Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1894 — Republican Platform. [ARTICLE]

Republican Platform.

We. the Republicans of Indiana, in delegate convention assembled, reaffirm 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 administration and the present travesty on government inflicted on the whole people. We believe in ' the Republican doctrine of protectlouXand reciprocity, which'' furnishes a home market for (lie productions of our factories and our farms, and protects the American laborer against the papper labor of Europe. We denounce the unwise and unpatriotic action of tlie Democratic party in attempting to elimate the reciprocity principle from our taijilf system, thereby closing a large foreign market to products of American farmers and depressing agricultural interests. We denounce the present attempt of a Democratic Congress to overthrow and destroy the American industrial system, a course that, with a general fear of a violent readjustment of the country’s business to"a free-trade basis, has Increased ihe national debt and has plunged the country into the most dlsastrlous business depression of its history, has closed large numbers of banks and factories throughout the country, has thrown an unprecedented number of Amerl^ 1 can citizens out of employment, lias compelled thousands of able bodied and meh twfiumiliate themselves by asking (for charity, and has filled our broad land with free souphouses and food markets. In currency composed of gold, silver and paper, convertible at a fixed standard of value, ami entirely under national control, and we favor the imposition of increased duties upon (he imports from all countries which oppose tlie coinage of silver upon a basis to be determined by an International congress ft” - KU(,h purpose. We denounce the avowed purpose of the Democratic party to restore the era of “wild-cat” money. We believe in a liberal construction of our pension laws, and we condemn the unjust policy of the present of depriving ex-soldters of their pension without a hearing—a policy intended' to cast odium ujwn loyalty and patriotlam. Wa believe It to be the duty of the State. well as a nation, te make knitable pro vis Lou I tu <4Je and maintenance of all Indigent

soldiers, their wives, and widows. We, there'" sore, favor the establishment. by the State of a Suitable soldiers’ home for the reception of such soldiers, their.wives and widows as may be overtoken by adversity. ■ YVe demand a rigid enforcement of all existing immigration lewsjjy tiie government, and demand such further legislation as will protect our people and lustftUtio!)S against the inffux <.T the crimlnal and visions classes! We denounce the unpatriotic action Of-the. Cleveland administration in hauling down the American flag at Hawaii, and emidemn the arrogant assumption, of power displayed in the effort to restore a tyrannical Queen ’oyer a free people who had thrown off Ila; yoke of despotism. We condemn the outrageous bargain and sale of Federal patronage by the Cleveland adniinisi tuition in ftfr-ttrrblushing, efforts to usurp Lltoprerogatives of the legislative branch of Hie govermnent~ta feree-a favorke ineasure-thTougli Congress and compel the confirmation of presidential appointments by the Senate. We condemn the reck less and extravagant, administrhtion of the financial affairs of this state wliereby the people are subjected to unjust.and unnecessary burdens of taxation, by an increased asseasmewt of property and increased rate of taxation, and by multiplication of offices to be supported by the taxpayers of the State. We believe that the benevolent, educational and correctional institutions of the State sEoiiiil be 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. We the_._polici.es steadily pursued by the Democratic Legislature of Indiana in so gerrymandering the State as to deny the people a fair representation of their views in tne State Legislature and National Congress, thus imperiling the foundations of our institutions.