Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-19

| generous provision for those who have
fought the country's battles. and for
the widows and orphans of those VINO
| have fallen. We commend the increase
| in the widows pensions made by the
! present Congress and declare for lib
eral administration of all pension laws,
to the end that the peoples gratitude
may grow deeper as the memories of
| heroic sacrifice grow more sacred win
the passing years.
| Civil Service.
| We re-affirm our declarations that
| the civil service laws enacted, extend
ed and enforced by the Republican
party, shall continue to be maintained
| and obeyed.
Public Health.
We commend the efforts designed to
secure greater efficiency in national
public health agencies and favor such
! legislation as will effect this purpose
Bureau of Mines and Mining.
| In the interest of the great mineral
| industries of our country, we earnestly
| favor the establishment of a bureau
| of mines and mining.
| Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Panama.
| The American government, in Repub-
| lican hands, has freed Cuba, given
peace and protection to Porto Rico,
and the Philippines under our flag, and
begun the construction of the Panama
canal. The present conditions in Cuba
vindicate the wisdom of maintaining
between that republic and this, upper
81, n bids nf mutual interest and the
hope is now expressed that the Cuban
people will soon again be ready to as
sumo complete sovereignty over their
land.
In Porto Rico the government of the
United States is meeting patriotic sup
port; order and prosperity prevail and
the we'll being of the people is in every
respect promoted and conserved. We
believe that the native inhabitants of
Porto Rico should be at once collective-
~ made citizens of the United States
and that all others properly qualified
under existing laws. residing in said
island, should have the privilege of be-
coming naturaized.
In the Philippines insurrectiOn has
been suppressed, law is established and
life and property are made secure. Edu-
cation and practical experience are
there advancing the capacity of people
for government and the policies of Mr..
Mckinley and Roosevelt are leading the
inhabitants step by step to an ever-in-
creaSing measure of home rule.
Time has justified the selection of the
Panama route for the great isthmian
canal and events have shown the wis
dom Of securing authority over the
zone through which it is to be built.
The work is now progressing with
rapidity far beyond expectation, and
already the realization of the hopes
of centuries has come within the vision
of near future.
New Mexico and Arizona.
We favor the immediate admission of
the territories of New Mexico and
Arizona us separate states in the
Urion.
Centenary of the Birth Of Lincoln.
February r. 1909, will be the Tooth
anniversary of the birth of Abraham
Lincoln. ar immortal spirit whose fame
has frightened with the rcccdng years
and whose name stands among the
first of those given to the world by the
great republic. We recommend that this
centennial anniversary be celebrated
throughout the confines of the nation
by all the people thereof; and especial
ly by the public schools as an exercise
to stir the patriotism of the youth of
the land.
Democratic incapacity for Government.
We call the attention of the Ameri-
npDn1p n tho fact that IF tho
great measures advocated by the Re
publican party could be enacted and
none of the steps forward here pro-
posed could he taken under a Demo-
cratic administration or under one in
which party responsibility it divided.
The continuance of present policies,
therefore. absolutely requires the con-
tinuance in power of that party which
believes in them and which possesses
the capacity to put them into opera
ton.
Fundamental Differences Between De-
mocracy and RepubIicanism.
Beyond all platform declarations
there arc fundamental differences be-
tween the Republican party and it's
chief opponent. which make the one
worthy and the other unworthy of pub
lie trust.
In history the difference between
Democracy and Republicanism is that
the one stood for debased currency, the
other for honest currency; the one for
free silver, the other for sound money;
the one for free trade, the other for
protection; the one for the contraction
of American influence. the other for it's
expansion; the one has been forced to
abandon every position taken on the
great issues before the people. the 9TH
er has held and indicated all.
In experience, the difference between
Democracy and Republicanism is that
one means adversely. while the other
means prosperity; one means low
wages, the other means high; one
means doubt and debt, the other means
confidence and thrift
In principle the differences between
Democracy and Republicanism is that
one stands for vacillation and timidity
in government, the other for strength
and purpose; one stands for obstruc-
ton, the other for construction; one
promises, the other performs; one finds