River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-01

/ inc II years which have eIapSeH Slice lhe
| 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
ment, while the Democratic party during
/ the same period has had complete control
| Tor only Two years. This long tenure OF
| power by the Republican party is not due
TO chance. 1T is a demonstration that the
j Republican party has commanded the con-
| hdenee or the American people for nearly
| Two generations to degree never equaied
| In our history, and has displayed q high
| capacity Tor 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 its
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
| the future. Public credit had been low
cred, the revenues were declining, the debt
was growing, the administration 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
| Ceeueu the panic OF 1885, nope was lalHL
| and confidence was gone.
We met these unhappy conditions vigor-
ously, effectively and at once.
The Tariff Law.
We replaced a 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-
| enlargement of wise laws, has expanded
to a degree never before known. has con-
! Y1nrr ,I-A4e, has tod
volume of exports which has surpassed
imagination. Under the Dingley tariff
labor has been fully employed, wages have
risen and all Industries have revived and
We firmly established the gold stand
ard which was then menaced with de-
struction. Confidence returned to bust
ness, and with confidence an unexampled
prosperity.
Revenues.
For deficient revenues, supplemented by
improvident issues of bonds, we gave the
country an income which produced large
years after the Spanish war had closed
to remove over $1OO,OOO,OO0 Of annual war
taxes, reduce the public debt and lower
the interest charges of the government.
The Public Credit Restored.
The public credit which had been so
lowered that in time of peace a Demo
cratic administration made large loans at
extravaganza rates of interest in order to
paw current expenditures, rose under Re-
publican administration to its highest
point and enabled us to borrow at per
cent even in time Of war.
Cuba.
We refused to palter longer with the
miseries of Cuba. We fought 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 and 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.
In the Philippines we have suppressed
insurrection. established order and given
to life tRG G hs security
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-
joyed.
were enabled to take prompt and effective
Picking and a decisive part in preventing
the partition and preserving the Integrity
Of China.
The Isthmiau Canal.
The possession of route for an 18th
milan canal, - long the dream of Amer
plished fact The great work of connect
ing the Pacific and Atlantic by a 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
our honor and our interests.
Our administration Of the great depart
ments of the government has been honest lS.
been discovered the Republican adm1n1s-
tration has not hesitated to probe the the evil
and bring the offenders to Justice without
regard to party political ties.
The Great Corporations.
Laws enacted by the Republican party
which the Democratic party failed to en-
force and which were Intended Tor the
protection Of the public against the unjust
discrimination or the Illegal encroachment
of vast aggregations of capital, have been
fearlessly enforced by a Republican PreS1-
dent and new laws insuring reasonable pun
LEFTY as to the operations or great cor
DOldIl0iiS, anu pIONluIIS
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, ana
we declare our constant adherence TO the
following principles:
Protection to American Industries.
Protection, which guards and develops
our industries, is cardinal policy OF the
| Republican party The measure or 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 or DUTY should
be readjusted only when conditions nave
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 10
intrust it to the Democratic party is to
invite disaster. Whether as IN lS9Z' the
Democratic party declares the protective
tariff unconstitutional or Whether II 9e-
mands tariff reform or tarlH revision ts
real object is always the destruction OF
the protective system However speclous
the name, the purpose is ever the same.
Democratic tariff has always been fol-
lowed by business adversely; RepubhGah
tariff by business prosperity. 10 ne
publican Congress and Republican Presl-
dent this great question can pe sa1ely IN