Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-02

late Thomas b. Reed spoke word of re-
proof. He assured his friends that the
democratic party was not dead; he assured
them that it would live. why" said he
there always must be a hind end OF
things"
Republican Party's Responsibility
The republican party is the party of
progress. 1t must spy out the way and
1t was born, aud that it is doing now. Nor
Is the country whitening ana its power de-
parting under its leadership.
For some reason or other. Mt any rate,
the working people of the United States
never had such opportunity to boost wages
MS they have now: and that they are neg
lectful of their opportunity cannot be
charged.
Prosperity For All.
Prosperity, under the gold standard, is
being made to serve everybody.
The republican party takes to itself
some credit. as it has the right.
There Is close relauon, my friends, be-
tween individual liberty and industrial
freedom. The republican party has never
failed to keep this relation in mind, though
1t has often been charged, MS 1t is now
charged. with indiffcrtnce toward one or
the other. But l insist. and You will in
sist. that the party has been steadfast in
its support of the unuerlying and vital
principles which called it into being.
A Memorable Time.
In the national convention of the party
in Chicago in 1860. at the threshold of its
national responsibility and power this dec
laration was made:
That, while providing revenue for the
support of the general government by du-
ties upon imports. sound policy requires
such an adjustment OF these mposts as to
encourage the development of the indus
trial interests of the whole country: and
we commend that policy of national ex-
changes which secures to the workingmen
liberal wages. to agriculture remuneratiye
prices, to mechanics and manufacturers an
adequate reward for their skill, labor and
enterprise, and to the nation commercial
prosperity and independence"
Might Well Reaffirm.
i feel free to predict that this conven-
tion might easily. without reservation, re-
affirm that plank from the platform of
1860
alter four years of Industrial war,
blghtcd hopes and broken promises, the
rule of the democratic party, at Washing
ton was broken by the return of the re-
publican party In 1897 to its rightful
place. In the st. Louis convention of the
year before. in the platform upon which
Mckinley was elected and in the platform
upon which a republican congress was
elected, the national republican party de-
clared:
I'VE renew and emphasize our allegiance
to the policy of protection as the bulwark
of American independence and the founda-
fs<,, 80 A,.,r
perity. This true American policy taxes
foreign produces and encourages home
industry: it puts the burden of revenue on
foreign goods; it secures the American
market for the American producer; it up
holds the American standard of wages fol-
the American workingman: it puts the fac
tory by the side of the farm, and makes
the American farmer less dependent on
foreign demand and price: it diffuses gen
eral thrift, and Pounds the strength of all
In the strength of each. In its reasonable
application 1t is just, fair and impartial
equally opposed to foreign control and do
nestle monopoly, to sectional discrimina.
ton and individual favoritism.'
The Tariff Platform.
That. take it, is the tariff platform of
the republican party of Iowa. The repub-
licans of this state have made no depart
y
stand by the historic policy of the repnb
licnn party in giving protection to home
industries. and point for ample vindica
ton to the extraordinary rapidity will
which our national resources have been de
veloped and our industrial and financia
Independence secured"
The republicans of this state. If l know
their minds. have no reservations in af
firmng, in the language of the national
platform of 1900, this statement:
I'VE renew our faith in the policy OF
protection to American labor. In that
policy our industries have been establish
ed, diversified and maintained. BY pro
tecting the home market, competition has
been stimulated and production cheapened
Opportunity to the inventive genius of our
people has been secured and wages in CIV.
cry department of labor maintained at
high rates, higher now than ever before,
always distinguishing our working people
in their better conditions of life from
those of any competing country
Policy and Application.
The policy is one thing; the application
of the policy to changing conditions is an
other thing. While we insist on stability
of economic policy as a prime economic
need of our country, take it the republi
cans of Iowa agree to the declaration OF
the president of the United States in his
last annual message that this stability
should not be fossilization." 1t would be
extremely unfortunate, as the lessons OF
experience give us warrant for believing
If sweeping and violent changes in oul
tariff system should be undertaken, and
especially so, as the president pointed oui
in his recent Minneapolis address, .if ap
preached on the theory that the principle
of the protective tariff was to be abandon
ed The fact, however. is not for one mo
ment to be lost sight of that change is in
evitable. Fossilization will not be toler
ated. Dictation apart from consideration
of the broad interests of national welfare
vii not be endured Where the industrial
conditions so frequently change, as Will
the president in his late tariff speech, ST
is matter of prime Importance that we
should be able from time to time to adap,
our economic policy to changed conditions
That is what our platform in 1901 declar
ed. That is what our platform in 1902 re
affirmed.
For Protection Always.
The expressions ] have quoted give cleal
definition Of the policy of protection. TIL,
republican party from the beginning o.
It's history has given the policy uniform in
sterpretation. The object is, in associa
ton with raising revenue, to safeguard
the industrial interests of our people--tt
protect the labor of our country agains
unequal competition. 1t follows, of course
that. as conditions change, some of on
tariffs may be too low, and such tariff
should be raised; it is even more likel,