Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-06-23

/ tluul w tHT w fs't
can soldiers ana sailors, and 10 the shlil
and foresight of Republican statesman
ship 70 iUvvv,vOO " the human iaes
there was given "a new blrlh ~ fiee'
dom" aud to the American people u new
and noble responsibility,
We indor se the administration OF
William Mckinley, It's acts have been
established In wisdom and In patriotism
and at home and abroad u has dis
tinctly elevated and extended TIE IN
fiuence OF the American nation,
We renew our allegiance 10 the prin'
ciple Of the gold standard, and declare
our confidence In the wisdom OF the
legislation OF the Fiyty-Sixth congress
by which the parity OF all our money
and the stability OF our currency upon
q gold bafis has been secured, We
recognize that interest rates are potent
factors In production and business ac'
tiyity. and for the purpose OF further
equaiizing and OF further lowering the
rates OF interest We favor such mon
etary legislation an WIN enable the
varying needs OF the season and or all
sections TO be promptly met In order
| that trade may be evenly sustained,
labor steadily employed and commerce
enlarged. The volume Of money IN cir
cuation was never no great per capita
as II In today. We declare our steadfast
opposition 10 the free and unlimited
| coinage OF silver, No measure to thhl
end could be- considered which was with
| out the support Of the leading COM
| mercIal countries OF the world,
We recognize the necessity and pro.
| prlcty ~ the honest cooperation OF
capital TO meet new business conditions
and especially 10 extend our rapidly In
creealnG foreign trade, but We condemn
all conspiracies ana combinations In
| 40 al .ul. a.. 10.
monopolics. To limit production or u
control prices. and favor such legisla-
| ton as viii effectively restrain and pre-
vent oil such abuses. protect ana pro-
mote 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
protection to American labor. In that
policy our industries have been estab-
lishtd. diversified and maintained. by
protecting the home market competition
has been stimulated and production
cheapened, Opportunity to the IN
veative genius OF our people has been
secured. and wages In every depart
ment OF labor maintained at high rates,
higher now than ever before, and al
ways distinguishing our working people
In their better conditions of life from
those OF any competing country. 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 for
oiGn markets.
In the further interest Of American
Workmcn, we favor u more effective re-
strictlon OF the immigration OF cheap
labor from foreign lands. the ex-
tension Of 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 ;ipon foreign
shipping for nine tcnths OF our foreign
carrying is O great loss to the Industry
of this country. The national defense
and naval efficiency OF this country,
moreover. supply q compelling reason
for legislation which win enable 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 II ls the
governments duty to provide for the
survivors and for the widows and or
phans Of those who have fallen In the
country's wars.
We commend the policy of the Repub-
lican party In maintaining the efficiency
of the civil service.
1t was the plain purpose Of the 18th
amendment to the constitution to pre-
vent discrimination on account of race
or color In regulating the elective fran
chise. Devices of state governments.
whether by statutory or constitutional
enactment, to avoid the purpose Of ttis
amendment are revolutionary, and
should be condemned
Public movements looking to q per-
mament Improvement Of the roads and
highways of the country meet with our
cordial approval.
We favor the extension Of the rural
free delivery service wherever Its eX-
tension may be justified.
The Dlngley act, amended to provide
sufficient revenue for the conduct of the
war, has so we'll performed its work tina
1t has been possible to reduce the war
debt in the sum Of $40,0OO,O00. The coun-
try Is now justified in expecting and 1t
will be the policy Of the Republican
party TO bring about reduction of the |
war taxes.
We favor the construction, ownership |
control and protection of an isthmian
canal by the government of the United |
States.
New markets are necessary for tho |
increasing surplus of our farm prod |
ucts. In the interest Of our expanding |
commerce we recommend that congress |
industries in the charge Of n secretary |
with a seat in the cabinet. The United |
States consular system should be re-
organized under the supervision of this
new department.
The American government must pro-
tect the person and property of every
citizen wherever they are wrOngfully
violated or placed In peril.
President Mckinley has conducted the
f,roiup n m q ire of tba TTpifo1 Sto TO- uIth
distinguished credit to the American
people. In releasing us from the vexa-
tiOus conditions Of European alliance
for the government Of Samoa his course
is especially to be commended. BY Sc
suring to our undivided control the most
important island Of the Samoan group
and the best harbor In the southern
Pacific, every American interest has
been safeguarded,
We commend the part taken by our
government In the peace conference at
The Hague. We assert our steadfast
adherence to the policy announced in the
Monroe doctrine. The provisions of The
Hague convention were wisely regarded
when President Mckinley rendered his
friendly offices in the interest OF peace
between Great Britain and the South
African republics.
In accepting by the treaty Of Paris the
just responsibility Of our victories in the
spanish war, the president and the sem
ate won the undoubted approval of the
American people. That course created
our responsibility before the world and
with the unorganized population whom
our Intervention had freed from Spain,
to provide for the maintenance of law
and order and for the establishment OF
good government and for the perform
ance Of international obligations. Our
authority could not be less than CIR re-
sponsibility. and wherever sovereign
rights were extended II became the high
duty Of the government to maintain its
authority, to put down armed insurrec.
tion and to confer the blessings of liberty
and civilization upon all the rescued
peoples. The largest measure of self
government consistent with their well
fare and our duties shall be secured to
them by law.
To Cuba independence and self-gov-
ernmsnt were assured in the same voice
by which war was declared. and to the
letter this pledge shall be performed.
The Republican party. upon its his
Tory and npnu this n rat tinu nj |