The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-08-02

mas betrayed MS trust ne VIII De pun
ished to the full extent of the law
without regard to whether he was
appointed under a republican or a
democratic administration. This is
the efficient way to turn the rascals
out and to keep them out, and it has
the merit of sincerity. Moreover the
betrayals of trust in the last seven
years have been Insignificant in num-
ber when compared with the extent
of the public service. Never has the
administration of the government
been on a cleaner and higher level:
never has the public work of the ma
ton been done more honestly and
efficiently.
Assuredly 1t is unwise to change
the policies which have worked so
well and which are now working so
well. Prosperity has come at home.
The national honor and interest have
been upheld abroad. We have placed
the finances of the nation upon a
sound gold basis. We have done this
with the aid of many who were form
erly our opponents, but who would
neither openly support nor silently
acquiesce in the heresy of unsound
finance; and we have done II against
the convinced and violent opposition
of the mass of our present opponents
who still refuse to recant the un-
sound opinions which for the moment
they think IL inexpedient to assert.
We know what we mean when we
speak of an honest and stable cur
rency We mean the same thing from
year to year. We do not have to
avoid a definite and conclusive COM
initial on the most important issue
which has recently been before the
people, and which may at any time
again. Upon the principles which
underlie this issue the convictions of
half of our number do not clash with
those of the other half. So long as
the republican party is in power the
gold standard is settled, not as a mat
ter of temporary political expediency,
not because of shifting conditions in
the production of gold in certain min
ing centers, but in accordance with
what we regard as the fundamental
principles of national morality and
wisdom.
Under the financial legislation
which we have enacted there is now
ample circulation for every business
need; and every dollar of this circu-
lation is worth a dollar in gold. We
have reduced the interest-bearing
debt and in still larger measure the
interest on that debt All of the
war taxes imposed during the
Spanish war have been removed
with view to relieve the peo-
pie and to prevent the accumula-
tion of an unnecessary surplus. The
result is that hardly ever before have
the expenditures and income of the
government so closely corresponded.
In the fiscal year that has just closed
the excess of income over the ordi-
nary expenditures was nine millions
OF dollars. This does not take &C
count of the fifty millions expended
out of the accumulated surplus for
the purchase of the Isthmian Canal.
II is an extraordinary proof of the
sound financial condition of the ma
1 ton that instead of following the
usual course in such matters and
throwing the burden upon posterity
/ by an issue of bonds, we were able TO
make the payment outright and yet
after 1t to have In the treasury a sur
plus of one hundred and sixty-Une
millions. Moreover, we were able 10
pay this fifty million of dollars out OF
hand without causing the slightest
disturbance to business conditions.
We have enacted a tariff law under
which during the past few years the
country has attained a height of ma
terial well-being never before reach
ed Wages are higher than ever be-
fore. That whenever the need arises
there should be a readjustment of the
tariff schedules is undoubted; but
such changes can with safety be made
only by those whose devotion to the
principle of a protective tariff is be.
yond question; for otherwise the
changes would amount not to read.
justment> but to repeal. The read.
justment when made must maintain
and not destroy the protective prin
ciple. To the farmer, the merchant
the manufacturer this is vital: but
perhaps no other man is so much in.
terested as the wage-worker in the
maintenance of our present economic
system. both as regards the finances
and the tariff. The standard of liv.
ing of our wage-workers is higher
than that of any other country, and 4
can not so remain unless we have &
protective tariff which shall always
keep as a minimum a rate of duty suf
ficient to cover the difference between
the labor cost here and abroad. Those
who. like our opponents, "denounc'
protection as a robbery" thereby ex
plicitly commit themselves to th'
proposition that If they were to re
wise the tariff no heed would be paiC
to the necessity of meeting this diff
ference between the standards of liv
ing for wage-workers here and IL
other countries: and therefore on thi
point their antagonism TO our posi-
ton Is fundamental. Here again w
ask that their promises and ours b.
judged by what has been done in tn
immediate past. We ask that sobe
and sensible men compare the work
ings of the present tariff law, and tn
conditions which obtain under il, wit
the workings OF the preceding tarii
law of 1898 and the conditions whic
that tariff of 1898 helped to brin
about.
: We believe in reciprocity with for
eign nations on the terms outline
IN fIeSluShb AcNihiey . laSl Speecl
which urged the extension of our for
eign markets by reciprocal agree
ments whenever they could be mad
without injury to American industr
} and labor. II is a singular fact tina
the only great reciprocity treaty re
Gently adopted-that with Cuba-wa
= finally opposed almost alone by tn
] representatives of the very part
, which now states that 1t favors rG
!, ciprocity. And here again we as
3 that the worth of our words be Judge
I hx, c0rnparfnr their deeds with o,,r