The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-08-25

Maine are exceedingly anxious that the
attention of the voters of this State
should be diverted so far as possible in
the present campaign, from the unsavory
record of the national democracv. They
would be glad to have the people forget.
If possible, that this Is a presidential
year. and that the verdict in Maine in
September will have very important
bearing upon the national election, and
upon the determination of the great
policies of government which are to be
In force in the United States during the
next four years, ard upon which will
vitality depend the progress and pros
perity of the American people. They
would be glad to have them overlook
the fact that every republican vote cast
in September will be an endorsement OF
the splendid administration Of President
Roosevelt and Of the Dingley tariff law,
under which our country has prospered
as never before in its history. 1t is not
surprising that they should not desire
to call attention to the pitiable silence
Of their party platform on the money
question, its vicious assault upon the
protective system, the continuance OF
which means the prosperity of American
industry, the present high scale OF
wages, and the good prices for products
which are so essential to the continued
welfare of our great agricultural In
terests.
These are all matters Of momentous
and vital import to the American people,
but it is very evident that the Maine
democracy has solemnly resolved to
dodge them. 1t is not surprising that
democratic leaders in this State SHOULD
dread to have public attention called 10
the dark days when the democratic
party was last in power in this country
when. under a free trade regime. our
factories were closed, the prices Of agri-
cultural products were too low to give
,roftahle returns to our farmers. and
when public soup houses were estab-
lshed in the great centres of population
a. food the vast army of the unem-
ployed.
IT is not surprising, We say. that the
Maine democrats should desire to con-
duct a campaign in this presidential
voar as free as possible from the gaunt
e,ectre of the last democratic national
administration. During the four years
of the administration of President Har-
rison the excess of our revenues over our
expenditures had amounted to $209, 554,-
s44 Under the Cleveland adminis.ra-
tion the current expenditures of the gov
eminent exceeded its current revenues
during the four years to the amount of
s135 40T, o56. To meet this deficit in the
current expenditures of the government
the Cleveland administration issued gold
bonds bearing interest a per cent
After four years of democratic rule, in
a period Of profound peace, the national
debt, which had been reduced to $685.
O24, $50 under the Harrison administra-
ZION had been increased to $S47, 3e3, 800
In the last year of democratic rule but
1904 miles Of railroad were built in the
United States; in 1903, under Roosevelts
administration. 4.50o miles We're built. In
the last year Of democratic rule our
domestic exports amounted to $685., 200.-
4S7; in 1903. under a republican admins
tration and benehcent operation of the
Dingley tariff law, they reached the stu
pendous total of s1,393, 231, 302.
In view of these facts and figures.
which contrast so powerfully the con-
ditions prevailing in this country under
republican and democratic rule it is not
surprising that the democratic leaders
in this State are anxious to dodge the
great national issues that naturally and
properly enter into presidential cam
paign.
The democratic candidate for gov
error, therefore. puts forward only two
issues. One is State Expenditures and
the other is Resubmission for License
Of the Open Rumshop. The first is the
Man of Straw. The second is the Real
Issue. The democracy had hoped to
keep its Man of Straw so persistently
before the eyes of the people that they
would forget about the Real Issue. They
thought that if they kept the Man Of
Straw sufficiently on the moye they 9,