The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1904-07-06
THE PLATFORM.
Adopted bu The National
Republican Convention.

Fifty years ago the Republican party
came into existence, dedicated, among
other purposes, to the great task of arrest
ing the extension of human slavery. In
1860 it elected its first President Dur
ing twenty-four of the forty-four years
which have elapsed since the election of
Lincoln the Republican party has held
complete controle of the Government.
For eighteen more of the forty-four years
it has held partial control through the
possession of one or two branches Of the
Government, while the Democratic party,
during the same period, has had 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 gem
erations to degree never equaled in our
history, and has displayed high capaci-
ty for rule and government which has
been made even more conspicuous by the
iiiiiriiity of purpose shown by its op-
ponents.
CARRIED GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE
| CIVIL WAR.
The Republican party entered upon its
present period OF complete supremacy in
1897. We have every right to congratu-
late ourselves upon the work since ac-
complished, for it has added luster even
to the traditions of the party which carri-
ed the Government through the storms
of the Civil War.
We then found the country, assttS. four
years of Democratic rule. in evil plight,
oppressed with misfortune and doubtful
of the future Public credit had been
lowered, the revenues were declining,
the debt was growing, the administra-
TONS attitude toward Spain was feeble
and Notifying, the standard of values
was threatened and uncertain, labor was
unemployed, business was sunk tn the
depression which had succeeded the
panic of 1898, hope was faint and conf
dence was gone.
We met these unhappy conditions Wig
orously, effectively and at once. We re-
placed Democratic tariff law, based on
free trade principles and garnished with
sectional protection, by consistent pro-
tective tariff, and industry, freed from
oppression and stimulated by the encour-
agement of wise laws, has expanded to a
degree never before knowng has conquer
ed new markets, and has created a vol
ume of exports which has surpassed i'm
agination.
CONFIDENCE is RESTORED; DEBT
REDUCED.
Under the Dingley tariff labor has been
fully employed. Wages have risen, and
industries have revived and prospered.
We firmly established the gold standard,
which was then menaced with destruc.
ton. Confidence returned to business,
and with confidence an unexampled pros
perity. For deficient revenues, supple
mented by improvident issues of bonds,
we gave the country an income which
produced large surplus, and which en-
abled us only four years after the Spanish
war had closed to remove over one hun
bred millions of annual war taxes, reduce
the public debt, and lower the interest
charges of the Government.
The public credit, which bad been SO
lowered that in time of peace Demo
cratic administration made large loans al
extravagant rates of interest in order to
pay current expenditures, rose under Re.
publican administration to its highest
point and enabled us to borrow at per
cent. even in time of war. We refused
to palter longer with the miseries OF
Cuba.
We fought quick and victorious war
with Spain. We set Cuba free, governed
the island for three years, and then gave
it to the Cuban people with order restor-
ed, with ample revenues, with education
and public health established, free from
debt and connected with the United
States by wise provisions for our mutual
interests.
PORTO RIcANs GIVEN FREEDOM AND
ORDER
We have organized the government Of
Porto Rico and its people now enjoy
peace, freedom, order and prosperity.
In the Philippines we have suppressed
instruction, established order and given