Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1888 — THE PLATFORM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE PLATFORM.

Declaration of Principles by the National Republican Convention. The Third Day Largely Consumed in Nominating Candidates. Alger, Allison, Gresham, Harrison, Depew, Sherman, and Others Named. The Convention Overwhelmed by a Hood of Oratory—How the Speeches Were Received. Chicago, June 22, 1888. Chairman Estee .called the third day's session of the National Republican Convention to order at 10:05 o'clock yesterday morning, and Rev. Thcinas E. Green of Chicago invoked the divine blessing. The first order of business was the a calling of the States for naming members of the National Committee. After a season of music by the band. Chairman McKinley, of the Committee on Resolutions, stepped upon the platform and was greeted with loud applause. “I am instructed by the Committee on Resolutions,” said Mr. McKinley, “to rejiort the following declaration of principles The Republicans of the United States, assembled by fheir delegates in national convention,

pause on the threshold of their proceedings to honor the memory of their first great leader, the immortal ch&mpion of liberty and the rights of the people—Abraham Lincoln; and to cover, also, with Wreaths of imperishable remembrance and gratitude the * heroic names of our later leaders, who have been more recently called away from our councils—Grant, Garfield, Arthur, Logan, Conkling. May their memories be faithfully cherished. We also recall with our greetings, and with prayer for his recovery, the name of one of our living heroes whose memory will be treasured in the history both of Republicans of the republic—the name of that noble soldier and favoritecluld'of victory, Philip H. Sheridan. In the spirit of those great leaders, and of our own devotion to human liberty, and with that hostility to all forms of despotism and oppression which is the fundamental idea of the Republican party, we send fraternal congratulations to our fellow Americans of Brazil upon their great act of emancipation, which completes the abolition of slavery throughout the two American cojitments. We earnestly hope that we may soon congratulate our fellow-citi-z6ns of Irish birth upon the peaceful recovery of home rule for Leland. We reaffirm dur unswerving devotion to the National {Constitution and to the indissoluble union of the States ; to the autonomy reserved to the States under the Constitution; to the personal rights and liberties of citizens in all tne States and Territories in the Union, and especially to the supreme and sovereign right of every lawful citizen, rich or poor, native or foreign born, white or black, to cast one free ballot in public elections and to have that ballot duly counted. We hold the free and honest popular ballot and the just and equal representation of all the people to be the foundation of our republican government, and demand effective legislation to secure the integrity and purity •of elections, which are the fountains of all public authority. We charge that the present administration and the democratic majority in Congress owe their existence to the suppression of the ballot by a criminal nullification of the Constitution and laws of the United States.

We are uncompromisingly in favor of the American system of protection; we protest against its destruction proposed by the President'and his party. They serve the interests of Europe; we will support the interests of America, We accept the issue? and confidently appeal to the people for their judgment. The protective system must be maintained. Its abandonment has always been followed by general disaster to all interests except those of the usurer and the sheriff. We denounce the Mills bill as destructive of the general business, the labor, and the farming interests of the country, and we heartily indorse the consistent and patriotic action of the Republican Representatives in Congress in opposing its passage. We' condemn the proposition of the Democratic party to place wool on the free list, and we insist that the duties thereon shall be ad- ; justed and maintained so as to furnish full and adequate protection to that industry. The Republican party would effect all needed reduction of the national revenue by repealing the taxes upon tobacco, which are an annoyance and burden to agriculture, and the tax upon spirits used in the arts, and for mechanical iiurpoeas, and by such revision of the tarlh laws as will tend to check imports of such articles as are produced by our people, the production of which gives employment to our labor, and relt aso from import duties those articles of foreign pre due ion (exc. pt luxuries), the like of which cannot be produced at home. If there shall still remain a larger revenue than is requisite for the wants of the government, we favor the entire repeal of internal taxes rather than the surrender of any part of our protective system at the joint behest of the ■whisky ring ana the agents of foreign manufacturers. WeMeclare our hostility to the introduction into this country of foreign contract labor and of Chinese labor, alien to our civilization and our Constitution; and we demand the rigid enforcement of the existing laws against it, and favor such immediate legislation as will exclude such labor from our shores. We declare our opposition to all combinations of capital organized in trusts or otherwise to control arbitrarily the conditions of trade among our citizens; ana we recommend to Congress, and the State legislatures, in their respective jurisdictions, such legislation as will prevent the execution of all schemes to oppress the people by undue chargee on their supplies or bj’ unjust rates for the transportation of their products to market. We approve the legislation by Congress to prevent alike unjust burdens and unfair discriminations between the States. We reaffirm the policy of appropriating the sublic lands of the United States to be home-

