Show GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC J 4 AT LAST J 1j I Republican Nominee Submits i His Formal Letter of j Acceptance > r A CLEAN AND J DISTINCT ISSUE 1 How Free Silver Would Crush J Down and Degrade Labor Bimetallism Cannot Be Secured Save by the Consent of Other Nations Na-tions Quotation from n Speech from the Long AgoIs Pained Beyond Be-yond Measure That Anybody Should Even Attempt to Array the Masses Against the Classes Protection Pro-tection a Measure of Supreme Importance Im-portance The Tariff of 184 Good Money Will Not Open Mints But Open Mills Foreign Immigration Immigra-tion Our Soldiers The War Is Over Some Very Clever But at Some Times Clumsy Sparing CANTON Ohio Aug 26 Major McKinley Mc-Kinley gave his letter of acceptance to the press associations this afternoon having finished his last reading and revision o it at 1230 oclock The letter touches upon all of the important Im-portant planks in the Republican national na-tional platform but the first half of it is devoted to an incisive discussion of the money question The letter is as follows Hon John lf Thurston and others members of the notification committee of the Republican national convention Gentlemen In pursuance of the promise pro-mise to your committee when notified of my nomination as the Republican candidate I beg to submit this formal acceptance of that high honor and to consider in detail the questions at issue in the pending campaign Perhaps this might be considered unnecessary in view of my remarks a that occasion and those I have made to delegations that have visited me since the St Louts I convention but in view of the momentous mo-mentous Importance of the proper settlement set-tlement of the Issues presented hi our future prosperity and standing as a nation and considering only the welfare wel-fare and happiness of our people I could not be content to omit again calling attention to the questions which in my opinion vitally affect our strength and position among the governments of the world and our morality integrity and patriotism as citizens of that republic which for a century past has been the best hope C the world and the inspiration of mankind We must not now prove false to our own standards in government govern-ment nor unmindful of the noble example ex-ample and wise precepts of the fathers or of the confidence and trust hich our conduct in the past has always inspired in-spired THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER For the first time since 18GS if ever before there is presented to the American can people this year a clear and direct issue a to our monetary system of vast importance in its effects and upon the right settlement of which rests largely the financial honor and pros perity of the country I is proposed by one wing of the Democratic party and its allies the Peoples and Silver parties to inaugurate the 8ee and unlimited un-limited coinage of silver by independent action on tIe part of the United States at a ratio of sixteen ounces o silver to one ounce of gold The mere declaration de-claration of this purpose is a menace to our financial and industrial interests and has already created universal alarm I involves great peril to the credit and business of the country a peril so grave that conservative men everywhere are breaking away from their old party associations and uniting with other patriotic citizens in emphatic em-phatic protest against the platform of the Democratic national convention a a assault upon the faith and honor of the government and the welfare of the people We have had few questions i the life time of the republic more serous ser-ous than the one which is thus presented pre-sented NO BENEFIT TO LABOR The character o the money which shall measure our values and exchanges changes and settle our balances with one another and with the nations of the world is of such primary importance import-ance and so farreaching in its consequences conse-quences as to call for the most paInstaking paIns-taking investigation and in the end a sober unprejudiced judgment at the polls We must not be misled by phrases nor deluded by false theories Free silver would not mean that silver dollars were to be freely had without cost or labor I would mean the free use o the mints of the United States for the few wno are owners o silver bullion but would make silver coin no freer to the many who are engaged In other enterprises I would not mae labor easier the hours of labor shorter or the pay better I would not make farming less laborious or more profitable I would not start a factory or make a demand for an additional ad-ditional days labor I would create c l no new occupations I would add nothing to the comfort of the masses I the capital of the people or the wealth of the nation I seeks to introduce anew a-new measure of value but would add I no value to the hing measured I would not conserve values On the contrary it would derange ail existing I values I would not restore business confidence but its direct effect would j mains be to destroy the little which yet re J WHAT IT MEANS I The meaning of the coinage plank adopted at Chicago i that any one J may take a quantity of silver bullion