The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-22
THE PLATFORM.
Reviews Party's History and Accom-.
DIishnacnts.


Reviews Party's History and Accom-
pIishmcnts.
Convention Hall, Chicago, June p.
Following is the platform of the
Republican national convention;
Fifty years ago the Republican
party came into existence, dedicated
among other purposes to the great
task Of arresting the extension of hui
man slavery. During "A of the A
years which have elapsed since the
election of Lincoln the Republican
party has held complete control of the
government For Is more of the
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 Republican party is not
due to chance. It is a demonstration
that the Republican party has COM
manded the confidence of the Ameri-i
can people for nearly two generations
to a degree never equalled in our his
tory and displayed high capacity for
rule and government which has been
made even more conspicuous by the
ineapacity and inffrmity of purpose
shown by its opponents
The Republican party entered upon
its present period of complete su-
premacy in 1897. We hawe every right
to congratulate ourselves aupon the
work since then acoonnP lished for it
has added luster even to the traditions
of the party which carried the gov
ernment through the storms of civil
war. We then found the country
after four years of Democratic rule
in evil plight, oppressed with misfor-
tune and doubtful of the future Pub
lie credit had been lowered, the rev
enueS We're declining, the debt grow
ing, the administrations attitude
toward Spain was feeble and mortify-
ing, the standard of values was
threatened l1F
unemployed, business was sunk in the
depression which had succeeded the
panic of 1893, hope was faint and
confidence was gone.
Meeting the Conditions
We meet these unhappy conditions
vigorously, effectively and at once. We
replaced a Democratic tariff law based
on free trade principles and garnished
with sectional protection by a pro-
tective tariff and industry, freed from
oppression and stimulated by the en-
courag cement of wise laws has ex-
pansed to decree never before
known, has conquered new markets
ana has concealed volume of ex-
ports which has surpassed imagina-
ton. Under the Dingley tariff labor
had been fully employed.
Wages have risen and all industries
have revived and DrOspered.. We
firmly established the gold standard
which was then menaced with de-
struction- Confidence returned to
| business and with confidence an uneX-
ampled prosperity.
For deficient revenues supplement-
ed by improvident issues of bonds we
gave the country an income which
produced a large surplus and which
enabled us only four years after the
/ Spanish war had closed to remove
/ over S100. 900, 900 of annual war taxes,
| reduce the public debt and lower the
! interest charges of the government.
The public credit, which had been
/ so lowered that in time of peace a
/ Democratic administration made large
/ loans at extravagant rates of interest
1 in order to pay current expenditures,
rose under Republican administration
\ to its highest point and enabled us to
! borrow at per cent even in time of
war.
Action Toward Cube.
We refused to DaIter longer with
! the miseries of Cuba. We fought a
quick and vigorous war with Spain
/ We set Cuba free governed the island
| for three years and then gave it to
| the Cuban people with order restored,
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.
We have organized the government
of Porto Rico and it's people now re-
joice in peace, freedom, order and pros
| perity.
i In the Philippines we have suppress
| ed insurrection, established order and
| given to life and property a security
| never known there before We have
organized civil government, made II ef-
fective and strong in administration
| and have conferred upon the people OF
those islands the largest civil liberty
they have ever enjoyed
BY our possession of the Philippines
| we were enabled to take prompt and
effective action in the relief OF the leg
ations at Pekin and decisive part IN
preventing the partition and the pre-
serving of the integrity of China. The
possession of a route for an isthmian
canal, so long the dream of American
craftsmanship is now an accomplished
fact. The great work of connecting the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans by a. cana
is at last begun and it is due to the
Republican party.
We have passed laws which vii
bring the arid lands of the United
states within the area of cultivation.
We have reorganized the army and
put it in the highest state of efficiency
Continued on Page Six.)