The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-15
ISSUES Of PRESENT Campaign
DISCUSSED At G. 0. P. RALLY

came mere to discuss In a common
and friendly way the political issues
now before YOU for decision. The con-
stitution provides that representatives
in congress shall be chosen every
second year The founders of our gov
eminent believed that their represen-
tatives chosen directly by the people
should frequently submit their stew
ardship to the Judgment of their con
stitutents in order that they might
faithfully reflect the peoples iudg-
ment. This election therefore involves
on the part of the voters the question
of whether YOU approve or disapprove
OF the acts of your representatives III
congress at the last session. which
is acknowledged by everyone to have
been one of the most important ses-
sions ever held in this country. But
the house of representatives is but
one coordinate branch of the legis-
lative power of this nation and cannot
govern except in cooperation with the
senate and the executive and as thest
are all in the possession of the re-
publican party and as they have
worked together to carry out the aims
and policies OF that party this cleo
ton. although involving only the men,
bers of congress directly or indirect
ly involves also congress and the ad-
ministration of President Roosevelt as
Il whole and the conduct of the affairs
of this nation both at home and
abroad.
| come to discuss these issues from
the standpoint of the republican party.
Every representative government must
necessarily be government of party
1t is unavoidably necessary. where
free institutions prevail. that the af-
fairs of the government should be
controlled and administered through
parties, and although we are ardent
supporters of the cause of the repub-
lican party. we entertain no illwill
towards the members of the opposite
party, or its membership. however ar
dent their partisanship may be. Wher-
ever there is free representative in
situations an opposition party is neces-
sary, in fact. just as necessary as a
majority party, and the minority or
opposition party has its responsible
ties and its uses, and these responsible
ties and uses are as sacred as the re-
sponsibilities and uses of the majority.
1t is the function and the duty of the
| opposition party to be active and
jealous in their opposition to the
measures and policies of the major
! ity. 1t is only in such active OPPOSE
ton that the safety of the government,
lies, for it is through this opposition
that the attention of the people is
called to the defects or unwisdom of
any of the plans or policies of the
dominant party. 1t Is to the OPPOSE
ton that the people must look for
security against the abuse Of power
of those who hold 1t.
We have today, as in nearly all our
history as nation, two great parties
contending for power. The republic
can party is now, and for ten year.
last past, has been in power. and In
complete control of the government.
both in legislative and executive
branches thereof. 1t is therefore re-
sponsible for the conducts of affairs
of this great nation, both as concerns
it's internal and it's foreign affairs.
Opposing is the democratic party and
they challenge our position on many
great questions of governmental pol
icy. The republican party, as the
saying goes, points with pride to it's
record of past achievements, and asks
for the renewal of the confidence of
the people. 1t was first organized in
the defense of human liberty and the
preservation of the union, and the
triumph of those causes are today and
ever will. be, the most glorious in the
history of the nation. The party was
right on those questions and expressed
the deliberate judgment and con-
seriousness of the American people.
1t was opposed then as now, by the
/ 10 ,or<1. oil
bers of that party in the north sacri-
feed their party loyalty and strug-
gled for the cause for which. the re-
of the result of that struggle. We are
all glad that the couse of human free
dom and the perpetuity of our insti-
the memory of Lincoln, Grant, Gar
leaders of the republican party. The
which they were first successful in
1860, contained the first plank which
favored a protective tariff, it reads:
"Our policy requires such an ad-
justment of imports as to encourage
the development of the industrial in
terests of the whole country, and We
commend that policy of national ex-
change, which secures to the work
man liberal ages, to agriculture, re-
munerative prices, to mechanics and
manufacturers. adequate return for
their skill, labor and enterprise, and
to the nation. commercial prosperity
and independence"
So you see that from the very first
Inauguration of the republican party
to power, 1t has consistently stood for
the same principle so far as the tariff
is concerned In the same platform
it also declares in favor of the home.
stead law and liberal appropriation.
for internal improvements for rivers
and harbors and aid to transcontinen'
tai railroads. OF all the issues raised
by the party each one has triumphea
and each one stands permanently
written in the laws of our country
yet our democratic friends still take
issue on the tariff question. and i
has been fought out at every nationa
campaign since 1860. The republican!
contend, that experience has con
clusively demonstrated the wisdom o
protective tariff, and that under pro
lection we have always enjoyed Oul
and that each return to a revenue
tariff and free trade tariff. has beer
followed by hard times. =
We had democratic administration
from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1889
but inasmuch as the republicans con
troll the senate, no tariff law could b.
passed and the next administration
during the presidency Of Benjamin