now worth 53 cents to the mints of the United States have i coined at the I expanse of the government and receive re-ceive for i a silver dollar which shall be legal tender for the payment of all debt public and private The owner of the silver bullion would get the silver I sil-ver dollar It would belong to him and to nobody else Other people would bet it only by their labor the products of their land or something of value j The bullion owner on the basis of i present values would receive the silver I sil-ver dollar for 53 cents worth of silver and other people would be required to receive it as a full dollar in the payment pay-ment of debts The government would get nothing frcm the transaction I would bear the expense of coining the silver and the community would suffer loss by its us TH DOLLARS COMPARED I r We have coined since 1878 more than I four hundred million of silver dollars which maintained by the are mantined govern ment at parity with gold and are full legal tender for the payment of all I debts pubic and private Hov are the silver dollars now in use different siver dolars from those which would be in use I under free coinage They are to be of 1 the same weight and fineness they are I to bear the same stamp of the government govern-ment Why would they not be of the same value I answer The silver dollars I dol-lars now in use were coined on account of the government and not for private account or gan and the government a solemnly agreed to keep them as good a the best dollars we have The I government bought the silver bullion at Its market value and coined it into silver dollars Having exclusive control t con-trol of the mintage it only coins what it can hold at a parity with gold the profit representing the difference between be-tween the commercial value of silver bullion and the face value of the silver If dollar goes to the government for the benefit of the people The government r Thought the silver bullion contained in I the silver dollar at very much less than I its coinage value I paid it out to its creditors and put it in circulation J among the people at its face values of 100 cents or a full dollar I required the people to accept it as a legal tender I r and is thus morally bound to maintain I i at a parity with gold which was I then a now the recognized standard I i stand-ard with us and the most enlightened nations of the world The government aving issued and circulated the silver dollar i must In honor protect the t Bolder from loss This obligation it flias so fa sacredly kept Not only is there a moral obligation but there is a legal obligation expressed in public statute to maintain the parity II THEY COULD NOT BE KEPT AT f PAR These dollars in the particulars I i have named are not the same a the i1 dollars which would be issued under it free coinage They would be the same I in form but different in value The I government would have no part in the f transaction except to coin the sliver bullion into dollars I would share i no part of the profit I would take upon itself no obligation I would not t put the dollars into circulation I r could only get them as any citizen would get them by giving something 1 l for it I would deliver them to those E who deposited the silver and Its connections con-nections with the transaction there end Such are the silver dollars which would be issued under free coinage of silver 1 at a ratio of 16 to L Who would maintain main-tain the parity What would keep I them at par with gold There would bi no obligation upon the government w to do it and if there were i would I f be powerless to do i The simple truth I t is we would b driven to a silver bar ba-r sis to a silver monometallism These dollars therefore would stand upon their real value I the free and unlimited II un-limited coinage of silver at a ratio of sixteen ounces of silver to one ounce of gold would as some of its advocates II I assert make 53 cents in silver worth asert t 100 cents and the silver dollar equal I to the gold dollar then we would have no cheaper money than now and it would be no easier to get but that II such would be the result is against I reason and is contradicted by experience I experi-ence in all lands I means the debasement I debase-ment of our currency to the amount of the difference between the commercial commer-cial and coin value of the silver dollar which is ever changing and the efbact e1act would b to reduce property values entail untold financial loss destroy confidences I con-fidences impair the bUg tons of existing ex-isting contracts further impoverish the II laborers and producers of the cnuntry create a panic of unparalleled severity I and inflct upon trade and commerce a I deadly blow Against such a policy II am unalterably opposed BIMETALLISM I Bimetallism cannot be secured by independent I in-dependent action on our part I cannot can-not be sustained by opening our mints to the unlimited coinage of the silver of the world at a ratio of sixteen i ounces of silver to one ounce of gold I when the commercial ratio is more i 1 than thirty ounces of silver to one ounce of gold Mexico and OhIna have tried the experiment Mexico has free coinage of silver and gold at a ratio