Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-06-30

our years of democratic rule, in evil
plight, oppressed with misfortune and
doubtful of the future. Public credit had
been lowered, the revenues were declin-
ing, the debt was growing. the admins
tration's attitude toward Spain was fee
BILE and notifying, the standard OF
values was threatened ana uncertain. Ia
Dor was unemployed, business was sunk
in the depression which had succeeded
the panic of 1898, hope vas ain and
confidence was gone
We met these unhappy conditions
vigorously. effectively and at once.
We replaced a democratic tariff law.
based on free trade principles and gar
nished with sectional protection, by a
protective tariff and industry, freed from
oppression and stimulated by the encour-
agement of wise laws has expanded TO
a degree never before known. has con-
quered new markets and has created q
volume OF exports which has surpassed
imagination. Under the Dingley tariff.
labor had been fully employed, wages
viVed and prospered,
The Gold Standard.
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.
For deficient revenues supplemented by
improvident issues of bonds, we gave the
country an income which produced a
large surplus II which enabled us, only
four years after the Spanish war had
C,oSeG, to remove over one hundred mill
ions OF annual war taxes, reduce the pub
tic debt and lower the interest charges
of the government.
The public credit, which had been SO
lowered that in time of peace a demo-
cratic 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 two
per cent. even in time of war.
We refused to palter longer with the
miseries of Cuba. We fought a quick
and victorious war with Spain. We set
Cuba free, governed the island for three
years and then gave ii to the Cuban
people with order restored. with ample
revenues, with education and public
health established. free from debt II
connected with the United States by wise
provisions for our mutual interests.
Our Tusular Record.
We have organized the government of
Porto Rico, and its people now enjoy
peace. freedom, order and prosperity,
In the Philippines We lave suppressed
instruction, established order and given
to life and property a security never
known there before. We have organized
civil government, made it effective and
strong in administration, n AVE con-
ferred upon the people of those islands
the largest civil liberty they have ever
enjoyed.
BY our possession of the Philippines
We were enabled to take prompt and
effective action in the relief of the lega-
tons at Pekin and a decisive part in pre-
venting the partition and preserving the
integrity of China.
The possession of a route for an 18TH
mian canal, so long the dream of Amer
lean craftsmanship, is now an accom-
plished fact. The great work of connect
ing the Pacific and Atlantic oceans by
a canal is at last begun. and it is due
to the republican party.
We have passed laws which will bring
the arid lands of the United States with
in the area of cultivation.
We have r~eorganized 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 the protec-
ton 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 republican
| administration has not hesitated to probe
the evil and bring offenders to justice
without regard to party or political ties.
Laws enacted by the republican party
which the democratic party failed to en-
force and which were intended for the
protection of the public against the UNI
just discrimination or the illegal en-
| CrOachment of vast aggregationS of cap
ital have been fearlessly enforced by
republican president, and new laws in
surfing publicity as to the operations of
the great corporations and providing addi-
tional remedies for the prevention of
discrimination in freight rates nave been
passed by a republican congress.
The Policy of Protection.
In this record of achievement during
the, past eight years may be read the
pledges which the republican party has
! fulfilled. We propose to continue these
policies, and we declare our constant ad-
herence to the following principles:
Protection which guards and develops
| IIIV jnIprpGIs 1S II pn rlinl1 nnliPu nf fhn
republican party. The measure of 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 principles of protec-
ton, and therefore rates of duty should
be readjuted only when a public inter-
est demands their alteration, but this
work can not safely be committed to any
other hands than those of the republican
party. To intrust it to the democratic
party is 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 always the
destruction of the protective system.
is ever the same, A democratic tariff
has always been followed by business
adversely; a republican tariff by bust
ness prosperity. To- a republican con
great question can be safely intrusted.
When the only free trade country among
the great nations. agitates a return to
protection the chief protective country
should not falter in maintaining it.
We have extended widely our foreign
markets, and We believe in the adoption
OF all practicable methods for THAR fur
Their extension, including commercial rec
iprocity wherever reciprocal arrange
ments can be effected consistent with the
principles of protection ana without in
Jury to American agriculture, American
labor, or any American industry.
we DelleVe 1t to be the duty of the
republican party to uphold the gold
standard and the integrity and value of
Of the gold standard, established by the
republican party, can not safely be COM
mitted to the democratic party, which
resisted Its adoption and has never given
any proof since hat time of belief in
1t or fidelity to it.
To Foster Merchant Marine.
While every other industry has pros
pered under the fostering aid of repub-
lican legislation, American shipping en-
gagged in foreign trade in competition
with the low cost of construction, low
wages and heavy subsidies of foreign
governments, has not for many years re-
ceived from the government of the United
States adequate encouragement of any
kind. We, therefore, recommend legis-
lation that will encourage n build up
the American merchant marine, and we
cordially approve the legislation of the
last congress which creatde the merchant
iiithi IL" ~ lllN IollSalS dllp
report upon this subject.
A navy powerfur enough to defend the
United States against any attack, to UP
hold 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 republican party.
We cordially approve the attitude of
President Roosevelt and congress in re-
gard to the exclusion Of Chinese labor,
an policy in hat direction.
The civil service law was placed on
the statute books by the republican party,
which has always sustained it, n we
roneW our former declarations that ii
shall be thoroughly and honestly en-
forced.
We are always mindful Of the country's
debt to the soldiers and sailors of the
United States, and we believe in making
ample provision for them and in the lib
eral administration of the pension laws.
We favor the peaceful settlement of in
tcrnational differences by arbitration.