The copper era., 1904-06-30
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Foundation on Which the Leading Party
 Now Stands.

Now Stands.
 The platform presented and adopted
 by the National Republican conven tion, is as follows:
 Fifty years ago the republican party
 came into existence. dedicated among
 other purposes to the great task of ar
 resting the extension of human slavery
 In 1860 it elected it's first president.
 During the twenty-four of fOrty-four years which have elapsed since the I election Of Lincoln the republican D party has held complete control of the government. For eighteen more of forty-four years it has held partial control through possession of one or 1 two branches Of the government, while the democratic party, during the same period has had complete control for only two years.
 This long tenure of power by the repU blican party is not due to chance. It is demonstration that the republi- can party has commanded the conf dence of the American people for nearly two generations to degree never equalled in our history, and has displayed high capacity for rule and government which has been made even mo~e conspicuous by the incapacity and infirmitv of tne opposition.
 The republican party entered upon it's present period of complete supre- macy in lS37. We have every right to congratulate ourselves upon the work since then accomplished, for it has added lustre even to the traditions of the party which carried the govern ment through the storms of the civil | war.
 1 We then found the country, after four years of democratic rule. in an evil plight, oppressed with misfortune and doubtful ot the future. The pub | lie credit has been lowered, the reven- ues were declining, the debt was grow ing, the administrations attitude to- ward Spain was feeble and mOrtiiying. the Standard Ot values was threatened
 
 business was sunk in the depression which had succeeded tho pauiC of 1893, hope was faint s.d confidence was gone.
 We met these auhappy conditions vigorously, effectively and alone. We replaced the democratic tariff law, based on free trado principles, and garnishcd with s.ctional projection, by protective tarln and, industry. freed from oppression and stimulated by encouragement Of wise laws, has expanded to degree never before known, has conquered rev markets and has created d volume of exports which has surpassed imag
 Under the Dinglev tariff, labor has risen and all industries have revived and p"ospered We firmly established the gold standard, which was then menaced with destruction. Confidence returned to business and with this confidence, unexampled prosperity.
 For deficient revenues, supplemented by imprOvident issues Of bonds. we gave the country an income which produces large surplus and which enabled Us only four years after the Spanish war hal closed 10 remove oyer one hundred millions of the annual Wal taxes, reduce the public debt and lower the interest charges To the gov ernment.
 We refused to palter longer with the miseries Of Cuba. We fought quick and vigorous 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 rom debt and connected with the United States by wise provisions for our mu- tual interests.
 We have organized the government Of Porto Rico and it's people now en- joy peace, freedom, order and pros perity.
 In the Philippines we have SUD- pressed an iosurrection, established | order and given to life and property | security never known there before in | its administration. and have conferred | upon the people ot those islands the | largest civil liberty they have ever en- Joyed. By our possession of the | Philippines we were enabled to take prompt and effective action in relief Of the legations at Pekin and decis- i've part in preventing partition and the intregity of China.
 The possession of the route for an isthmian canal, so long the dream Of American statesmanship, is now an ac- fact.
 We have passed laws which will bring the arid lands up within an area of cultivation.
 We have reorganized the army and put it in the highest state of effici- ency.
 We have passed laws for the im- provement and support of the militia
 We have pushed forward the build- ing of navy for the defense and pro- lection of our honor and our interests. Our administration of the great de- oartments of government has been honest and efficient and wherever wrong has been discovered the re-