-a protective tariff and law
making gold the standard value. The people by
great majorities issued to the Republican party
a commission to enact these laws. This COM
mission has been executed, and the Republican
Prosperity more general and more abundant
than we have ever known, has followed these
enactments. There is no longer controversy as
to the value of any Government obligations
Every American dollar Is a gold dollar or its
assured equivalent. and American credit stands
higher than that of any nation. Capital is fully
employed and labor everywhere is probably
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 107 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, 1894.
And while the American people. sustained by
this Republican legislation, have been achieving
these splendid triumphs in their business and
commerce, they have conducted. and in victory
concluded, war for liberty and human rights.
No thought of national ACKNOWLEDGMENT tarnish-
ed the high purpose with which American STAN
dards were unfurled. 1t was war unsought
and patiently resisted, but when it came the
American Government was ready. Its fleets
were cleared for action; 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 soldiers and sailors and
to the skill and foresight of Republican states
manship. The 100000 of the human race there
was given "a new birth of freedom and to the
American people new and noble responsibility.
We indorse the Administration of William
dom and in patriotism, and at home and abroad
it has distinctly elevated and extended the
influence of the American nation. Walking I'M
tried paths and facing unforeseen responsible
ties, President Mckinley has been in every sit
uation the true American patriot and the up
right statesman, clear in vision, strong in judg-
ment, firm in action, always inspiring and de-
serving the confidence of his countrymen.
In asking the American people to indorse this
Republican record and to renew their commits
sion to the Republican party, we remind them
of the fact that the menace to their prosperity
has always resided in Democratic principles and
no less in the general incapacity-of the Demo
prime essential of business prosperity is public
confidence in the good sense of the Government
and in its ability to deal intelligenty with each
That confidence the Democratic party has never
earned 1t is hopelessly inadequate. and the
country's prosperity, when Democratic success
at the polls is announced, halts and ceases in
mere anticipation of Democratic plumbers and
failures.
We renew our allegiance to the principle of
the gold standard and declare our confidence in
the wisdom of the legislation of the Fifty-sixth
Congress, by which the parity of all our money
and the stability of our currency upon a gold
basis has been secured. We recognize that in
terest rates are a potent factor in production
and business activity, and for the purpose of
further equalizing and of further lowering the
rates of interest we favor such monetary legis-
lation as will enable the varying needs of the
season and of all sections to be promptly met in
order that trade may pc evenly sustained labor
We declare our steadfast opposition to the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver; No measure to
the support of the world. However firmly Re-
publican legislation may seem to have secured
the country against the peril of base and dis
credited currency, the election of a Democratic
President could not fail to impair the country s
credit and to bring once more into question the
intention of the American people to maintain
upon the gold standard the parity of their mon
ey circulation. The Democratic party must be
convinced that the American people will never
tolerate the Chicago platform.
We recognize the necessity and propriety of
the honest cooperation of capital to meet new
business conditions and especially to extend
our rapidly increasing foreign trade. but we
condemn all conspiracies and combinations in
tended to restrict business to create mOnOpo-
lies, to limit production, or to control prices,
and favor such legislation as will effectively re-
strain and prevent all such abuses, protect and
promote competition and secure the rights of
producers. laborers and all who are engaged in
industry and commerce.
We renew our faith in the policy of protec-
ton to American labor. In that policy our in
dustres have been established, diversified and
int ms rkQf
competition has been stimulated and prOduc-
ton cheapened. Opportunity to the inventive
Of
at high rates, higher now than ever before, and
always distinguishing our working people in
their better conditions of life from those of any
competing country. Enjoying the blessings of
the American common school, secure in the
right of self-government and protected in the
occupancy of their own markets, their con-
stantly-increasing knowledge and skill have en-
abled them finally to enter the markets of the
world.
We favor the associated policy of reciprocity
so directed as to open our markets on favorable
terms for what we do not ourselves produce in
return for free foreign markets.
In the further interest of American wOrkmen
we favor more effective restriction of the inn
migration of cheap labor from foreign lands,
the extension for opportunities of education
for working children, the raising of the age
limit for child labor, the protection of free
LABOR as against contract convict labor and an
effective system of labor insurance.
Our present dependence upon foreign ship
ping for nine-tenths of our foreign carrying is
a great loss to the industry of this country. 1t
is also serious danger TO our trade, for its sud
would seriously cripple our expanding foreign
commerce. The national defense and naval
efficiency of this country, moreover, supply a
Compelling reason for legislation which will en-
able us to recover our former place among the
trade carrying fleets of the world.
The nation owes debt of profound gratitude
to the soldiers and sailors who have fought its
battles, and it is the governments duty to pro-
vide for the survivors and for the widows and
orphans of those who have fallen in the coun-
try,s wars. The pension laws, founded on this
lust sentiment should be literally administered
and preference should be given wherever prac-
ticable, with respect to employment in the pub
lie service to soldiers and sailors and to their
widows and orphans.
We commend the policy of the Republican
party in maintaining the efficiency of the civil
Service. The Administration has acted wisely
in its effort to secure for public service ia Cuba,
Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippine Islands,
only those whose fitness has been determined
by training and experience. We believe that
employment in the public service in these ter
ritories should be confined as far as practicable
TO their inhabitants.
IT was the plain purpose of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution to prevent dis
elimination on account Of race or color in regu-
lating the elective franchise. Devices of State
governments, whether by statutory or constitu-
tional enactment, to avoid the purpose of this
amendment are revolutionary and should be
Public movements looking to permanent inn
proyemeut of the roads and highways of the
country meet with our cordial approval, and we
recommend this subject to the earnest con-
sideration of the people and of the Legislatures
of the several States.
We favor the extension of the rural free-de-
livery service wherever its extension may be
justified.
In further pursuance of the constant policy
of the Republican party to provide free homes
on the public domain. we recommend ade-
ouate national legislation to reclaim the arid
lands of the United States, reserving control of
the distribution of water for irrigation to the
respective States and Territories,
We favor home rule for, and the early admis-
sion to Statehood of the Territories of New
Mexico, Arizona and Oaklahoma.
The Dingley act amended to provide sufficient
revenue for the conduct of the war, has so well
performed its work that IL has been possible to
reduce the war debt in the sum of $40.000.000.
So ample are the Governments revenues and so
great is the public confidence in the integrity
of its obligations that its newly funded per
cent. bonds sold at premium. The country. is
now justified in expecting and it will be the
policy of the Republican party to bring about a
reduction of the war taxes.
We favor the construction, ownership, con-
troll and protection of an Isthmian canal by the
Government of the United States. New mar
kets are necessary for the increasing surplus of
our farm products. Every effort should be
ally in the Orient, aud the Administration 10 to
be warmly commended for its successful effort
TO commit all trading and coloniziag nations to
the policy of the open door in China.
In the interest of our expanding commerce,
nd hat