The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-07-07


to the Bangor House, while crowds
along the way gazed upon and applaud
ed the victorious, happy host.
THE PLATFORM.
Here is the platform as reported and
adopted by the convention:
The Republican party stands for:
Protection, which safeguards Ameri-
can well-paid labor against the COM
petition of cheap foreign labor. The
Democratic party stands for free trade
and the wholesale introduction of for
eign products into our home market.
In the cause of home labor the Repub-
lican party wages an open, aggressive
and relentless war against the Demo-
cratic party. 1t upholds the tariff leg
islation of Mckinley and Dingley,
which has induced capital to invest, as
never before, in home industries, has
given well-paid employment to Ameri-
can labor, and has, besides building up
home market which has become the
wonder of the world, expanded our for
eign trade to an extent never equalled
in our history.
A sound currency, with gold as a
basis, which has given to labor and to
business more money and better money
than the country has ever before en-
joyed. Upon this issue it opposes free
silver, fiat money, State banks and
every form of..fnancial heresy and Bry-
anism with which the Democratic par
ty has threatened and still threatens
the prosperity of the American people.
The reciprocity of Blaine and Arthur
and Harrison and Mckinley and Ding
Low oh FL, A.
foreign countries of articles which we
do not produce, and our own products
needed in such countries. 1t opposes
flood our market with Canadian lumber,
ducts, and it would seriously embarrass
many of Names industries. and es-
pecially that of agriculture. Under our
present arrangements our trade with
Canada is constantly increasing, with
the balance largely in our favor. We
believe in letting we'll enough alone.
Proper aid by the general govern
ment in building up the American mer-
chant marine, to the end that our great
commerce shall be carried largely in
American-built and American-man
ships.
A Republican administration has
given to the country in the last four
years, a great navy, which should be
maintained at sufficient strength to up
hold the honor of the flag, and to pro-
tect our citizens the world over.
1t has brought into the family of
nations the new republic of Cuba, has
withdrawn from that republic every
United States soldier after establishing
conditions which have made the way
clear for the successful administration
of the Republican form of government.
1t has maintained, so far as practi-
cable, a condition of peace in the Phil
ippine Islands, has gradually introduce
ed good government there, has fostered
public schools and public improve
ments, and in due time will, as predict
ed by ex-Secretary Root in his speech
to the Chicago convention, follow the
same policy in these islands that has
been followed in Cuba.
1t has made possible the building of
the Panama Interoceanic canal, has
undertaken the task of building it, and
has accomplished this without strife or
bloodshed.
1t has passed and is now executing
laws for the protection of labor, and
for the scrutiny and restraint of great
corporations, monopolies and trusts.
We heartily commend the admins
tration of the affairs of the State by
Governor Hill. With tax rate of
only two and three-fourths mills, and
with half the towns in Maine receiving
more money from the State for school
purposes than they paid into it as
taxes, there remained in the treasury at
the close of 1908 the largest cash bal
ance in its history. Every temporary
loan has been paid, and the principal
of the bonded debt has been reduced
during the year 1908 seventy thousand
dollars, which has been followed in the
present year by further reduction of
two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars, without a dollar of temporary
loan, thus making Governor Hills ad-
ministratiOn one of debt reduction and
tax reduction.
The burdens of our State government
are now borne in larger measure than
ever before by great corporate inter
ests, many of which are located outside
of the State. This policy we commend
and mean to maintain. The finances
of the State are to-day in better con-
dition than they have been for forty
years, and State taxes are lighter than
they have been at any period since the
close of the Civil war.
Upon this record we ask the people
of Maine for their continued confidence
and support.
The Republican party demands the
faithful and impartial enforcement of
the laws of the State which prohibit
the manufacture and illegal sale of in
toxicating liquors, and we insist on the
L n
public officer, the duties of whose office
| require enforcement of these laws.
We highly commend the course of
our Senators and Representatives in
Congress, and fully appreciate their
high standing and great influence in
legislation, and extend to them this ex.
preston of our hearty approval.
We declare ourselves as opposed ia
the present fee svstem for State and