Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-14
Congressman &. S. Minor.

Why should the Republican party
be retained in power? Well. let US see
if we can not give some cOgent reasons
that will answer your question.
First. Republican politics are pro-
greSSive. They adjust themselves to
the conditions Of today, and as near
as may be, to what they are expected
TO be tomorrow or next year. They
deal in practical manner with
questions that are up for settlement
now, and waste no time dragging the
bottom of Stagnant pools of the past.
IN trying to determine what the
fathers were doing and saying one
hundred years ago.
Second, The Republican party enacts
laws for the living progressive citizen,
puts broad construction on the con-
StltutlOn. and applies its provisions in
such manner as to meet present de-
mandS, and without injury to the
instrument either.
Third, The Republican party leads
the American people in their grand
march OF progress. 1t points out the
road that leads to happiness, content
ment and higher civilization.
Fourth, It is an affirmative, and not
a negative quantity. 1t prOclaimS its
political doctrines becauSeit cOnceives
them to be right, and then with all
the power given it by the people, it
defends it's principles. The people
have more respect for, and more con-
tidence in the political party that
leads or marches abreast of them than
they can possibly have in the one that
goes to the rear, and then engages in
prayer for visitation of famineS. peSti-
lence, drOughtS and potato rot.
Fifth, When the people give the
Republican party the power of re-
demptlOn, their promises are redeemed
and never bartered away for cheap
made foreign goods, nor for a 50-cent
POpulistic dollar. History confirms,
and experience proves that the Repub-
lican party never engaged in lowering
the flag in diShOnOr, nor in filling poor
houses with American citizens willing
to work, but deprived of an OppOr-
tunity to do so.
Sixth, In 1896, the people demanded
relief from the unfortunate conditions
by which they were being stifled. That
the situation was one demanding
relief all admitted. The two parties
enunciated their politics and then
went before the people. One proposed
free trade and unrestricted coinage of
silver: the other pledged itself to
protection and the gold standard. For
four years the people had been en-
gagged in reading history, patching old
clothes and dieting on Democratic
promises. They therefore took the
shortest and Surest cut to relief, by
voting the Republican ticket Nc
Kinley was elected and inaugurated.
The Republican congress enacted a
tariff law and have settled the tinan-
cial question by statute that pro-
vides that the best money known to
mankind shall be the standard of value
for the American people. The magic
hand that sent the glad news of Nc
Kinley'S election throughout the
country, seemed to have operated to
swing open the mill and factory doors
to the idle labor Of the land. The
purse strings Of our people were
lOOSened, and the sun began to shine,
lighting up the places that for four
years had been darkened by perniciOuS
theories On economics and finance.
The labOring man asked for an OppOr-
tunity to work. We enacted the tariff
law and gave it to him. The capital
ist asked for guarantee that his good
money invested today be returned to
him in money equally as good tOmOr-
row. We gave him that guarantee
and recorded it in the statute book.
We responded to the demand of the
people for an abundance of good
money. The circulation has increased
from 81, GIG, 100000 in 1896, to $1,000
100000 in May, 1900. Gold has in
creased from 1854, 900, OOOin December,
1896, to $S14 900, 900 in May, 1900. The
per capita circulation has increased
from So. 80. in 1896, to S26. 50, in 1900.
We have turned an adverse balance of
trade, amounting to more than
$1S, 100000 in 1898, to a balance in our
favor in 1899 of 5000, 100000.
We were victorious in the armed
contest with Spain, and we paid all
our bills at sight. We are now en-
gagged in SURPRISING an armed rebel
lion in the Philippine islands, and at
the same time surplus is accumula-
ting in the treasury. Study the
record made by the Republican party
since it has been in power, count up
its glorious achievements that have
redOunded to the credit of our country
and to American manhood, and then
compare the inventory with anything
that any other political party ever did,
at any time in the history of the world,
then tell me if you think the people
are for moment seriously entertain
ing proposition to change conditions
so eminently satisfactory, for theories
most of which have been declared
obsolete or unworthy of even a trial.
No it won happen. The Republican
party will again receive the cordial
support of the American people, be-
cause it has earned it.