The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-26
THE PARTY PLATFORM.
Principles of the Republican Party
az Enunctated by the Phila-
deIphIn Convention.

Principles of the Republican Party
M Enumerated by the Phila-
deIphin Convention.
The Republicans Of the United States
through their chosen representatives. met
IN national convention, looking back upon
an unsurpassed record Of achievement
and looking forward into a great field of
duty and opportunity, and appealing to
the judgment of their countrymen. make
these declarations:
The expectation IN which the Ameri-
can people. turning from the Democratic
party, entrusted power four years ago TO
q Republican chief magistrate and Re
publican congress. has been met and sat
ishcd. When the people then assembled
at the polls. after a term Of Democratic
legislation and administration. business
was dead industry paralyzod and the
national credit disastrously impaired. The
country's capital was hidden away and
its labor distressed and unemployed. The
Democrats had no other plan with which
10 improve the ruinous conditions which
they had themselves produced than TO
coin silver at the ratio OF Is TO l. The
Republican party. denounoing this plan
as sure to produce conditions even worse
than those from which relief was sought,
promised to restore prosperity by means
OF two legislative measures-a protective
tariff and law making gold the stand
ard OF value. The people by great ma
jorities issued TO the Republican party
q commission to enact these laws.
This commission has been executed and
the Republican promise is redeemed.
Prosperity more general and more abund-
ant than We have ever known has fol-
lowed these enactments. There IS no
longer controversy as 20 the status of
any government obligations. Every
American dollar is n gold dollar or its
assured equivalent. and American credit
stands higher than that Of any nation.
Capital Is fully employed and labor ev-
ery'where Is profltably occupied. No sim
gle factor more strikingly tells the story
Of what Republican government means TO
the country than this-that while dur
ing the whole period OF 1O7 years from
1870 to 1897 there was an eNess of eX-
ports over imports OF only 1888 OPS, 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 4S3 5S7o9L
And while the American people. sus-
tanned by this Republican legislation,
have been achieving these splendid tri-
umphs in their business and commerce,
they have conducted and In victory con-
cluded a war for liberty and human
rights. No thought Of national aggran-
dizement furnished the high purpose with
which American standards were unfurl-
ed. IT was a war unsought and patiently
resisted. but when IL came the Ameri-
oan government was ready. Its fleets
oil
In the field and the quick and signal tri-
umph OF it's forces on land and sea bore
equal tribute 10 the courage OF Ameri-
can soldiers and sailors and to the skill
and foresight of Republican statesman
ship. To ten millions OF the human race
there was given "a new birth Of free
DOM" and to the American people a new
and noble responsibility.
The Endorsement of Mckinley.
We endorse the administration OF Will
lam Mckinley. It's acts have been es-
tablished in wisdom and patriotism. and
at home and abroad It has distinctly ele-
waited and extended the influence Of the
American nation. Walking untried paths
and facing unforeseen responsibilities
President Mckinley has been In every
situation the true American patriot and
the upright statesman, clear in vision,
ways inspiring and deserving the con-
fdence of his cOuntrymen.
In asking the American people to en-
dorse this Republican record and to re-
new their commission to the Republican
party, we remind them of the fact that
the menace 70 their prosperity has al
ways resided In Democratic principles.
and no less I'm 6le general incapacity OF
the Democratic party 10 conduct public
affairs. The prime essential Of business
prosperity is public confidence In the
good sense OF the government and In its
ability TO deal intelligently with each new
problem Of administration and legislation.
That confidence the Democratic party has
never earned. IT is hOpelessly made
quate, and the country's prosperity when
Democratic success at the polls IS an
nounced halts and ceases in mere an
ticipation OF Democratic blunders and
failures.
We renew our allegiance 20 the prin-
ciple Of the gold standard and declare our
confidence I'm the wisdom Of the legisla
ton of the Fifty-sixth congress, by
which the parity Of all our money and the
stability of our currency upon gold
basis has been secured. We recognize
that interest rates are n potent factor In
production and business activity. and for
the purpose of further equalizing and Of |
further lowering the rate Of interest, we
favor such monetary legislation as will
enable the varying needs of the season
and Of all sections to be promptly met
In order that trade may be evenly sus-
tanned. labor steadily employed and COM |
merce enlarged. The volume Of money In |
circulation was never so great per capita |
as It is today.
We declare our steadfast opposition to |
the free and unlimited coinage Of silver.
No measure to that end could be con- |
sidered which was without the support |
of the leading commercial countries of |
the world. However firmly Republican |
legislation may seem to have secured the
country against the peril of base and dis
credited currency, the election Of O Dem
ocratic president could not fail to impair /
the countrys credit and to bring once /
more into question the intention of the /
American people to maintain upon the /
COLO standard the parity of their money /
circulation. The Democratic party must L
be convinced that the American people \
viii never tolerate the Chicago platform.
Condemnation of Trusts.
We recognize the necessity and pro-
priety of the honest operation of capital |
to meet new business conditions and es-
pecially TO extend our rapidly increasing |
foreign trade. but we condemn all con-
spiracies and combinations intended to i
restrict business, to create monOpolies,
10 limit production, or TO control prices,
and favor such legislation as will eff
fectiyely restrain and prevent all such i
abuses, protect and promote competition
and secure the rights OF producers labor
ers and all who are engaged In industry i
and commerce.
We renew our faith In the policy OF pro-
lection to American labor. In that policy /
our Industries have been established, d.
versihed and maintained. BY protecting /
the home market competition has been
stimulated and production cheapened.
Opportunity TO the inventive genius of
our people has been secured and wages
IN every department of labor maintained L
~ htgb rafoo bfohar NOW than aver ha- 4