steads for American and settlers, not aliens, which the Republican pa.ty established in 18o*z, the persist n; opposition of the Dem< crate in Congress, and wlich has brjught cur great Western domain into such magnificent de. e.oj went. The restoration or unearned railrotd land grants 'to the public d< main for the use of actual se.tiers, which was began undtr the administration of President Arthur, should be continued. We deny that the Democratic par.y has ever restored one acre to - the people, but declare that by the joint action of Republicans and Democrats about fifty millions of acres of unearned lands originally granted for the construction of railroads has been restored to the public domain, in purnuanoaof the Conditions inserted by the Republican party in the original grants. We charge the Democratic administration with failure to execute the law securing to settlers title to their homesteads, and with using appropriations made for that purpose to harass innocent settlers with spies and prosecutions, under the false pretense of exj>OHing fraud and vindicating the law. The government by Congress of the Territories is based upon necessity only, to the end that they may become States in the Union; therefore, whenever the conditions of population, material resources, public intelligence, and morality are such as to insure a stable local government tnerein the people of such Territories should lie permitted ae a right inherent in them to form for themselves constitutions and btate governments and be admitted into the Union. I’tnding the preparation for statehood all officers thereof should be selected from the bona fide residentatand citizens of the Territory wherein they are tb serve. South Dakota should of right be immediately admitted as a State in the Union, under the Constitution framed and adopUdbyher people, and we heartily indorse the action of the Republican Senate in twice passing bills for her admission. The refusal of the Democratic House of Representatives, for partisan purposes, to favorably consider these bills is a willful violation of the sacred American principle of local self-government and merits the condemnation of all just men. 'The pending bills in the feenate for acts to enable the people of Washington, North Dakota and Montana Territories to form constitutions and establish State governments should lie passed without unnecessary delay. The Refffiblican

party pledges itself to do all in its power to facilitate the admission of Ute Territories of New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, and Arizona to the enjoyment of self-government as States, such of them as are now qualified as soon as possible, and the others as soon as they may become so. The political power of the Mormon church in the Territories, as exercised in the past, is a menace to free institutions too dangerous to be long suffered. Therefore we pledge the Republican party to appropriate legislation asserting the sovereignty of the nation in nil Territories where the same is questioned, und in furtherance of that end to place upon the statute books legislation stringent enough to divorce the political from the ecclesiastical power, and thus stomp out the attendant wickedness of polygamy. The Republican party is in favor of the use of both gold and silver as money,and condemns the policy of the Democratic administration in its efforts to demonetize silver. We demand the reduction of letter postage to 1 cent per ounce.

In a republic like ours, where the citizen is the sovereign and the official the servant, where no power is exercised except by the will of the people, it is important that the sovereign—the people—should possess intelligence. The free school is the promoter of that intelligence which is to preserve us a free nation: therefore the State or nation, or both combined, should support free institutions of learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the opportuni ,y of a good common-school education We earnestly recommend that prompt action be taken by Congress in the enactment of such legislation as will best secure the rehabilitation of our American merchant marine, and we protest against the passage by Congress of a free-ship bill, as calculated to work injustice to labor by lessening, the wages of those engaged in preparing materials, as well as those directly employed in our ship-yards. We demand appropriations for the early rebuilding of our navy; for the construction of coast fortifications and modem ordnance, and other approved modem means of defense for'the protection of our defenseless harbors and cities ; for the payment of just pensions to our soldiers; for necessary works of national importance iu the improvement of harbors and the channels of internal, coastwise, and foreign commerce; for the encouragement of the shipping interests of the Atlantic,' Gulf and Pacific States, as well as for the payment of the maturing public debt. This policy will give employment to our labor, activity to bur various industries, increase the security of our country, promote trade, open new and direct markets for our products, and cheapen the cost of transportation. We affirm this to be far better for our country than the Democratic policy of loaning the Government's money without interest to “pet banks." The conduct of foreign affairs by the present administration has been distinguished by its in- ; efficiency and its cowardice. Having withdrawn from the Senate all pending treaties effected by Republican administration for the removal of foreign burdens and restrictions upon our commerce and for its extension into better markets, it has neither effected nor proposed any others iu their stead. Professing adherence to the Monroe doctrine, it has seen with idle complacency the extension of foreign influence in Central America and of foreign trade everywhere among our neighbors. It has refused to charter, sanction, or encourage any Americanorganization for constructing the Nicaragua Canal, a work of vital importance to the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine and of our national influence in Central and South America, and necessary for the development of trade with our Pacific territory, with South America, and with the islands and farther coasts of the Pacific Ocean.