slightly in excess of sixteen and one I 1 half ounces of silver to one ounce of I gold and while her mints are freely j opened t both metals at that ratio I not a single dollar in gold bullion is coined and circulated as money Gold I has been driven out of circulation in theo countries and they I I te5 countres are on a silver basis alone Until international I agreement is had it is the plain duty i of the United States to maintain the I gold standard I is the recognized and sole standard of the great commercial com-mercial nations of the world with I which we tade more largely than anther an-ther Eighty fofcr per cent of our foreign trade for the fiscal year 1895 was with gold standard countries and I our trade with other countries was settled on a gold basis W NOW HAVE MORE SILVER THAN GOLD Chiefly by means of legislation during dur-ing and since TS7S there has been put in circulation more than 624000000 of silver or Its representative This has been done In an honest effort to give i to silver if possible the same bullion and coinage value and encourage the te I concurrent use of both gold and silver a money Prior to that time there has been less than nine millions of silver dollars coined In the financial i history of the United States a period of eightynine years This legislation secured the largest use of silver consistent I con-sistent with financial safety and the pl3dge to maintain its parity with I 11d We have today more silver than L gold This has been accomplished at I times with grave peril to the public I credit The socalled Sherman law i ought to use all the silver product of the United States for money at United States market value From 1890 to 18D3 the government purchased 4500000 ounces of silver a month or 54000000 ounces a year This was onethird of the product of the world and practically I practi-cally all of this countrys product It was believed by those who then and favor free coinage that such now use of silver would advance its bullion value to its coinage value but this expectation pectation was not realized In a few months notwithstanding the prece dented market for edlver produced In the United States the price of silver te wet down very rapidly reaching a lower point than ever before Then upon the recommendation of President Cleveland both political parties unite in the repeal of the purchasing clause o the Sean law We cannot with i1 < safety engage In further experiment in this direQtion THE DOUBLE STANDARD On the 22nd of August 1891 in a public pub-lic address I said I we could have an international ratio which all the leading nations of the world would adopt and the true relation be fixed between the two metals met-als and all agree upon the quantity of silver which agee slid constitute a dollar then silver would b as free and unlimited un-limited in its privileges of coinage as gold is today But that we have not been able to secure and with the free and unlimited coinage of silver adopted in the United States at the present ratio we would be still further removed re-moved from any international agreement agree-ment We may never be able to secure It i we enter upon the isolated coinage coin-age of silver The double standard and that ratio implies equality at a rato equality can only be established by the concurrent law of nations I was the concurrent law of nations that made the gold standard it will require the concurrent law of nations to reinstate and sustain i IT FAVORS THE USE OF SILVER MONEY The Republican party ha not been and is not now opposed to the use of silver money as its record abundantly shows I has done all that could be done for its increased use with safety and honor by the United States acting apart from other governments There are thoe who think that it has already gone beyond the limit of financial prudence pru-dence Surely we can go no farther g and we must not permit false lights to lure us across the danger line MORE THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY COUN-TRY We have much more silver in use than any country in the world except India or China 1500000000 more than Great Britain 150000000 more than France 400000000 more than Germany 325000000 less than India and 125000 000 less than China The Republican party ha declared in favor of any international inter-national agreement and if eleCted president presi-dent It will be my duty to employ all proper means to promote it The free coinage of silver in this country would defer if not defeat international bimetallism ona metallism and until a international agreement can be had eve interest requires us to maintain our present standard Independent free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 ounces of silver to 1 ounce of gold would insure the speedy contraction o the volume of our currency I would drive at least five hundred millions of gold dollars whichi we now have permanently from the trade of the country and permanently perma-nently decrease circula netl derase our per capita tion It is not proposed by the Republican Repub-lican panty to take from the circulating medium of the country any of the silver sil-ver we now have On the nontrary it is proposed to keep all of the silver money now