The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-28
THE PLATFORM.

plain that they do not like the plat.
form adopted by the national republl-
can convention. No more do they
think well of the men nominated.
Both Of these events were undoubtedly
anticipated py the men responsible
for their occurrence. 1t was for this
exact purpose that the platform was
adopted and Roosevelt and Fairbanks
were nominated. No republican plat
form ever adopted and no republican
ticket ever placed in the field met
with democratic approval. To this
very fact are due the many magnlfi-
the past and the many more that it
will continue to win in the years to
come. Instead of trying to meet with
the approval of democratic leaders
and publicists, the republicans have
made it their rule to do that which
they knew would incur their opposi-
tion and thereby gained the confidence
and support of the people. The same
thing will happen in the campaign to
be fought this fall.
In their enumeration of principles
=and promises of what they intend to
do, the republicans very properly go
before the nation with a review of
their past achievements as evidence
of their willingness and ability to
keep faith with the people whenever
they have been entrusted with the ad-
ministratiOn of national affairs. Only
by the past may the future be judged
with a reasonable degree of certainty.
Much as the democratic writer's may
rail against the recital of accomplish
ments by the republican party as con-
tanned in the Chicago platform, it is
certainly a remarkable summing up of
great things done by a political or
ganization and a concise history of the
nations life during the greater part OF
a half century. Railing is all they,
can, for every claim made is suscep-
tible of ~incontestible proof.
Attempt will NO doubt be made to
array the masses against the nomi-
nees on the ground that they stand
for the party of high tariff and con-
s%equently as the friends of trusts and
monopolies, for the democrats do still
insist that the protective tariff fosters
and encourages the combinations ef-
fected in recent years in restraint OF
trade. This issue is one the republi-
cans will be only too glad to meet.
Were it not for the protection the
republican tariff throws about Ameri-
a commerce and industry, instead
of being the richest, most prosperous
and greatest nation today we would
be low down in the scale of CONNER
cial and industrial activity and produc.
ton, and the busy hands and content
ed minds that now find place every
where would not be among the ma
tons most valued acssets. Having
proved the wisdom of protection, it
would be strange, indeed, were the
party to turn face at this time and
wilfully and wantonly tear down the
magnificent structure it has reared
Protection is n of the very cardinal
principles of re%publicanism and the
party may be relied upon to continue
its advocacy so long as the slightes1
necessity for it remains. But this
does not mean that the party is ir
reconcilable to any and every thought
Of tariff revision. Specific declaration
to the contrary is contained in the
platform adopted last week. "Th'
measure Of protection should Away
be at least equal to the difference il
the cost of production at home ant
abroad. This is the way the platform
puts it and is the way the American
people want It
The party does not regard the pres