Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-23

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge then ad-
vanced to the platform and presented
the report of the committee on resoiu-
tons.
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 slav-
cry. In 1850 it elected its first Presi-
dent. During "a Of the Al years which
have elapsed since the election or Lin
coin, the Republican party has held
| complete control of the government.
For IL more of the Al years it has held
partial control. through the possession
of one or two branches of the govern
mcnt, while the Democratic party dur
| ing the same period has held complete
| control for only two years.
This long tenure of power by the Re-
publican party is not due to chance.
| 1t is demonstration that the Repub-
lican party has commanded the con-
| fidence of the American people for
| nearly two generations to degree
never equalled in our history and has
displayed high capacity for rule and
government which has been made even
| more conspicuous by the incapacity
and infirmity of purpose shown by its
opponents.
The Republican party entered upon
| its present period of complete Suprem-
acy in 1897. We have every right to
| congratulate ourselves upon the work
since then accomplished for it has add
| ed hiStre. even to fine tradition 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,
| oppressed with misfortune and doubt
| full of the future. Public credit had
| been lowered. the revenues were de-
Ginning, the debt was growing, the adj
ministration's attitude toward Spain
was feeble and mortifying. the stand
ard of values was threatened and I'M
certain. labor was unemployed. bust
ness was sunk in the depression which
| had succeeded the panic OF 1898. hope
| was faint and confidence was gone.
| We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously. effectively and at once. We
replaced a Democratic tariff law, based
/ VII lite tIdtt SdIIlISHttl
with sectional protection, by cOnsis-
tent. protective tariff and industry.
| freed from oppression and stimulated
by the encouragement of wise laws,
has expanded to a degree never be-
fore known. has conquered new mar
| kets and has created a volume of eX-
ports which has surpassed imagination
| Under the Dingley tariff labor has
| been fully employed wages have risen
| and all industries have revived and
| prospereG.
We firmly established the gold stand
| ard which was then menaced with de-
stru"tion. Confidence returned to bust
ness and with confidence an unexam-
| pied prosperity.
| For deficient revenues supplemented
by improvident issues of bonds we gave
| the country an income which produced
| Il large surplus and which nabled us
only four years after the Spanish war
had closed. to remove over one hum
| drcd millions of annual war taxes. re-
| dnce the public debt and lower the
| interest charges of the government.
| The public credit which had been so
| lowered that in time of peace n DEM
| Ocratic administration made large
| loans at eXtravagant rates of interest
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.
| We refused to palter longer with the
miseres of Cuba. We fought quick
| and victorious war with Spain. We set
i nj hn ic1n 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 mu-
tual interests.
| We have organized the government
Of Porto Rico. and its people now enjoy
peace, freedom. order and prosperity.
| In the Philippines we have suppress
ed insurreCtion, established order and
given to life and property n security
never known there before. He have
organized civil government made it eff
| fective and strong in administration
land have conferred upon the people of
those islands the largest civil liberty
they have ever enjoyed.
| BY our possession of the Philippines
we We're enabled to take prompt and
effective action in the relief of the
Legation ut Pekin and a decisive part
in preventing the partition and pre-
serving the integrity of China.
| The possession of a route for nm 18TH
milan canal. so long the dream of
American craftsmanship is now an ac-
Iccmplished fact. The great work of
connecting the Pacific and Atlantic by
4 canal Is at least begun and 1t Is due
to the Republican party.
! We have passed laws which will
bring the arid lands of the United
States within the area of cultivation.
| We have recognized the army and
put it in the highest state of efficiency.
We have passed laws for the i'm
trrovement and support of the militia.
| We have pushed forward the build
| ing of the navy. the defence and pro-
lection of our honor and our interests.
Our administration of the great de-
partments of the government has been
honest and efficient and wherever
wrong doing has been discovered the