in circulation on a parity with gold by maintaining the pledge of the government that all of it shall be equal to gold This has been the unbroken un-broken policy of the Republican party since 1S75 14 has inaugurated fnc I inaU1ted no new policy I will keep in circulation and as good as gold all of the silver and paper pa-per money which are now included in the currency of the country I will maintain their parity It will mantn I wi preserve their equality In the future as i ha already done in the past I will not consent to put this country on a silver basis which would Inevitably follow independent free coinage at n ratio of 16 t 1 I will oppose the expulsion of goId from our circulation FARMERS AND LABORERS SUPPER SUP-PER MOST I there is any one thing which should be free from speculation and fluctuation fluctua-tion it is the money of a country I ought never t b the subject of mere partisan contention When we part wit our labor our products OT our property we should receive in return money which is a stable and unchanging unchang-ing in value a the ingenuity of honest men can make it Debasement of the currency means destruction of values No one suffers so much from cheap money as the farmers and laborers They are the first to feel it bad effects and the last to recover from them This has been the uniform experience of all countries and here a elsewhere the roor and not the rich are always the greatest sufferers from every attempt to debase our money I would fall with alarming severity upon investments already ready made upon insurance companies and their policy holders upon savings banks and their depositors upon building build-ing and loan aesoclaitions and their members mem-bers upon the savings of thrift upon pensioners and their families and upon wageearners and the purchasing power of their wages UNLIMITED IRREDEEMABLE PAPER PA-PER MONEY lNEY The silver question is not the only issue affecting our money in the pending contest Not content with urging the free cpii age of silver its strongest champions demand that our paper money shall be issued directly by the government of the United States This is the Chicago Democratic declaration The St Louis Peoples party declaration declara-tion is that Our national money shall be issued by the general government only without the intervention of banks of issue be lull legal tender for the payment of all debts public and private pri-vate be distributed direct to the e distrbuted direCt people and through lawful disbursements of the government This in addition to the free coinage of the worlds silver we a asked to enter upon an era of unlimited irredeemable paper currency The question which was fought out from 1865 to 1879 is thus to be reopened with all its uncertainties and cheap money experiments of every conceivable form foisted upon us This indicates a most startling reactionary policy strangely at variance with every requirement quirement of sound finance but the declaration shows the spirit and purpose pur-pose of those who by combined action are contending for the control of the gOrnmet Not satisfied with the debasement de-basement 0 our coinage which wouki inevitably follow the free coinage of sil ver at 16 to 1 they would still further degrade our currency and threaten the public honor by the unlimited issue of j a irredeemable paper currency A graver menace to our financial standing and credit could hardly be conceived and every patriotic citizen should be aroused to promptly meat and effect ually defeat it IN THE HIGHEST DEGRRE REPREHENSIBLE REPRE-HENSIBLE v It is a cause for painful regret and solicitude that a effort Is being mad by those high in the councils of the allied parties t divide the people of this country into classes and create distinctions among us which in fact do not exist and are repugnant to our form of government These appeals to passion and prejudice are beneath thE spirit and intelligence of a free pecple and should he met with stern rebuke by those they are sought to influence and 1 believe they will be Every attempt at-tempt to array class against class this classes against the masses section against section labor against capital secan aaDt t the poor against the rich or cap against interest in the United States is in the highest degree reprehensible I is opposed to the national instinct and interest and should be resisted by every citizen We are not a nation of classes but of sturdy free independent independ-ent and honorable people despising the demagogue and never capitulating to dishonor This everrecurring effort endangers dangers popular government and is a menace to our liberties I is not a new campaign device or party appeal I is as old a government among men but was never more untimely and unfortunate un-fortunate than now Washirgton warned warn-ed us against i and Webster said in the Senate in words which I feed te Snat wors fed are singularly appropriate a this time HI admonish the people against the object of outcries like these I admonish outcre lke tu amonish every ev-ery Industrious laborer o this country to be on his guard against such delusion delus-ion I tell him the attempt is to playoff play-off h passion against his interest