The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-22
-ule. which the clerk proceeded


printed in the afternoon papers, action
upon his proposition which only affect
ed rules l and II, be postponed until
tomorrow and that the remainder of
the report be adopted He backed his
suggestion with a motion.
The motion raised a storm of protest
ing southern delegates. Delegates
from all the southern states were on
their feet. John r. Lynch, a colored
delegate from Mississippi, stood on his
chair and secured recognition for
substitute to the Quay amendment.
This recited that in any state where
the right to vote was abridged because
of race color or previous condition of
servitude, the representation in con-
gress should be in proportion TO the ex-
tent of the disfranchisement.
a point of order was promptly made
that the substitute. was not germane
and Chairman Lodge sustained the
point.
Mr.. Quay's motion finally prevailed
that rules l and II with his amend
ment, go over until tomorrow, after
which the other rules were agreed TO
without dissent.
THE PLATFORM.
This out of the way, Senator Fair
banks, of Indiana, chairman of the
committee on resolutions, was recog-
niZed to present the platform to the
convention, which he read from the
stage, and was as follows:
''The republicans of the United
States. through their chosen represen-
tatives met in national convention,
looking back upon an unsurpassed re-
cord of achievement and looking for
ward into a great field of duty and op-
portunity, and appealing to the judg-
ment of their countrymen, make their
decorations:
''The expectation in which the Amer
lean people, turning from the demo-
| cratic party, entrusted power four
years ago to republican chief magiS-
| trate and a republican congress, has
been met and satisfied. When the
| people then assembled at the polls,
| after a term of democratic legislation
| and administra ton, business was dead,
| industry paralyzed and the national
credit disaStrously impaired. The
| country's capital was hidden away and
| it's labor distressed and unemployed.
| The democrats held no other plan with
| which to improve the ruinouS condi
| tions which they had themselves pro-
| duced than to coin silver at the ratio
| of 16 to 1. The republican party, de-
| nOuncing 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 tar
| iff and a law making gold the stan
dard of value. The people by great
majorities issued to the republican
party commission to enact these
| laws. This commission has been exc
| cuted, and the republican promise is
redeemed. Prosperity more general
| and more abundant than we have
| ever known has followed these enact
| ments. There is no longer contrOVer-
sy 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
fuller employed and labor everywhere
is profiitably occupied.
| FOREIGN POLICY OF THE ADMIN
ISTRATION.
| And while the American people,
| sustained by this republican legisla-
| ton, have been achieving these splen-
| did triumphS in their business and
| commerce, they have conducted and in
/ Victory concluded a war for liberty
| and human rights. No thought % nl--
| tional ACKNOWLEDGMENT tarnis-.ed the
J high purpose with which the American
| standards were unfurled. 1t was war
unsought, and patiently resisted, but
when it came the American govern
| ment was ready. To ten millions OF
| the human race there was given ''neT
| birth of freedom and to the Ameri-
| can people new and double response
bility.
I'VE endose the administration OF
| William Mckinley. Its acts have been
| established in wisdom and in patriot
ism, and at home and abroad it has
| distinctly elevated and extended the
| influence of the American nation
Walking untried paths and facing un-
| forseeen responsibilities, President Nc
kinley has been in every situation the
| true American patriot and the upright
l St N vision strong
judgment, firm in action, always in
spring and deserving the confidence
of his countrymen.
In asking the American people tC
endorse this republican record and to
renew their commission to the repub-
lican party, we remind them of the
| fact that the menace to their prosper
ity has always resided in democratic
principles and no less in the general
| incapacity of the democratic party tC
conduct public affairs. The prime es-
Sential of business prosperity is pub
lie 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. 1t is hopelessly made
Quate to the country'S prosperity
which, when democratic success al
the polls is announced, halts and ceases
blunderS and failures.
THE GOLD STANDARD.
I'VE renew our allegiance to the
principle of the gold standard and de-
clare our confidence IN the wisdom OF
the legislation of the Fifty-sixth con.
gress by which the ~ of all oul
money and the stabiI. of our curren-
cy upon a gold basis has been secured
We recognize that interest rates are
potent factor in production and bus
mess activity, and for the purpose o1
further equalizing and of further low
ering the rates of interest, we favor
such moretary legislation as will en-.
able the varying needs of the season
and all sections to be promptly me-
in order that trade may he evenly
sustained, labor steadily employed
and commerce enlarged. The volume
of money in circulation was never Sc
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 suppor
of the leading commercial countrie:
of the world. However firmly repubii
/ o;Clo