Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1894 — Republican Platform. [ARTICLE]

Republican Platform.

We, the Republicans of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, reallirm our faith in the progressive principles of the Republican party. We believe Its policies, past and present, best calculated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the people. The administration of President Harrison and the Congressional legislation of that party were wise, pure and patriotic, and we point to the contrast between the home and foreign policies of that administration and the 'present travesty on government Inflicted on the whole people. We believe In the Republican doctrine of protectionj'and ireciprocKy. which furnishes a home market for the productions of our factories and our farms, and protects the American laborer against the pauper labor of Europe. We denounce the unwise and unpatriotic action of the Democratic party in attempting to climate the reciprocity principle from our tariff system, thelreby closing a large foreign market to products of American farmers and depressingagricultural interests. We denounce the present attempt of a Democratic Congress to overthrow and destroy the Americuu Industrial system, a course that, with a general fear of a” Violent readjustment of the country’s business to a free-trade basis, lias Increased the national debt and lias plunged the country into the most disastrous business depression of Its history, lias closed large numbers of banks and factories throughput the country, has thrown an unprecedented number of American citizens out of employment, has compelled thousands of able bodied and men ■to humiliate themselves by asking [for charity, and has tilled our broad land with free sou{>liouses and food markets. VI clleve in currency composed of gold, silver and paper, ‘readily convertible at a fixed standard of value, and entirely under national control, and we favor the !in|>osltlon of Increased duties upon the lni|K>rts from all countries which oppose the coinage of silver ii|K>n a basis to lie determined by un Internal lona 1 congress for hiicH purpose. We denounce the avowed punxise of the Democratic party to restore the era of "wild cat" money. We believe In a lilMTal construction of our tension laws, and we condemn the unjust policy of the present administration of depriving ex-soldters of tlielr jwnslon without a healing—a policy Intended to cast odium upon loyalty and patriotism. We believe It to be the duty of the Htate, m well a* a nation, to make suitable provision for Ihe care and maintenance of all Indigent

soldiers, their wives, and widows. We, theresore, favqr the establishment by the State of a suitable soldiers' home for the reception of such soldiers, their wives and widows as may l>e overtaken, by adversity..~, • We.demand a rigid enforcement of all existing immigtiition Maws by t lie nutioual government, and demand such further legislation as will protect our people and Institutions against the influx of the erimiinil atid vicious classes. We denounce The unpatriotic action of the Cleveland administration in hauling dowp the American flag at Hawaii, and Condemn the arrogant .assumption of power displayed ih the effort to restore a tyrannical C’ueen over a free people who had thrown off the yoke of despotism.

We condemn the outrageous bargain and sale of Federal patronage by the Cleveland administration in its unblushing efforts to usurp the prerogatives of the legislative branch of the government to force a measure through C ingress and compel the ennfirmafioirof Presidential appointments by the Senate. We condemn the reckless and extravagant administration of the, financial affairs of this state wherehy the people are subjected to unjtist and. uiinedt-s----sary burdens of taxation, by an - increased assessment of property and increased rate’of .taxation, and by innitipiication of offices to be supported by the taxpayers of the State, We believe that the benevolent, edticational and correctional institutions of the State should he placed under non-partisan control. We believe in such legislation. State and National, as will protect the lives and limbs of employes of railways, mines and factories, W’e condemn the policies sie uhly pursued by the Democratic legislature of Indiana in so gerrymandering the State as to deny the people a fair representation 'of - their views hi tne State Legislature and National Congress, thus imperiling the. fimm.luJ inns of our institutions.