and 1 f r r H > f I to prevail on him in the name of liberty I to destroy all the fruits of liberty PROTECTION OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE IM-PORTANCE Another issue of supreme importance is that of protection The spirit o free silver is a menace to be feared we are already experiencing the effect of pa tial free trade The one must be averted ed the other corrected corrcte The Republican party is wedded to the doctrine of protection and was never more ear t in its support and advocacy than now I argument were i needed to strengthen Its devotion t the j American system or increase the hold I of the system on the party and the people it is found in the lesson and experience of the last three years Mon realize in their own daily lives what before was to many of them only report history or tradition They have ha a trial of both Lystems and know what each has done for them DEMANDED BY THE PUBLIC EXIGENCIES GENCIES Washington in his farewell address Sept 17 17S6 hundred a years ag said saidAs As a very important source of strength and security cherish public credit One method of preserving it is to use lit a sparingly as possible avoiding the accumulation of debt not only by shunning occasions expense but by vigorous exertions in time of I peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars may have occasioned not ungenerously throwing upon posterity pos-terity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear To facilitate the enforcement of maxims max-ims which he announced he declared I is essential that youshould practically prac-tically bear in mind that towards the payment of debts there must be revenue reve-nue that to have revenue there must tere I be taxes that no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient inconveni-ent or unpleasant that the intrinsic embarrassment inseparable from the selection of the proper objects which is always a choice of difficulties ought to be a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government gov-ernment in making It and for a spirit o acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue which the public exigencies may at any time dictate Animated by like sentiments the people of the country must now face the conditions which beset them The public exigencies demand prompt protective legislation which will avoid the accumulation of further debt by providing adequate revenues for the expenses of the government This is manifestly the requirement of duty I elected president of the United States it wi be my aim to vigorously promote pro-mote this object and give that ample encouragement of the occupations of the American people which above all I else is so imperatively demanded at this juncture of U national affairs OUR CONDITION IN DECEMBER I 1892 In December 1892 President Harrison Harri-son sent his last message to congress I was an able and exhaustive review of the condition and resources of the country It stated our situation so accurately ac-curately that I am sure it will not be amiss to recite his official and valuable I testimony There never has been a time in our history said he when work was so abundant or when wages I were so high whether measured by the currency in which they are paid I or by their power to supply the necessaries neces-saries and comforts of life The general gen-eral average of prices has been such as to give agriculture a fair participation in the general prosperity The new industa plants established since October Oc-tober fi 1890 and up to October 22 1892 number 345 and the extension of existing plants 108 The new capital invested amounts to 40446060 and the number of additional employees 37285 During the first six months of the present pres-ent calendar year 135 new factories were built of which forty were cotton mill fortyeight knitting mills twentysix woolen mills fifteen silk mills four plush mills and two linen mills Of the forty cotton mills twen tyone have been built in the southern states This faithfully describes the happy condition of the country in December De-cember 1892 What ha it been since and what is it now OUR CONDITION EIGHT MONTHS LATER The messages of President Cleveland from the beginning of his second administration ad-ministration to the present time abound with descriptions of the deplorable de-plorable industrial and financial situation situa-tion of the country While no resort to history or official statement is ofcal sttement required I re-quired to advise us of the present condition con-dition and that which ha prevailed during the past three years I venture to quote from President Clevelands I first message August 8 1893 addressed to the Fiftythird congress which he 1 ha called together in extraordinary I session The existence of an alarming I and extraordinary business situation said he involving the welfare and 1 pcosporky of all our people has constrained I con-strained me to call together in extra i session the peoples representatives in I congress to the end thw through the wise and patriotic exercise of the legislative 1 leg-islative duties with which they solely j are charged the present evils may be mitigated and dangers threatening the future may be averted