We arraign the present Democratic administration for its weak and unpatriotic treatment of the fisheries question, and its pusillanimous surrender of the essential privileges to which our fishing vessels are entitled in Canadian ports under the treaty of 1818, the reciprocal maritime’ legislation of 1830, and the comity of nations, and "Which Canadian fishing vessels receive in the ports of the United States. We condemn the policy of the present administration and the Democratic majority in Congress toward our fisheries as unfriendly and conspicuously unpatriotic and as tending to destroy a valuable national industry and an indispensable resource of defense against a foreign enemy. The name of American applies alike to all citizens of the republic and imposes upon all alike the same obligation of obedience tb the laws. At the same time that citizenship is and must be the panoply and safeguard of him who wears it and protect him whether high or low, rich or poor, in all his civil rights. It should and must afford him protection at home and follow

and proteccdu—.‘abroad in wrutdver land he may be on a lawful errand. The men who abandoned the Republican party in 1884 and continue to adhere to the Democratic party have deserted not only the cause of honest gorernment, of sound finance, of freedom, and purity of the ballot, but esj>eciaUy have deserted the cause of reform in the civil servic. We will not fail to keep our pledges because they have broken theirs, or because thefr candidate has broken his. We therefore repeat our declaration i of 1884, to wit: “The reform of the , civil service, auspiciously begun under I the Republican administration, should be ■ completed by the further extension of the reform system already establish.d by law to all the grades of the service to which it is applica- | b!e. The spirit and purpose of the refoim suould be observed in all executive appointments, and all laws at variance with the object of existing reform legislation should be repealed, to the ' end that the danger to free institutions which lurk in the jxrwer of official jratronage may be wisely snd effectively avoidid." The gratitude of the nation to the defenders of the Union cannot be measured by laws. The legislation'of Congress should conform to the pledges made by loyal people, and be so enlarged and extended as to provide against the possibility that any man who honorably wore the Federal uniform shall become an inmate of an almshouse or a dependent upon private charity. In the presence of an overflowing Treasury it would be a public scandal to do less for those whose valor and service preserved the Government We denounce the nostile spirit shown by President Cleveland in his numerous vetoes of measures for peusion relief, and the ‘action of the Democratic House of Representatives in refusing even a consideration of general pension legislation. In support of the principles herewith enunciated we invite the co-operation of patriotic, men of all parties, and espe.iallv of all workingmen, whore prosperity is seriously threatened by the free trade policy of the present administration. The platform, upon motion of Mr. Marine, of Maryland, was unanimously adopted by the Convention by a rising vote amid a storm of applause and waving of hats. Chairman Estee announced that the next order of business was the presentation of candidates -for PresidentMinpl Yjee President, and ordered the Secretary to proceed with the calling of the roll by States and Territories. Neither Alabama nor Arkansas hud any candidate to present. When California was called Creed Haymond rose and was saluted with cheers and cries of “Platform,” “Platform.” Col. Haymond passed up the platform and said: “Mr. President and gentlemen of the convention: The California delegation, whose position is well known here, asks the convention to pass them on the roll call of States for the present.” When Colorado was reached the Chairman arose and said that Colorado had no name to present. When Connecticut was called Mr. Warner of that delegation arose and said: “Mr. Chairman, Connecticut presents the name of the Hon. Joseph R. Hawley.” [Cheers.] Delaware, Florida and Georgia had no name to present, and when each S.ate was called the Chairmen of the respective delegations arose and made the announcement. When Illinois was called, Leonard Swett, of Chicago, ascended the platform and presented the name of Walter Q. Gresham. m response to the Chairman’s inquiry for a second Mr. Davis of Minnesota came forward to the platform and seconded the nomination of Judge Gresham in a pretty little speech of ten minutes’ duration. Messrs. Lynch of Mississippi, McCall of Massachusetts, and Rector oi Texas also seconded the nomination of Judge Gresham, on behalf of their respective States. The Se retary called “Indiana,” when every one interested in Harrison sit up a howl, and Col.. Dick Thompson rose to speak. Cries of “Platform,” “Platform,” *were liung at him from all sides, but the old man refused to be budged from his place. “I merely want to make an announcement, "said he. “The Republican party of Indiana has selected amtmberef our delegation, the Hon. Albert G. l-orter, to present their candidate for the Presidency.” [Cheers.] Governor Porter passed to the platform accompanied by the cheers of many of the delegates and most of the audience. “Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention,” he began, “when, in 1880, Roscoe Conkling visited Indiana to take part in the memorable canvass of that year, he was asked on every hand, 'How will New York go at the Presidential election?’ ‘Tell me,’ lie replied, ‘how Indiana will go in October and I will tell you how New York Will go in November.’ [Applause.] In October, Indiana’s majority of 7,000 for the Republican candidate for Governor informed the country how she would go, and New York and the nation echoed her October voice. [Applause.] As in 1880 Indiana held the key of the position, so, although not an October State now. she seems to hold the key of the position as before. [Applause.) Indiana is always called a doubtful State, but when the Republican party has thoroughly organized, when its preparatory work has been done well, and when the spirit of the Republican masses is kindled into a flame she seldom fails to elect Republican candidates. There never was a time in the history of the Republican partv in Indiana when it was more thoroughly organized. There never was a time when the preparatory work of the campaign had been better done. There never was a time when the Republican masses were more thoroughly alive and intent upon victory; and give us Gen. Benjamin Harrison [great cheering and applause and waving of handkerchiefs]—give him your commission to be a candidate [cheers] and the Republicans will fall into line and move forward steadily to victory.” Mr. Terrill of Texas and Mr. Gallinger of New Hampshire made speeches seconding the nomination of Gen. Harrison. When lowa was called Mr. Henderson of that State arose and said : “Mr. Chairman, lowa has a candidate to present for the consideration of the convention.” [Cheers.] While Gen. Henderson was speaking Mr. Hepbum of the lowa delegation walked up to the platform and was introduced by the Chairman in the following wwds: “Gentlemen of the convention, Mr. Hepburn, of lowa.” Mr. Hepburn put in nomination Mr. Allison, of lowa. His speech in part is as follows : “It is the laudable ambition of every member of this convention that to-day we pursue such a

