The Sentinel=record., 1910-02-13

expressions of respect and affection
sor the Republican party and our
pledges to keep the part which it
plays in the history OF this country IS
high and as useful as 1t was during
the administration of Abraham LIN
coin.
"rhe trials which he had to under
so as president. the political storms
which the party had to weather dur
ing the Civil War, the divisions in the
party itself between the radical and
anti-slavery element and those who
were most conservative in observing
the constitutional limitations are most
interesting reading and serve to dwarf
and minimize the trials through which
the Republican party is now passing
and restore a sense Of proportion to
those who allow themselves to be
daunted and discouraged in dile face
of loss of popular confidence Thought
to be Indicated by the tone of the
press.
In what respect has the Republi-
can party failed in its conduct of the
government ami tine enactment of
laws to perform its duty? It was re-
turned to power a year last November
by a very large majority after a cam.
paign in which it made certain prom
ises in its platform and those prom
ises it has either substantially com
piled with or il is about to perform
within the present session of con-
gress.
Let us take these promises in or
der:
In the Republican platform of last
YEAR upon which the campaign WAS
made appears the following plank in
regard to the tariff:
The Republican party declares un-
equivocally for the revision of the tar
iff by special session Of congress
Immediately following the Inaugural
tion of the next president and com
mends the steps already taken to this
enl in the work assigned to the ap-
propriate committees OF congress,
which are now investigating the OPP
er4tion and effect of existing sched-
ules. In all tariff Legislation the true
principle OF protection is best main
tanned BY the imposition CT such ou-
ties as will equal the cost of produc-
sion at home and abroad, together
with reasonable profit to American
industries.
: We favor the establishment of
maximum rates to be administered by
the president under limitations nxsd
in the law, the maximum to be avail
able 10 meet determinations BY for
eign countries against American goods
entering their markets and the mini
mum to represent the normal measure
Of protection at home. the aim and
purpose of the Republican policy be
ing not only to reserve, without ex.
cessiye duties, that security against
foreign competition to which Ameri-
can manufacturers, farmers and pro-
ducers are entitled, but also to main
tain the high standard of living of the
wage earners of this country, who are
the nest direct beneiciaries of the
protective system
Between the United States and
the Philippines we believe in free
interchange Of produces with such linn
itations as to sugar and tobacco as
wiz afford adequate protection TO do
nestle interests.
I'VE did revise the tariff. 1t is inn
possible to revise the tariff without
awakening the active participation IN
the formation of the schedules of
these producers whose business will
be affected by change. This is the
inherent difficulty in the adoption or
revision of tariff by our representa-
tive system.
Nothing was expressly said in the
platform that this revision was to be
a downward revision The implica-
tion that it was tc be. generally down
ward however, was fairly given by
the fact hat those who uphold a pro-
teetive tariff system defend it by the
claim that after an industry has been
established by shutting out foreign
competition. the domestic competition
will lead to the reduction in prices so
IS tc make the original high tariff un-
necessary.
I'm the new tariff there were 654 de-
creaseS, 220 increases and 1,150 items
of the dutable list unchanged, but this
did not represent the fair proportion
in most of the reductions and the In
creases because the duties were de-
creased on those articles which he'd
consumption value of nearly $4,000
0ufl mn whila thpv wore Increased on