The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-23

partments of the government has been
nonest and efficient and wherever
wrong doing has been discovered the
Republican administration has not
lestated to probe the evil and bring
offenders to justice without regard to
party or political ties.
We Trust the Trusts.
Laws enacted by the Republican
party which the Democratic party
failed to enforce and which were in
tended for the protection of the public
against the unjust discrimination or
| the illegal encroachment of vast ag-
gregations of capital have been fear
.essly enforced by a Republican Pres
| dent and new laws ensuring reason
lble publicity as to the operations o.
great corporations and provided addi-
cional remedies for the prevention of
discrimination in freight rates have
been passed by a Republican Congress
In this record of achievement during
| the past eight years may be said the
pledges which the Republican party
| has fulfilled. We promise to continue
chese policies and we declare our con-
| stance adherence to the following prin-
! ,iples:
The Idol of Protection.
Protection which guards and de-
velOpeS our industries is cardinal
policy of the Republican party. The
measure of protection should always
1t least equal the difference in the
| cost of production at home and abroad.
| We insist upon the maintenance of the
| principles of protection and therefore
'ateS of duty should be readjusted on
| y when conditions have so changed
| that the public interest demands their
| liberation, but this work cannot safe
| v be committed to any other hands
| than those of the Republican party.
| To entrust it to the Democratic party
| to invite disaster. Whether, as in
| 1892, the Democratic party declared
| the protective tariff unconstitutional
Or whether it demands tariff reform
or tariff revision, its real object is al
| ways the destruction of the protective
| system. However specious the name
| the purpose is ever the same. Demo-
| ratio tariff has always been followed
| by business adversely; a Republican
| tariff by business prosperity. To a Re-
publican Congress and a Republican
| President this great question can be
safely entrusted. When the only free
trade country among the great nations
| lgitates return to protection the
chief protective country should not
| falter in maintaining it.
We have extended widely our for
|
| adoption of all practical methods for
| their further extension including COM
| mercial reciprocity wherever reciprO-
| ;al arrangements can be affected con-
| sistent with the principles of protec-
| ton and without injury to American
| agriculture, American labor or any
| American industry.
The Gold Standard.
We believe it to be the duty of the
| Republican party to uphold the gold
standard and the integrity and value
| of our national currency.
| The maintenance of the gold stand
lrd, established by the Republican
party cannot be safely 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.
Merchant Marine and Navy.
| While every other industry has pros
| pered under the fostering aid of the
| Republican legislation, American ship
| ping engaged in foreign trade in COM
| petition with the low cost of cOnStruc-
| ton, low wages and heavy subsidies of
| foreign governments has not for many
years received from the government
of the United States adequate encour-
| agement of any kind.
| We therefore favor legislation which
| will encourage and build up the Amer
| lean merchant marine and we cordial
| ~ approve the legislation of the last
| Congress which created the merchant
| marine commission to investigate and
report upon this subject.
| A navy powerful enough to defend
| the United States against any attack,
| to uphold the Monroe doctrine and
| watch over our commerce is essential
| to the safety and the welfare of the
American people. TO maintain such
| a navy is the fixed policy of the Re-
| publican party. We cordially approve
| the attitude of President Roosevelt
| and Congress in regard to the eXclu-
sion of Chinese labor and. promise a
| 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 1T,
| and we renew our former declarations
| that it shall be thoroughly and hon
estly enforced
Our Soldiers and Sailors.
We arc always mindful of the coun-
! trys debt to the soldiers and sailors
| of the United States and we believe in
making ample provision for them and
lin the liberal administration of the
1s3easion laws.
we IaVOf the pedCeIul settlement
/ Of International differences by arbi-
9tration. We commend the vigorous
efforts made by the administration to
Protect American citizens in foreign
lands and pledge ourselves to insist
upon the just and equal protection of
all our citizens abroad. 1t is the un-
questioned duty of the government to
procure for all our citizens, without
Fdistinction, the rights of travel and
sojurn in friendly countries and we
declare ourselves in favor of all proper
| efforts tending to that end.
Our great interests and our growing
| commerce in the Orient render the
condition of China of high imp ortance
| to the United States.
| We cordially commend the policy
pursued iii that direction by the nd-
ministration' S of President Mckinley
and President Roosevelt.
a Sop to SambO.
| We favor such Congressional action
as shall determine whether by special
determinations the elective franchise
| IN any State has been demonstrations
| ally limited, and, if such is the case.
we demand that representation in
| Congress and in the electoral colleges
Shall nc prCDOrtiOnalIy. reduced as di-