Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-06-29

Nso.sS NNno
Fifty years ago the Republican
party scame into existence, dedicated
amongSother purposes, to the great
task of arresting the extension OF
huma4 slavery. In 1860 1t elected it:
first President. During twenty-four
Of thesforty-four years which have
elapsed since the election of Lincoln
the Republican party has held COM
plete control Of the government. For
eighteen more of the forty-four years
1t hasgheld partial control, through
the possession Of one or two branches
CT the;s government, while the Demo.
craticSparty, during the same period
has had complete control for only two
| years. sThis long tenure Of power by
the Republican party is not due tc
chance.EIt is demonstration that the
Republican party has commanded the
confidence of the American people for
nearly two generations to degree
nsverEequaled in our history, and has
displayed a high capacity for rule and
government which has been made even
more conspicuous by the incapacity and
irfirmity of purpose shown by its op-
ponents.
"The Republican party entered upon
its present period of complete supre-
macysin 1897. We have every right to
congratulate ourselves upon the. work
since then accomplished, for it has
added slustre even to the traditions Of
the party which carried the govern
mentsthrough the storms Of civil war.
"We then found the country, after
fouryears of Democratic rule, in evil
plight tgoppressed with misfortune and
doubtful Of the future. Public credit
had been lowered, the revenues were
declining, the debt was growing, the
Administrations attitude towards Spain
wassfeeble and notifying, the stand
ard sof&values was threatened and un
certain, labor was unemployed, bust
ness ssWas sunk in the depression which
hadAsucceeded the panic of 1898, hope
was faint and confidence was gone.
Unhappy Conditions Met.
"Iegmet these unhappy conditions
vigorously, effectively and at once.
US essreplaced a Democratic tariff
Eia@s ;haseasoni free trade princiIles and
sGustryS freed from oppression and stim-
2ulated by the encouragement of wise
l.,ws, has expanded to degree never
before known, has conquered new mar
kets and has created a volume of eX-
ports which has surpassed imagina-
tion. Under the Dingley tariff, labor
has been fully employed, wages have
r;coo opd oil ind,c+rioc hova raUiUnd
and prospered.
eve firmly established the gold
standard, which was then rnenaced
with destruction. Confidence returned
10 business, and with confidence an
rnexampled prosperity.
"For deficient revenue, supplement-
ed by improvident issues Of bonds, we
gave the country an income which pro-
duced a large surplus and which en-
abled us, only four years after the
Spanish war had closed, to remove over
one hundred millions of annual war
taxes, reduce the public debt, and lower
the interest charges of the govern
| ment.
1.-THE public debt, which had been SO
lowered that in time of peace q Demo-
cratic administration made large loans
| at eXtravagant rates of interest in Or
Ger to pay current expenditures, rose
| under Republican administration to its
highest point, and enabled us to borrow
at 2 per cent. even in time of war.
Expansion Record.
I'VE refused to palter long With the
Ellserles or Cuba. We fought quick
and victorious war with Spain. We SET
Cuba free, governed the island fol
three years, and then gave 1t to the
Cuban people, with order restored, with
ample revenues, with education an(
public health established, free from
debt and connected with the United
States by wise provisions for our mu-
tual interests.
I'VE have organized the government
of Porto Rico; and its people now en-.
JOY peace, freedom. order and pros
perity.
In the Philippines, we nave sup
pressed insurrection, established ordel
and given to life and property a secu
rity never known there before. W.
have organized civil government, made
it effective and strong in administra
tion and have conferred upon the peo
pie of those islands the largest civi
liberty they have ever enjoyed.
BY our possession of the Philip
pines, we were enabled to take promp
and effective action in the relief o
the legations at Pekin and decisiv
part in preventing the partition ant
preserving the integrity of China.
1.-THE possession Of route for a.
isthmian canal, so long the dream Q
American craftsmanship, is now an &C
complished fact. The great work G
connecting the Pacific and Atlantic b
a canal is at last begun, and II is du
to the Republican party.
1--WE have passed laws which wi
bring the arid lands Of the Unite
States within the area of cultivation.
1--WE have reorganized the army an
put it in the highest state Of efficiency
1--WE have passed laws for the i'm
provement and support of the militi:
"We have pushed forward the build
ing of the navy, the defence and PFC
lection of our honor and our interest!
".Our administration of the great de
! pdTtInenIS or Cne SOfcIuLueHI udS Dee
honest and efficient. and whereve
wrong-doing has been discovered, th
Republican administration has not hes
itated to PROBE the evil and bring OF
tenders to justice, without regard t
party or political ties.
Trust Regulation.
"Iaws enacted by the Republica
| party, which the Democratic party fail
ed to enforce, aud which were intende
for the protection of the public agains
the unjust discrimination or the illegs
encroachment Of vast aggregations
capital, have been fearlessly enforce
by a Republican President; and ne
laws, insuring reasonable publicity
to the operations of great corporation
aud providing additional remedies fo
the prevention Of discrimination l
freight rates, have been passed by
Esuuelicau Congress.