News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-06-29
THE PLATFORM
Review of What Has Been Done
and a Renewal of Pledges

From the standpoint of political i'm
portance the adoption Of the party plat
form was the event of the day. 1t
contained declarations of party policy
that are to form the ba sis of much of the
Oratory in the coming campaign. But
the permanent chairman's personality
almost overshadowed the platform.
The platform states that during "a
of tie 40 years which have elapsed
since the election of Lincoln the Re
publican party has held complete con-
troll of the government, entering upon
its present period Of complete sU.
premacy in 1897. 1t reviews what it
has accomplished since that time and
continues:
In this record of achievement during the
past eight years may be read the pledges
which the Republican party has fulfilled.
We promise to continue these policies and
we declare our constant adherence to the
following princ!Tles:
Protection which guards and develops
our industries is cardinal policy of the
Republican party. The measure of pro
lection should always at least equal the
difference in the cost of production at
home and abroad. We insist upon the
maintenance Of the principles Of protection
adjusted only when cond tioIs have SO
changed that the public interest demands
their alteration. but this work cannot
safely be committed to any other hands
than those Of the Republican party. To
entrust it to the Democratic party is to
invite disaster. Whether, as in 1892, the
Democratic "arty declared the protective
tailH unconstitutional, or whether ii de
mands tariff reform or tariff revision. its
real object is always the destruction of
the protective system. However specious
the name, the purpose Is ever the same.
A Democratic tariff has always been fol-
lowed by business adversely; a Republican
tarih by business prosperity. 10 Re
publican Congress and a Republican Presi-
dent this great question can be safely en-
trusted. When the only free trade country
among the great nations agtate return
to protection the chief protective country
should not falter in maintaining it.
We have extended widely our foreign
markets, and we believe in the, adoption
of all practicable methods for their further
city wherever reciprocal arrangements can
be effected CONSTANT with the principles
Of protection and without injury to AHreri-
can agriculture, American labor or any
We believe it to be the duty of the Re
publican party to uphold the gold standard
ahd the integrity and value of our ma
tiOnal currency. The maintenance of the
gold standard. established by the Republi-
can party, cannot safely be committed to
the democratic party, which resisted its
adoption and has never given any proof
since that time of belief in it or fidelity
to it..
While every other industry has prospered
under the fostering aid Of Republican legs-
lation, American shipping engaged in for
etgn trade in competition with the low cost
OF construction, low wages and heavy sub
sides OF foreign governments has not for
many years received from the government
of the United States ADEQUATE encoura ge-
nent OF any Kind We therefore favor leg
islatiOn which win encourage and build up
the American merchant marine and we cor
ulaIy approve the legislation of the last
congress which created the merchant ma
rlne commission to investigate and report
upon this subject
A navy powerful enough to defend the
United states against any attack to up
hold the Monroe doctrine and watch over
tur commerce Is essential to the safety and
she welfare Of the American people. To
halntain such navy Is the fixed policy of
the Republican party.
Chinese Must Keep Out
We cordially approve the attitude of
PrlSident Roosevelt and congress in re
gard to the exclusion Of Chinese labor and
promise continuance of the Republican
policy in that direction.
The civil service law was placed on the
statute books by the Republican party,
which has always sustained it, and we re-
new our former declarations that it shall
be thoroughly and honestly enforced,
We are always mindful of the country's
debt to the soldiers and sailors of the
United States and we believe in making
ample provision for them and In the lib.
er9l administration OF the pension laws.
We favor the peaceful settlement of n
ternatlonal differences by arbitration
We commend the vigorous efforts made
by the administration to protect American
citizens In foreign lands and pledge our
selves to insist Upon the just and equal
protection OF all our citizens abroad II is
the unouestioned duty of the government to