The Van Buren press., 1904-06-25
The Platform.


Fifty years ago the republican party
came into existence dedicated, among
other purposes to the great task Of ar
resting the extension Of human slavery
In 1850 II elected its first president. Dur.
ing q Of the a years which have elapsed
since the election Of Lincoln the repub'
liCan party has held complete control OF
the government For IS more Of the q
years It has held partial control through
the possession Of one or two branches OF
the government while the democratic
party is not due to chance. II Is a demon.
complete control for only two years. T'hi,
long tenure Of power by the republican
party Is not due to chance. Is "A demon.
stratOn that the republican party ha
commanded the confidence Of the Amer
lean TcOple for nearly two generations to
degree never eQualed in our history
and has displayed high capacity foi
rule and government which has beer
made even more conspicuous by the in
capacity and infOrmity of purpose shown
by It's opponents.
Tho republican party entered upon it'
present period Of complete supremacy II
loJ, We have every right to COngratu
late ourselves upon the work since thet
accomplished, for It has added luster even
TO tho traditions Of the party which car.
riel the government through the storms
of cl'il war,
We then found the country, after
four years Of democratic rule In evi
plight oppressed with misfortune anc
doubtful Of the future Public credit had
been lowered, the revenues were declin'
ing, the debt was growing, the admins
tration's attitude toward Spain was fee
bic and mOrtilying the standard OF
values was threatened and uncertain, la
Dor was unemployed, business was sunk
in the depression which had succeeded
the pgLlC Of lSG. hope was faint anC
confidence was gone.
We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously effectively and at once.
We rcIlaCed democratic tariff law
based on free trade principles and gar,
nmhcd with sectional protection, hy q
protective tarn and industry freed from
oppression and stimulated by the cECOur'
agcment Of wise laws has expanded tt
dyErop never before known, has con
quered new markets and has created d
volume OF exports which has surpassed
Imagination. Under the Dingley tarir
la,or had been fully employed wage,
have risen and all Industries have re-
Nivcd and prospcrcd
W. firmly established the gold stand
ard, which was then mnnaCed with de
structon, Confidence returned 10 bust
moss and with confidence an uncNamplet
prosperity
POI, deficient revenues supplemented b,
imprOyidunt Issues Qf bonds we gave the
country an income which produced
large surplus and which enabled US, only
four years after the Spanish war hat
Ions Oi annual war taxes, reduce the pub
lie debt and lower the Interest charges
OF IN" government
The public credit which had been +,
lowered that In time uf peace u demo
cratic administration made large loan.
at cXtrayagunt rRt-s OF interest I'm order
to pay current expenditures, rose uudpI
republican administration to It's highos
point and enabled us to borrow at tive
per cent, ovQn IN time Of war
we pnfuNtu TO BnllOf LONGER with tho
mlspfies of cuba We fought quick
and victorious war with spain, We seI
cuba free, governed the Island for three
years and then gave II TO the Cuhnt
people with order restored, with ampn
revenues with education and public
huaith established lroq from debt ant
connected with the Ontud states by wis,
provisions for our mutual intofosts
We have organized tho government OF
Porto Rico, ana lH people now enjoy
peace, freedom, order and prosperity
In the Philippines we have suppressed
InSurrec'lon, establish order and glver
known there before We have orsanissj
ciNil government, made II effective and
strong IN administration and have con,
fyrrcd upon the people of those islands
the largest ciyll liberty they have over
By our possession Of the Philippine
we were enabled to take prompt and
effective action IN the relief Of the legn,
tons at Pokln and decisive part In pre-.
venting the partition ana preserving the
intvkrly Of China
Tho possession Of u routo for an 18th,
milan ctual 20 long tho drotm of Amer
lean sletosmlnshlp, N now an accom-
pllshud fact The grnnt work pf connect
INK the Pacific and Atlantic oceans by
"a canal IL at last begun, and II iA due
10 the republican party
We have passed. laws which Will bring
the arid lands NJ the United Snios with
In ihu urnp NJ cultivation
We huNn rupfE,Uiaul lhH army ana
Put n iu the hlghrH state of rNHoury
mont 1ud support NJ the militia,
We have pushed forward the huildua
uf the navy the dufunsn uul the prUtpy4
tluu of our honor and our interests
our almnhltu,lun NJ the great de-
partmputa Of the government has been
honest ana olnuipnt ana wherever wrong.
duluE has been discovered the republican
adminlylratIun has not huutuiod 10 probu
the aNl ana bring offenders ~ justice
without regard IT, party or political llra
Lava enacted hN the republican party
which The democratic party failed 10 oHs
force ana which were intended for tho
protection ot the public against the uns
Inst discrimination or the Illegal Ubs
rrulthmcnt NJ vnat ugEtprtiinnH Of taps
llul hnNp been fulrluaHlN enforced hv D.
republican president ana new laws lus
surfing publicity aa tu the operations VI
lhu great eorpoNtons ana providing pddls
iWn1l t'W'Nms Ini thD tfuEguDiuu VI
discrimination IN freight rntra have boon
passed by republican congress
IN this record VI achievement during
The pnst eight years may ho read tho
pledges which the republican party has