course as to deserve and win success at the end of this campaign. Is there such a course open to our choice? We remember that we enter upon this struggle a beaten party—that we were not beaten for want of numbers, but for want of harmony. We are strong enough to compel a triumph, but it will require the united efforts of us all to clutch it. Is it possible for us to-day to name a candidate for whom all Republicans will vote? If we do wc shall succeed. If we fail to name such an one our flag goes down in defeat; before the organized apj>etite for spoils and its allies. The candidate of this convention must be of spotless character, and with unblemished political record. He must be a man in whose armor of integrity there is no flaw or crevice for the lodgment of censure or calumny. He must be a man versed in the public business, schooled in tjie public service, fitted for the high office to which we consecrate him by broad experience and observation. He must be a man of affairs. The Republican party is one of deeds as well as of doctrines—results no less than lofty sentiments. Its just pride and crowning glory is to be found in the long record of what it has accomplished. It loves liberty, and it creates free State?. It loves mankind, and it strikes the shackles frem the bond and makes freemen. It loves equality, and it places the ballot in the hands of the humble and bids him stand unabashed by the side of him who is the strongest. It loves the flag and th* union of the States, and it builds navies.

It calls. into being vast armies, and tramples relrellion trader its coiquering feet. It sympathizes with the struggling poor, and it gems the prairie with a million happy, prosperous homesteads. It feels rhe dignity of labor, and it protects the nation's industries, and the mill, and the factory, and the forge is erected, the children are schoolod, and prosperity smiles on every home. It lov.-s honesty, and it pays the national debt. It is filled with an exalted sense of justice, and in, mercy, after the sword is sheathed,' it restores its prostrate foe to the high station of uptr*mmeled citizenship. “It is a party of lofty sentiment, and it preserves the national credit, fills the national Treasury with abundant revenue, and gives the nation almost two billions of currency the equivalent of gold. It is indeed a party in.<hich ennobling sentiments abound, but they Have been followed by grand achievements, as in the economy of God fulfillment follows prophecy. Have we axueng our number seme one who fr his public Srtivicre has been a contribu .' to this rehearsal of Republican inuorseinents? Some one who in Uie legislation of this generation has aided in writing tm= record? home one whose recorded votes show that upon all questions that for & quarter of a century have tried the courage and tested the wisdom of patriotic men he has been upon the right side —the right side as time has determined the right in the honest conviction of the Republican party of this day? Gentlemen, the State of lowa bids me name to you this man—fit to be your candidate, William B. Allison, of lowa.’’ Mr. Hepburn closed his speech amid a storm of applause, the lowa delegation being especially demonstrative. The nomination of Mr. Allison was seconded in a short speech by Delegate Bosworth, of Rhode Island. There being no other seconds, the Secretary called the roll through the States of Kansas, Kentucky, laruisiana, Maine, Maryland and Massachusetts, without any response. When Michigan was called all of Alger’s friends rose in a bedy and split the air with their cheers. After a while Mr. Horr of Michigan obtained the floor and said: “1 wish merely to state that Michigan has a candidate, and that he will be presented by Mr. Bobert E. Frazer of Detroit.” [Cheers from the Michigan delegation.] , 4 “Michigan comes into a Republican convention for the first time in its history.to ask of that convention a favor,” began Mr. Frazier. ” [Cheers.] "Michigan has always proved true to the Republican party, and Michigan always intends to prove true"to that organization in any political battl) which may be fought. [Cheers.] We find the Republican party to-day out of power for the first time in its history. Hereto-

