The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-07

FOR more than ten years the ltt1IO-
lican party has been in charge OF all
departments OF the government. The
people seldom exhibit such steadfast
confidence in a party or trust ii with
entire control for SO long a period.
Another national election is at hand.
and it is right that they should care
fully review the manner in which the
responsibilities have been carried, pass
ing judgment upon the influences and
issues that have been paramount and
the policies that have been adopted.
The presidential election OF 1896 hinged
upon the value OF the dollar. Should
it be scaled down one-half or more, or
be kept up to the gold standard, the
only measurement accepted through
ont the world? Should the debts of the
nation be paid in 1OO-cent dollars or
be adjusted, without the consent of
creditors, to an arbitrary reduction
The gold standard prevailed and has
been established by the party that
promised to do it, Such is the power
of the earth now recognize the uni
form standard, and the few races that
do not are placed at a disadvantage.
All that the Republican party prom
ised in regard to the value of the dol
lar has been fulfilled.
Nearly eleven years ago the protec-
tive tariff was restored by Republi-
can votes. Another distinct promise
was thus redeemed The present tariff
law, shaped by such practical economic
students as Mckinley and Dingley,
has been in force for more than a
| decade. 1t is identified with the coun-
trys greatest era of prosperity. Its
enemies said a return to protection
would destroy our foreign trade. But
the opposite has happened Our sales
abroad, including manufacturers, have
| largely Increased, and at this time the
balance of trade in our favor is at
the highest recorded point But some
unexpected things have happened since
1896, calling for the proof of the abil-
| ity to meet emergencies not looked for.
The war with Spain came in 1898 and
was ended before the close of that
year Its story is we'll known to the
people. Within the decade referred to
| Hawaii, the Philippines. Porto Rico
and some other islands have been add
ed to the national territory. We have
looked to Cuba's interests as ward
while it tries to organize a stable gov
eminent OF it's own. A Panama zone
has been acquired and the interoceanie
canal is moving on rapidly.
| An irrigation law has passed and
| S40,OC0.000 is going into various large
| projects to furnish the arid lands with
the water that viii open them to the
uses of agriculture and insure that a
part of the crops will always be Sc
cure from drought A pure food law
is in force. Our interests in the Pa
ciiic have been looked to with vigor-
Gus effectiveness. Relations with Latin
America have been strengthened by
marks of friendly interest. Army
and navy show progress. All forms
of production and industry have
been stimulated and American wages
maintained. The savings Of the peo-
pie are vastly greater than they were
| ten years ago. A panic of limited ex-
| tent occurred last fall. whose cause
is said to have been a lack of sufi;-
cient currency to carry on the inn
mensely augmented volume of trade
4 temporary loss of confidence had
something TO do with it. Monopolis-
| tic trusts have been made to feel that
the power of the people will be used
| against them. This summary of what
| the Republicans in national control
have done since 1896 could be much
extended, but the samples given are
amply convincing.-St Louis Globe
Democrat.