Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-07-14
NATIONAL PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Republican
at Chicago, June d, 1904.

at Chicago, June d, 1904.
| Fifty years ago the republican party
came into existence. dedicated, amons
other purposes, TO the great task OF ar
resting the extension of human slavery
In 1850 IL elected It's first president
During twenty-four OF the forty -four
years which have elapsed since lhe
election OF Lincoln the republican par,
ty has held complete control or the
government For eighteen more o!
the forty-four years 1t has held partial
control, through the possession OF one
or two branches Of government. while
the democratic party duriLg the same
period has held complete control for
lonly two years
This long tenure Of power by the re-
publican party Il not due to chance. Ii
is a demonstration that the republican
party has commanded the confidence OF
The American people for nearly two
generations and has displayed q high
capacity for rule and government.
which has been made even more con-
spicnous By the tncapacity and lack of
uniformity Of purpose shown by It's op-
ponenls.
GREAT WORK SINCE 1897.
The republican party entered upon
It's present period of comnlete snnra.
macy 10 1897. We have every right
70 congratulate ourselves upon the
work since then accomplished, for ii
has added luster even to the traditions
OF the party which carried the govern
ment through the storm OF the civil
war. We found the country, after four
years of democratic rule, 10 an evil
plight, oppressed with misfortune.
doubtful of the future.
Public credit had been lowered: re-
venues we're declining; the debt was
growing; the administration's attitude
towards Spaia was feeble aud mortify-
ing; the standard OF values was threat.
ened aud uncertain; labor was unem-
ployed: business had sunk In the de,
preston which had succeeded the pan
lc Of 1893; hope was faint; confidence
had gone.
We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously, efTecuually and at once.
We rep sFed the democratic tariff law.
sased q lee trade principles and gar
nished with sectional protection, by !
consistent protective tariff, and indus
try, freed from oppression and slimu-
lated by the encouragement OF wise
laws, has expanded TO y degree never
before known, has conquered new mar
kets, and has created a volume OF ex.
ports which has surpassed the imagina-
sion.
Under the Diugley tariff labor has
been fully employed, wages have risen
and all industries have revived and
prospered.
BROUGHT UNExAMPLED PROSPERITY
We firmly established the gold stan
dard, which was then menaced with
destruction. Confidence returned to-
business, and, with confidence, unex-
ampled prosperity. For deficient reve-
nues, supplemented by improvident is
sues Of bonds, we gave the country an
income which produced q large sur
plus. and which enabled us, only four
years after the Spanish war had closed
to remove over 500 600 900 OF annual
war taxes, reduce the debt and lower
the interest charges of the govern
ment.
Public credit, which had been so low
cred that 10 a time OF peace the demo
cratic administration made large loans
at extrayagant rates of interest in ord
er 70 pay current expenditures, rose
under republican administration to it's
highest point and enabled us TO borrow
at per cent. even In times of war.
CUBA AND THE PHILIPPINES.
We refused to palter longer with the
misery Of Cuba. We fought quick,
victorious war with Spain. We set
Cuba free, governed the island for
three years and gave 1t to the Cub
an people, with order restored, with
ample revenues, with education and
public health established, free from
debt. and connected with the United
States by wise provisions for our mu-
ual interests. -
We have reorganized the govern.
ment OF Porto Rico, and its people now
enjoy peace, freedom, order and pros
perity
In the Philippines we have Suppress
ed insurrection, established order and
given TO life and property security
never known there before. We have
organized civil government and made
1t an effective and strong administra
tion, and have conferred upon the peo
pie of those islands the largest civi
liberty they have ever enjoyed. B,
our possession Of the Philippines W,
we're enabled to take prompt and Ell
fectiye action in the release OF the lega
tiOn at Pekin. and decisive part Il
preventing the partition and nrasary