The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-29
FIRST GUN.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

wear lit oNAAA VI
orr Exports to foreign countries were
E,aIued at s1,46O, O00, 600, of which
S45O. O0O. 900 were products OF the
factory The world fell in our DEBT
last year S470,000,O0o. an increase Oh
$4,000. 900 over the preceding year.
This policy of protection has always
been opposed by the opponents OF the
Republican party and is ppose by
them today. In their last nationa
platform, adopted at st. LOUIS, they
1enounce protection as robbery Iney
never nave been given power OUT
they proceeded by word ana act u
destroy the policy Of protection.
Their platform IS Is silent as the
grave touching the gold standard and
our currency system. Their choSen
leader. after his having
been as silent as the sphynX TO tnaI
time, sent his telegram saying In SUD-
stance that the gold standard is es-
tahJished. and that he will govern
himself accordingly if he should De
elected.
T congratulate him. 1t is better to
be right late than never. It is better
10 be right in one thing than wrong
in all things. l wonder II II ever &C
CURED to him that If his vote and
suppor for his party's candidate IN
1896 and 1900 hard been decisive, we
would now have the silver
7 wonder what made him send tnat
after he was nominate -
why he did not send it BEFORE? When
did he have a change of heart ana
Judgment? And does he at heart be-
Iieve in the gold standard and our
currency system. or does he try now
10 rear where he a not SoWnE Ii,
he should be elected by
forcing together d~iscordant elements.
l submit that, with a
House of Representatives, or House
and Senate. there would be no mar
monious action in legislation or ad-
ministration that would benefit the
people. but that doubt and discomfort
would everywhere distress production
and labor. Consumption would be
curtailed. In short, we would nave
an experience similar to that from
1893 10 1897. If this chosen leader
and his friends are converts to Re
publican policies, should not they
bring forth fruits meet for repent
ance" before they ask TO be placed In
the highest positions to affect the
well-being of all; or, if they profess
all things to all men, then they are
not worthy of the confidence of any
man. If clothed with power. will
they follow in the paths Of legislation
according to their loves and votes as
manifested by their action always
heretofore, or will they stand by.
protect and defend the gold standard
ana our currency SySlSIIi IiliI
been treated under the lead of the
Republican party?
Correct revenue laws. protection Ur
free trade, the gold standard and our
currency system, all depend upon the
sentiment of the majority of our peo-
pie as voiced at the ballot box. A
majority may change QUIT reEenuei
laws: Il majority may change our cur
rency laws; a majority may destroy
the gold standard and establish the
silver standard, or, in lieu OF either
or both, make the treasury note 1on-
interest-bearing and irredeemable,
the sole standard of value.
Sir. let us turn from the region OF
doubt and double dealing, h debata-
BILE land. to the region of assured
certainty. The Republican party
stands for protection. 1t stands for
the gold standard and our currency
system. All these dwell in legislation
enacted under the lead of the Repub-
Iican party and against the most de
termined opposition of the Demo-
cratic party. including its leader and
candidate. These being our policies,
and having been most useful to the
country. we have confidence In and
love them. If it be necessary from
time to time that they anould be
strengthened here n controlled
there, the Republican party stands
ready. with loving, competent hands,
to apply the proper remedy. L say
remedy" Being our policies, we will
rot willingly subject them to their en-
emieS for slow starvation on the one
hand. or to sudden destruction on the
other.
Since the Republican party was re-
stored to power, in 1897, under the
lead of Mckinley, our couitry has
prospered in production and in COM
merce as it has never prospered be
fore. In wealth. we stand first among
ali the nations. Under the lead or
William Mckinley, the war with Spain
was speedily brought to a successful
conclusion. Unde the treaty or
peace and our action, Cuba is free,
and, under guarantees written In her
constitution and our legislation, 1t is
assured tina she will ever remain
free. We also acquired Porto Rico,
Guam and the Philippines by a treaty
the ratification of which was only pos
Sible by the votes of Democratic SEN
ators. Civil government has been
established in Porto Rico, and We are
~.jouraeying towards civil government
in the Philippines as rapidly as the
people of the archipelago are able to
receive it; and this too, notwithstand-
ing the false cry of imperialism"
raised by the Democratic party and
still insisted upon, which led to in
surrection in the Philippines and
tends to lead to further Instruction
there. The record>of the Republican
party under the lead of William Nc
KinIey has passed into history. Who
dareS asSail it?
In the history Of the republic, in
time of peace, no executive a had
greater questions to deal with than
yourself, n none have brought
greater courage, wisdom and patriot
ism to their solution. You " en-
forced the law against the mighty
and the lowly without fear. favor Dr.
Partially. Under the constitution,
YOU have recommended legislation to
Congress from time to time, as it was
your duty to do, and when it was
passed by Congress-, have approved
it. You have, under the constitution,
led in making a treaty which was
ratified by the Senate and is approved
by the people, which not only assures,