Our unfortunate 1 unfortu-nate financial plight is not the result of j untoward events nor of the conditions related t our natural resources Nor is it traceable to any of the afflictions I which frequently check national growth I and prosperity With plenteous crops I with abundant promise of remunerative I production and manufacture with unusual un-usual invitation to sufe investment 1 and with satisfactory assurances to these enterprises suddenly financial distrust and fear has sprung up on every side Numerous mooiied institutions institu-tions have suspended because abundant abund-ant assets were not immediately avail able to meet the demands of frightened i i depositors Surviving corporations and individuals are content to keep in hand the money they are usually anxious I 1 to loan and those engaged in legitimate I i business ar surprised to find that the securities they offer fo loans though heretofore satisfactory are no longer acceptable Values supposed to be fixed are fast becoming conjectural and loss and failure have invaded every branch of business eler brc I THE CAUSE OF THE CHANGE j What a startling and sudden change I within the short period of eight months from December 1892 to August 1893 What had occurred A change of administration I i ad-ministration All branches of the government i gov-ernment had been entrusted to the Democratic party which was commit ted against the protective policy that had prevailed uninterrupted for more than thirtytwo years and brought unexampled un-exampled prosperity to the country and firmly pledged to its complete overthrow and the substitution of a tariff for revenue only The change having been decreed by the elections in I November its effects were at once anticipated ticipated and felt We cannot close our to these altered eyes alt conditions I nor would it be wise t exclude from contemplation and investigation the I cause which produced theta These a the facts which we cannot as people I peo-ple disregard and we can only hope to I improve our present condition by a study 01 their cause In December 11892 1892 we had the same currency and practically the same volume of currency I cur-rency that we have now I aggregated aggregat-ed in 1892 2372599501 in 1893 2323 000000 in 1891 2323433362 and in December I De-cember 1895 2194000320 The per I capita for the nation too has been prassticclly the same during the whole I period The quality of money has been I identically kept equal t gold There is nothing connected with our nothing comece wit money I therefore to account for this sudden arid aggravated industrial change I Whatever is tO be deprecated in our financial system it must everywhere be ate that our money h been i t iNJ I 1 absolutely good and ha brought i I neither loss nor inconvenience to Its holders L depreciated currency has I not existed to further vex the troubled j business situation GOOD MONET NEVER MADE HARD TIMES I I is a mere pretense to attribute the I hard times t the fact that all our currency I cur-rency is on a gold basis Good money never made times hard Those who assert that our present industrial and financial depression Is the result of the goid standard have not read American can histor aright or been careful students stu-dents of the events cf recent years We never had greater prosperity in this country in every field of employment and industry than in the busy years from 1880 to 1892 during all of which I time this cut was on a gold basis and employed more gold money in its financial and business operations than I ever before We ha to a protective which ample revenues tariff under w aple rvCues I were collected for the government and i a accumulating surplus which waIt wa-It constantly applied 1 the payment of the public debt L us hold fast to I that which we know is good It is not I more money we want what we want is to put the money we already have ait work When money is employed men I are employed Both have always been I remuneratively engaged steadily and reunertvelY egaged during the years of protective tariff legislation When those who have money lack confidence in the stability they will not of values and investments no I I part with their money Business is j stagnated The life blood of trade is I checked and congested We cannot restore re-store the public confidence by an act I which would revolutionize ali values in entails deficiency I or an ac which eols a defceicy We cannot inspire the public revenues cnnot inspir I confidence by advocating repudiation or practicing dishonesty We cannot restore II re-store confidence either t the treasury o to the people without change in our present tariff legislation THE TARIFF OF 1894 The only measure of a general nature na-ture that affected the treasury and the I employments c our people passed byte by-te Fiftythird congress was the gen eral tariff act which did not receive er approval taf of the president Whatever I t for that ever virtues may be claimed foi th3t act there is confessedly one which it does not possess It lacks the < ssenlial virtue of its creation the raising of the needs revenue sufficient to supply te of the government It ha at no time gernment provided enough revenue for such I