Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-06-23
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Inc republican hdtioHoi S"n'N" "
Chicago yesterday evening adopted the
platform reported BY the committee. 1t
is practically reaffirmation of principles
heretofore set forth, and substantially
what had been previously forecasted.
About one-forrth of the declaration is
taken up with the preamble, which gives
the history Of the rise OF the republican
party, fifty years ago, and its subsequent
course. Much is said concerning the
part the country played in wrestling
Cuba from Spain and inaugurating a
new republic, while the course OF the
United States in the Philippines is
lauded. The following are the salient
features OF the platform.
We insist upon the maintenance OF
the principles of protection and, there,
fore rates of duty should be readjusted
only when conditions have so changed
that the public interest demands their
alteration, but this work cannot safely
be committed to any other hands than
those of the republican party. To en-
trust it to the democratic party is to in
yite disaster.
We have extended widely our foreign
markets, and we believe in the adop-
ton of all practicable methods for their
further extention, including commercial
reciprocity, wherever reciprocal ar
rangements can be effected consistent
with the principles of protection and
without injury to American agriculture,
American labor or any American in-
dustry.
We believe it to be the duty Of the
republican party to uphold the gold
standard and the integrity and value of
our national currency. The mainte-
nance ofthe gold standard, established by
the republican party, cannot safely be
committed to the democratic party, which
resisted its adoption and has never given
any proof since that time of belief In 1t
or fidelity to it.
We favor legislation which will en-
courage and build up the American mer-
chant marine, and we cordially approve
the legislation of the last Congress which
created the Merchant Marine Commits
sion to investigate and report upon this
subject.
A navy powerful 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 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,
and promise a continuance of the re-
publican policy in that direction.
The civil service law was placed on
the statute books by the republican party,
which has always sustained it, aud we
renew our former declarations that II
shall be thoroughly and honesty enforced.
We are always mindful of the coun-
try'S debt to the soldiers and sailors oi
the United States, and we believe in
making ample provision for them and in
the liberal administration Of the pension
laws.
We favor the peaceful settlement o.
international differences by arbitration.
We commend the vigorous efforts made
by the administration to protect Ameri'
can citizens in foreign lands, and pledge
ourselves to insist upon the just and
equal protection OF all our citizens abroad
Our great interests and our growing
commerce in the Orient render the cor
dition of China of high importance tC
the United States. We cordially COM
mend the policy pursued in that direc'
ton by the administrations of President
Mckinley and President Roosevelt.
We favor such congressional action
as shall determine whether by special dis
examinations the elective franchise in any
State has been unconstitutionally limited
and. if such is the case, we demand that
that representation In Congress and IL
the electoral college shall be proportion.
ately reduced as directed by the constltu
ton of the United States.
Combinations of capital and of labor
are the results OF the economic movement
of the age, but neither mustbe permitted
to infringe upon the rights and interests
of the people. Such combinations wher
lawfully formed for lawful purposes, arr
alike entitled 10 the protection Of the laws
but both are subject to the laws, ant
neither can be permitted to break them
That which follows, and which would
fill about half column Of the Gazette
refers to the assassination Of Presiden
Mckinley and the 'goOd fortune of th
country in having Theodore Roosevelt
as his successor, who is credited with
glowing record, The most extravagan
and unwarranted adulation Of the pres
ent incumbent ofthe White House close
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