Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-08-31

Fifty years ago the Republican party
came into existence dedicated among other
purposes to the great task of arresting the
extension of human slavery. In 1860 it
elected its first President During "a of
the A years which have elapsed since the
election Of Lincoln the Republican party
has held complete control of the govern
ment. For Is more Of the Al years 1t has
held partial control through the posses
sion of one or two branches Of the govern
ment, 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. 1t is demonstration that the
Republican party has commanded the con
fidence of the American people for nea"ly
two generations to q degree never equ: ID
in our history anu has displayed a high
capacity for rule and government which
has been made even more conspicuous by
the incapacity and infrmity Of purpose
shown by its opponents.
Conditions in 1897.
The Republican party entered upon it's
present period of complete supremacy in
1897 We have every right to congratu-
late. ourselves upon the work since then
accomplished, for it has added luster even
to the traditions of the party which carried
the government through the storms of civil
war.
We then found the country after four
years OF Democratic rule in evil plight, op-
pressed with misfortune and doubtful of
cred, the revenues We're declining, the debt
was growing, the administrations attitude
toward Spain was feeble and notifying
the standard of values was threatened and
uncertain, labor was unemployed, business
was sunk in the depression which had sue
ceeded the panic of 1898, hope was faint
and confidence was gone
We met these unhappy conditions yigor-
ously, effectively and at once.
The Tariff Law.
We replaced q Democratic tariff law
based on free trade principles and gar
nished with sectional protection by a con-
sistent protective tariff. and industry. freed
from oppression and stimulated by the en-
couragement Of wise laws. has expanded
to a degree never before known. has con-
quered new markets, and has created a
volume of exports which has surpassed
imagination. Under the Dngley tariff
labor has been fully employed, wages have
risen and all industries have revived and
prOSpered.
We firmly established the gold stand
ard which was then menaced with de-
ness and with confidence an unexampled
prosperity.
For deficient revenues, supplemented by
improyident issues of bonds. we gave the
country an income which produced large
surplus and which enabled only four
years after the Spanish war had closed
to remove over 500. 100000 Of annual war
taxes, reduce the public debt ana lower.
the interest charges Of the government
The Public Credit Restored.
The public credit. which had been so
lowered that In time Of peace Demo
cratic administration made large loans at
extravagant rates of interest in order to
paw current expenditures, rose under Re
publican administration to It's highest
point and enabled US to borrow at > per
cent even in time of war.
Cuba.
We refused to palter longer with the
mseries OF Cuba. We fought a quick and
victorious 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 aud public health established.
free from debt and connected with the
United States by wise provisions for our
mutual interests.
Porto Rico.
We have organized the government of
Porto Rico. and its people now enjoy peace,
freedom, order and prosperity.
The Philippines.
insurrection. established order aud given
to life and property a security never
known there before. We have organized
civil government made 1t effective and
strong in administration, and have con
ferred upon the people of those Islands
the largest civil liberty they have ever en-
joved.
By our possession Of the Philippines we
were enabled to take prompt and effective
action in the relief Of the legations Mt
Picking and decisive part IN preventing
the partition and preserving the integrity
# China.
The 18th M ian Canal.
The possession of route fer an 18TH
milan canal. so long the dream OF Amer
lean craftsmanship, is accom-
plished fact. The great work Of connect
Ing the Pacific and Atlantic by canal is
at last begun. and it is due to the Re-
publican party.
The Arid Lands.
We have passed the laws which will
bring the, arid lands of the United States
within the area of cultivation.
The Army and Navy.
We have reorganized the army and put
it in the highest state of efficiency.
We have passed laws for the improve
ment and support of the militia.
We have pushed forward the building of
the navy, the defense and protection Of
honor and our interests.
Our administration of the great depart
ments Of the government has been honest
and efficient, and wherever wrongdoing has
been discovered the Republican admins
tration has not hesitated to probe the evil
and bring the offenders to justice without
regard to party or political ties
The Great Corporations.
Laws enacted Dy the hepuDilcdu party
which the Democratic party failed to en-
force and which were intended for the
protection of the public against the unjust
discrimination or the Illegal encroachment
Of vast aggregations of capital. have been
fearlessly enforced by Republican Presi-
dent and new laws insurng reasonable pub
licity as to the operations Of great cor
porations and providing additional RENE
dies for the prevention of discrimination
in freight rates, have been passed by
Republican Congress.
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 principles:
Protection to American Industries.
Protection which guards and develops
our industries, is a 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 principle of protec-
ton, and. therefore, rates Of duty should
be readjusted only when conditions have
SO changed that the public interest de-
mands their alteration, but this work can
not safely be committed to any other hands
than those of the Republican party To
intrust 1t to the Democratic party Is to
invite disaster. Whether, RS In 1892 the
Democratic party declares the protective
thrift unconstitutional whether If do