Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-06-30
NATIONAL PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Republican
at Chicago, June %, 1904.

resting the extension OF human slavery,
In 1860 IL elected its FIRST president.
During twenty-four of the forty-four
years which have elapsed since The
election of Lincoln the republican par
ty has held complete control of the
government. For eighteen more OF
the fortyfour years it has held partial
control, through the possession of one
or two branches of government, while
the democratic party during the same
period has held complete control for
only two years.
This long tenure OF power by the re-
publican party is not due to chance. 1t
Is demonstration that the republican
party has commanded the confidence of
the American people for nearly two
generations and has displayed high
capacity for rule and government,
which has been made even more con-
spicuous by the incapacity and lack of
uniformity of purpose shown by its OPP
ponents.
GREAT WORK SINCE 1897.
The republican party entered upon
Its present period OF complete supre-
macy in 1897. We have every right
TO congratulate ourselves upon the
work since then accomplished, for it
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, In an evil
plight, oppressed with misfortune,
doubtful of the future.
Public credit had been lowered; re-
venues were declining; the debt was
growing; the administration attitude
towards Spain was feeble and mortify-
ing; the standard OF values was threat
ened and uncertain; labor was unem-
ployed; business had sunk in the de-
preston which had succeeded the pan
10 OF 1893; hope was faint; confidence
had gone.
We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously, effectually and at once.
We replaced the democratic tariff law,
based on free trade principles and gar
nished with sectional protection, by a
consistent protective tariff, and indus
try, freed from oppression and stimu-
lated by the encouragement of wise
laws, has expanded to degree never
before known, has conquered new mar.
kets, and has created volume of ex-
ports which has surpassed the magma
tion.
Under the Dingley tariff labor has
been fullyemployed, 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 tC
business, and, with confidence, unex
ampled prosperity. For deficient reve
MES, supplemented by improvident is
sues of bonds, we gave the country al
income which produced large sur
plus. and which enabled us, only foul
years after the Spanish war had CLOSED
to remove over 800, 900 900 of annua
war taxes, reduce the debt and lowe
4 the interest charges of the govern
mont.
Public credit, which had been so low
cred that in a time of peace the demo
cratic administration made large loan
atextrayagant rates of interest in ord
er to pay current expenditures, ros
ulder republican administration to 1t
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 tn
misery of Cuba. We fought a quicl
v glorious war with Spain. We sc
Cuba free, governed the island IL
three years and gave 1t to the Cut
sa people, with order restored, wit
ample revenues, with education an
plblic health established, free fro
d ,bt and connected with the Unite
States by wise provisions for our nj
t4al interests. c
We have reorganized, the COVER
ment or Porto Rico, and It's people no
enjoy peace, freedom, orderNand pre-
lerity.
Ia the Philippines we have seppres
ell insurrection, established order a
gwen to life and property secnri
laver known there before. We ha
t.ganized civil government and ma
ii an effective and strong administl
ton, and have conferred upon the p
lie OF those islands the largest q
liberty they have ever enioyed
cur possession Of the Philippines
we're enabled to take prompt and
fectiye action in the release Of the le
zion at Pekln. and decisive part
reyenting the partition and prese
ing the integrity of China.