fore, during all the battles that you have fought, during all the great contests in which you have been engaged, Michigan has been modest in her demands of the Republican party; but when we find this party out of power, when we find the Democratic party controlling this nation, we do not stop to argue by what means or methods that party got there, but te come here to provide for you the ways and means of turning that party out of power. [Cheers.] As Jong as everything was going along smoothly with the Republican party Michigan had nothing to ask; but now, when you need her, w® come here and offer you a man to lead you to victory in this campaign. [Cheers.] And I propose to tell you the reason why. In the first place, gentlemen of the convention, it becomes necessary that you should select from the large number of candidates that are named here the most available one to fight this campaign with. He must, as has been described by the gentlemen, be strong in all the States alike ; he must be strong alike with the soldier and with the civilian ; with the rich man and with the poor; with the black man aifd with the white man. [Applause..] “I propose to offer you in behalf of Michigan for your careful and candid consideration such a gentleman. I believe, Mr. Chairman, that we are here as a deliberative body of men. lam glad to see the enthusiasm that is manifested by this large assemblage of people in behalf of the gentlemen whose names Have been and will be presented to this convention. Michigan has no charges to bring against any of them. We know nothing against them, and we have sought to find nothing against them. [Cheers.] They are Republiaans all, they have been true to the Republican party, and I ask on behalf of Michigan here a careful consideration of all these gentlemen’s merits, and I hope they will receive, each of them; their full measure of praise. And in presenting to you our candidate here I ask nothing but—and I ought to be ashamed to ask it —a fair consideration for him in a Republican convention. These gentlemen, I say, who have all been named, we have nothing to say against them, and we believe that what has been said about them is true; but the availability of the man that you should pla’ce iu nomination here is a serious question for you to consider; and right here at the outset I say to you that he will supply to you strength from all the quarters that I have named. The rich man will trust him, for he is a man of business and affairs, and his honor among these men has been and always will be unquestiont d. [Cheers.] If you think that he is not a friend of the poor, come with me to the city of Detroit, where he lives ; enter with me into the poor man’s home —aye, into the very abode of misery—and there mention the name of our candidate and you will find that next their God, among the poor people of Michigan, the name of Gen. Russell A. Alger is in their hearts.”

At the mention of Gen. Alger’s name there was great enthusiasm, and an enthusiastic Algerite in the main gallery howled, " Three cheers for Gen. Alger,” and they were given with a will by portions of the audience. Delegates Noyes of 'Massachusetts, Egan of Nebraska, and Estes of North Carolina, seconded Gen. Alger’s nomination. Delegate Eggers, of Arizona Territory, also added his indorsement. When the State of New York was reached, Senator Hiscock advanced to the platform. His appearance was the signal for loud cheers. He proceeded to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, and proceeded to deliver a. fifteen-min-utes’ speech eulogistic of the Empire State’s favorite son. At its conclusion the New York delegation arose simultaneously and cheered vigorously. D. H. Hastings, of Pennsylvania, nominated John Sherman, of Ohio. The nomination "was greeted with loud cheers. Delegates Langston of Virginia and'Anson of North Carolina seconded the nomination of Senator Sherman in brief speeches. When Pennsylvania was called Delegate Chas. E. Smith advanced to the platform and, at the close of a ten minutes’ .speech, placed in nomination Mayor Edwin H. Pitler of Philadelphia. The ncmination was greeted with loud lajghter. There was no second. The Secretary continued the call of the roll of the States, calling out the names Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and there was no response. Wisconsin was next called and immediately a shout arose, and Senator Spooner ascended the platform, and in an eloquent speech of ten minutes’ duration presented the name of Wisconsin’s favorite son, Gov. Rusk. “This ends the roll-call,” said the Chairman. Ex-Senator Warner Miller of New York, rose and said: “I rise at the request of friends. I believe all the candidates have now been presented to this convention, and my motion is this: ‘That this convention do now adjourn to meet at 11 o’clock to-morrow.’ ” The motion prevailed, and at 7:26 o'clock p. m. the convention stood adjourned.

AUDITORIUM BUILDING AS IT WILL APPEAR WHEN COMPLETED.

SHERMAN.