The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-19
CHAIRMAN OVERSTREET
SOUNDS THE KEYNOTE IN
COUNTY CONVENTION
Delivers Stirring Address in Pre-
senting Issues Upon Which
Campaign Must Be Waged.
EXTOLS PARTY LEADERS
And Hints that Indiana May Be
Called on to Furnish Candidate
for National Ticket.
EXTOLS PARTY LEADERS

Congressman Jesse Overstreet on assum-
ing the gavel as permanent chairman OF
the Republican county convention. deliv-
cred the following address:
The action of this convention will be
approved by the people. and the candidates
TINS day chosen by you will be elected at
at the polls L speak with confident as
surance because the year 1904 is Repub-
vention. The principles and policies of the
the statute books Of the Nation, and have
pointed the way for the progress and pros
perity of the Nations people
For an unbroken period OF eight years
our party has been in complete control
In the administration of the government
and but for the few lean periods of dole
full memory when the misdirected Judgment
and misapplied confidence of the American
people gave power, temporarily, to the OPP
position, our party has had practical man
agement of the affairs of the country since
1860. Always fully appreciative of the
Importance of the responsibilities ana the
gravity of the duties TO be discharged,
there has been no mark of hesitation in
the work, nor lack of courage in ITS exc
cution. Its leaders have boldly held aloft
spired by its successes and charmed by its
noble purposes, the youth OF the land nave
fiocxed to it's standard. Impelled by high
and patriotic motives. thousands of earnest,
conscientious Democrats have bravery
changed their allegiance when the honor
of the Nation and the integrity OF its
money standard were assailed, and to-day
share the burdens of our labor and occupy
places of credit at our council boards
1.-The party that has merited the con-
fidence of the people when its promises
only were before them, will not have that
confidence withdrawn when its pledges
have been fulfilled. The party whose plat
forms of principles were sufficient TO cali
to its standard the young and AMBITIOUS,
and draw from the ranks of the opposluon
thousands of its valiant minds, will not nnd
its lines deserted when victory is perched
upon its banners. and its DEGREES are rec
ognized as the edicts of the people. Hav-
ing, therefore. abundant faith in the intel
ligence and fairmindedness of the Amer
lean people, and trusting implicitly In
their just recognition of merit and political
worth, / believe the year 1904 is Repup-
lican year.
PARTY ACHIEVEMENTS.
-Four decades have passed away since
the close of the civil war. One genera
ton of men has gone and the youth of the
second generation of men since those
dreadful days of turmoil and strife, have
come upon the stage of action. The eman-
cipation of a race now given place and
honor among men, and the reconstruction
of the South upon a basis of integrity and
equality with the North now but chap
ters in history for the student. The slim
ulus to American industry, and the stabil-
ity to American labor, promoted and guar
anteed by the American tariff, have be-
come parts of American institutions A
deprecated currency, born In the exigency
of war, was vitalized by the act OF specie
resumption and dignified into d dollar of
one hundred cents. The limping standard
of value, occasioned by patchwork in leg
islation, has given way to the fixed stand
ard of gold, under which the American
dollar, like the American flag, is recognized
at full value and power throughout the
world AT the cry Of oppressed humanity
cor to the weak, and in the East and in
the West a helpless people was rescued
from the grip of tyranny and shown the
way to progress, prosperity and happiness.
| The strength of our army and navy, and
| the patriotism and push of soldiers
| tion and respect of all nations. and wheth-
| er would, whether willed we have
become world power in standing and in
| fluence
promoted, will reclaim great areas Of land.
which will afford fertile fields and homes
| from the congested communities of our
great cities. The universal employment
| of labor at remunerative wages. through
| the stimulus of manufactures under pro-
| tective policy, has reduced idleness to those
/ unwilling to work. and put our wares into
| every known market of the world. The ac-
| Philippines has brought benefit and profit
| to their people. and given to us desirable
strategic positions upon the map = of the
| world and places or advantage in COM
merce and trade
1.-The last and signal triumph. the fulfill
| ment of the dream of two centuries is the
/ certainty of construction of the Panama
| canal: the wedding of the two oceans. and
| the closer union of the East with the West.
| All these achievements, covering period
of forty years, and by which our country
| has become powerful. great and influential.
| are the results of Republican policies. and
| the enactment of laws advocated in Re-
| publican platforms.
| REPUBLICAN POLICIES.
1 W.
but is always true to its principles. II
believes as firmly to-day as ever in the
principle of protection to American labor
| and American products. 1t is ready to
modify tariff schedules whenever condi-
| tions of labor, business and manufacture
shall demand, but is firmly opposed to the
destruction of the principle. 1t believes
| in maintaining the single gold standard,
| and is opposed to any innovation that will
impair that standard. 1t advocates the
| friendly administration of the Philippine
| government for the benefit of the Philip
| pine people, giving to them large share
| in it's management, and mindful always
| of their best interests. and the welfare and
| prosperity of the islands. 1t believes in an
| economical administration of our own gov
| ernment and the honesty of it's officials
| and has the courage to purge dishonesty
and prosecute crime and malfeasance in
| public office wherever found; and to mete
L
| ''It stands for principles which insure
/ confidence in business, and constant en-
| ployment OF both capital and labor. IL
1 believes in fair return upon investment
| and wages for our workmen which shall
| guarantee to them better homes, better
| Schools and greater happiness than falls to
| the lot of their competitors under free
| trade While not opposed TO corporations
nor the proper operation of combinations,
| so long as fair and open competition is as
| sured the Republican party is the only
| marty that has either enacted or enforced
| laws against trusts and illegal combina-
| tions Wholesome laws against the i'm
| proper use of corporate power, and It's
/ ahuse by overthrow or injury TO fair com
| netition have been advocated, prepared and
| enacted by Republicans. and their viola
tions punished under-drection OF Repub-
| lcan officials
Under the operation OF these policies
| confidence i'm business has been maintained
| our trade export exceeds tnat OF any other
tSons wish: and our domestic trade has
| developcd TO such proportions that II Is
| Greater than the aggregate trade OF al
| E,urope The trade of our people among
| themselves is the marvel or the world
while the enterprise OF our industries In
| beraIded the world over as the American
| Invasion.
| THE WARNING OF 1892
"When business was at its fioodtide. In
| 1902, and labor was universally employed
| tho neople of the United States voted the
NRepublican party out of power, anc
| changed the policy of the government. The
four years of distress. idleness and want
which followed that mistake yet stand as