The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-07-19

enough to meet both its current ex-
penses and increasing needs. Its
revenues should be so raised as to
protect the material interests of peo-
pie, with the lightest possible drain
upon their resources and maintain
ing that high standard of civilization
which has distinguished our country
for more than century of its exist
ence.
"The national credit, which has
thus far fortunately resisted every
assault upon it, must and will be up
held and strengthened. If sufficient
revenues are provided for the sup
port of the government there will be
no necessity for borrowing money or
increasing the public debt"
Three and one-half years of legis-
lation and administration have been
concluded since these words were
spoken. Have those to whom was
confined the direction of the govern
ment kept their pledges? The record
is made up. The people are not un-
familiar with what has been accom-
plished. The gold standard has been
reaffirmed and strengthened. The
endless chain has been broken and
drain upon our gold reserve no longer
frets us. The credit of the country
has hnnn n1x YoaH 70 fhn hsrp1 of
place among all nations. We are re-
funding our debt bearing and and
per cent. interest at 2 per cent, a
lower rate than that of any other
country and already more than three
hundred millions have been so fund
ed with gain to the government of
many millions of dollars Instead of
16 to /, for which our opponents con-
tended four years ago, legislation has
been enacted which, while utilizing
all forms Of our money, secures one
fixed value for every dollar, and that
the best known to the civilized world.
A tariff which protects American
labor and industry and provides am
pie revenues has been written in pub
lie law. We have lower interest and
higher wages; more money and fewer
mortgages. The worlds markets
have been opened to American pro-
ducts, which go now where they have
never gone before. We have passed
from bond-issuing to bond-paying
nation; from nation of borrowers to
nation of lenders: from deficiency
in revenue to a surplus; from fear to
confidence; from enforced idleness to
profitable employment. The public
faith has been upheld; public order
has been maintained. We have pros
perity at home and prestige abroad.
Unfortunately the threat of 1896
has just been renewed by the allied
parties without abatement or modi-
fication. The gold bill has been de-
nounced and its repeal demanded.
The menace of Is to 1, therefore, still
hangs over us with all it's dire conse-
quences to credit and confidence, to
business and industry. Then enc
mics of sound currency are rallying
their scattered forces. The people
must once more unite and overcome
the advocates of Reputation and
must not relax their energy until the
battle for public honor and honest
money shall again triumph.
A Congress which will sustain and,
if need be, strengthen the present law
can prevent financial catastrophe
which every lover of the republic is
interested to avert.
Not satisfied with assaulting the
currency and credit of the govern
ment, our political adversaries con-
denim the tariff law enacted at the eI-
ira session of Congress in 1897, known
as the Dingley act, passed in obedi-
ence to the will of the people, ex-
pressed at the election in the preced-
ing November, law which at once
stimulated our industries, opened the
idle factories and mines and gave to
the laborer and to the farmer fair re-
turns for their toll and investment.
Shall we go back to a tariff which
brings deficiency in our revenues and
destruction to our industrial enter
prises?
Faithful to its pledges in these in
ternal affairs, how has the govern
ment discharged it's international
duties?
Our platform of 1896 declared THE
Hawaiian Islands should be controll-
ed by the United States and no for
eign power should be permitted to in
terfere with them" This purpose
has been fully accomplished by an
nexation, and delegates from those
beautiful islands have participated
in the convention for which you
speak today. In the great conference
of nations at The Hague we reaffirm-
ed before the world the Monroe doc
trine and adherence to it and our de-
termination not to participate in the