Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1900 — REPUBLICAN PLATFORM. [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

The Indiana Republicans in conven tion at Indianapolis adopted the following resolutions: The Republicans of'lndiana in State convention assembled at the city of Indianapolis adopt and proclaim rhe foilowing declaration of principles: We emphatically Indorse the wise and patriotic administration of President McKinley. In the whole history of this country there has been no period so distinctively marked by prosperity and progress as that of this splendid Republican administration. “ furnishes a most practical Jllustratlon of the difference between a party of capacity and one of incapacity. Under its policies the country has passed from extreme depression to iinparaUeled.Jirosiicrity. Party pledges have been scrupulously kept; the dignity and honor of the nation maintained everywhere.; the dangers and perplexities of a great foreign war successfully met; the glory of the flag augmented: Imperishable tame added .to our army and navy; the public _ credit strengthened until the nation's bonds, bearing* a lower rate of Interest than any like securities in the world, command a premium in the market; new opportunities to labor created: additfi onal markets opened to our surplus products of every kind, taxing production To its utmost capacity to meet consumption and demand; Spanish cruelty and oppression forever banished from this hemisphere and the Philippine Islands; the open-door policy in China secured to ail the commercial nations of the world through American diplomacy; and a more fraternal feeling inculcated between the North and South. We offer this partial review of magnificent achievements of the administration of William McKinley aa a warrant for its continuance In power. And we pledge the hearty support of the Republican party tnTndtaija To tits roni-min atlon and re-election as a just and well deserved reward for his splendid wtvlces tc the nation. Indiana has been well and faithfully represented In Congress and we point with special pride to and congratulate our Senators and Republican representatives in Congress upon their distinguished ability and the conspicuous part they have taken in shaping national legislation. theYeby adding to the prestige of this great State. Section 1 contains eulogies to the memories of Vice-President Garret A. Hobart, Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lhwton and Col. Richard W. Thompson. The other sections are: The conflict wtth Spain was begun and carried ou from humane and disinterested motives. The possession of the Islands which came to our bauds as a result of that war was a consequence of it not foreseen but which could not be avoided with honor and safety. We cannot escape the responsibility resting upon us. Our first duty is to establish the authority of the United States against armed resistance; then to replace military bjr civil administration. The guiding principle’ of our conduct in dealing with the people of these islands should be to promote their highest welfare and we pledge the largest possible freedom of control in their affairs, as their ability for self-gov-ernment-shall be developed, and to use all proper means to advance their civilization and enlightenment. “ We unhesitatingly iudorse and approve the policy and course of the administration and the legislation by Congress in respect to our newly acquired possessions and express full confidence in the wisdom, integrity and ability cf the administration, supported by a Republican (,‘ongress. to deal wisely and justly with the questions concerning the same, as they may arise. —The employment of 'be people is the com. tentment of the people. The greatest benefaction to man is the opportunity to labor. Our heist hope for the continued employment of labor lies in the domination of the world's markets by American agricultural and mechanical products. Low interest rates are potent factors in tiie extension of American commerce and industry, at home and abroad. The wise financial legislation of the Republican party has largely secured these results. We, therefore, congratulate the American people in that the Republican party has kept its beneficent pledge for the maintenance of the gold standard nnd the parity of all our forms of money by comprehensive. courageous legislation. The Republican party has always stood and now stands for money laws that benefit all our people alike, without preference of one over another, the borrower as well as the lender, and such as equalize and lower the rates of Interest throughout the country. And to this end we favor legislation authorizing elasticity in our bank currency for the benefit of our producers, the laborer, the farmer and the manufacturer, nnd for'the general commerce of our people, under the guidance nnd control of t.he Secretary of the Treasury. Combinations of capital having as their object or effect the control of the production of commodities, or the markets thereof, are hurtful and injurious to the best interests of the people. This evil should be overthrown without injury to honest trade. We, therefore, favor such additional legislation, both State and national, as shall establish complete legal control over all trust’s and monopolies, with full power to dissolve the same and mete proper punishment to all who thus seek to destroy honest competition nnd prevent the widest possible employment to labor. We reaffirm our belief in the doctrine of reciprocity nnd protection to American labor and home Industries and point to the beneficial results which have come from the enactment of the Din’gley law. It will be the care of the Republican party to maintain the law hi harmony with changing conditions from time to time, so that it shall at all times subserve the purpose of protection to the interests of labor and production. We recognize a debt of gratitude to the soldiers nnd sailors of the late war with Spain and In the Philippine Islands; and we render to those now in the field our fullest confidence, sympathy nnd support. Just and liberal pensions to all deserving soldiers and sailors are a sacred debt of the nation; and the widows and orphans of those who are dead are entitled to the care of a generous and grateful people. We again recommend the early construction of the Nicaraguan Canal under the immediate direction ami exclusive control of the United States government; We favor the enactment and enforcement of laws restricting and preventing the importation of such undesirable foreign population as Is prejudicial to free American labor. The platform indorses “the clean and able administration of Gov. James A. Mount in the intelligent, honorable and economical management of State affairs.’’ It pays a tribute to the Indiana soldiers now fighting in the Philippines, ahd ends: “The insurrection of Aguinaldo is kept alive by The hope of Democratic success based on the false cry of 'imperialism.’ We condemn this unpatriotic policy as being" responsible for the continued war in the Philippines, with its cost of lives, suffering and treasure.”