needs but it ha caused a constant deficiency neds i ficiency in toe treasury and a steady depletion in the earnings of labor and It has contributed to swell our land I ha cntrbuted t swel national debt more than 262000000a i I nationa great as the debt of the sum nearly as get < o te nealy government from Washington t Lin govenment frm Tahingon I coln including ail OUT < foreign wars from the revolution to the rebellion work at home has Since its passage r been is passag prices of agricultural agricultu-ral products have fallen confidence busi and general arrested has been aested gnerl ness demoralization is seen on every hand THE TARIFFS OF 1890 AND 1894 CONTRASTED CON-TRASTED The total receipts under the tariff act of 1894 for th first twentytwo months of its enforcement from Sep tem er 1894 erorcee were 5sw7 Gj5 12i and the expenditures 64041b363 of 32803035 The decrease ora deficiency crease a in our exports of American products cra5 pro-ducts and manufactures during the first fifteen months of the present tar I itt as contrasted with the exports of I the first fifteen months of the tariff of 1S90 was 220353320 The excess of exports ex-ports wa over imports during the first fifteen fif-teen months of the tariff of 1S90 was 213972968 but only 56758623 undr the first fifteen months of the tariff of 189 a a loss under the latter of 15721431 The net los in the trade balance of the United States has been 196983607 during Unied dur-ing first fifteen months operation with of the tariff of 1894 a compared the first fifteen months of the tariff of 1S90 The loss has bee large constant and steady at the rate of 13130000 per month or 5000000 for every business day of this year Losing both directions we have either been sending too much money out of the country or getting too little in We have irwtf cienriiiv in both directions our for V w n I eign trade has been diminished and our I domestic trade ha suffered incalculable loss Does this not suggest the cause of our present depression and indicate I its remedy Confidence in home enterprises I enter-prises has almost wholly disappeared Our shops are closed or running on halftime half-time at reduced wages and small profit tme wags idle if not actual loss Our men are and while they a idle men abroad are occupied l in supplying us wiJh goods Our unrivalled home market has also greatly suffered because those who constitute I i con-stitute Itthe great army of American w gearl raQ without the work I had If they and wages they formerly I cannot earni wages they cannOt buy products They cannot earn i they have no employment and when they dont earn the farmers home market I is lessened and impaired and the loss 1 is felt by both producer and consumer The loss of earning power alone in this i country in the pas tfcree years is sufficient I suf-ficient to have produced our unfortunate I business situation I our labor was I well employed and employed at as 1 remunerative wages as in 1892 in a few months every farmer in the land would feel the glad change in the increased I in-creased demand for his products and 1 in the better prices which he would reel re-el e NOT OPEN MINTS BUT OPEN MILLS I It is not an increase in the volume i I of money which is the need of the I time but an increased volume of business i busi-ness not an increase of coin but an i increase O confidence not more coinage coin-age but a more active use of the money i coined net open mints for the unlimited unlim-ited coinage of the silver of the world but open mills for the full and unre i strictiid labor of American workingmen i The employment of our mints for the coinage of silver would no bring the necessaries and comforts of life back to our people This will only come with the employment of the masses and such employment is certain to follow th reestablishment establishment of a wise protective policy pol-icy which shall encourage manufacturing manufactur-ing sit home Protection has lost none of its virtue and importance The first duty of the Republican party if restored re-stored l to power in the country will be the enactment of a tariff law which will raise all the money necessary to conduct the government economically and honestly administered and so adjusted ad-justed as to give preference to home manufactures and adequate protection to home labor and the home market We are not committed to I any special schedules or rates of duty They are and should be always subject to change to meet new conditions but the princi pies upon which rates of duty are imposed im-posed a almost the same Our duties should always be high enough to measure meas-ure the difference between the wages paid labor alt home and in competing countries and to adequately protect American investments and American enterprises OUR FARMERS AND THE TARIFF Our farmers have been hurt by the changes in our tariff legislation as severely as our laborers and manufacturers manufac-turers badly a they have suffered The Republican platform wisely declares in favor of such encouragement to our sugar inlerest a will lead to the pro duction on American soil of all the sugar which the American people use I promises to give our wool and woolen i interests the same ample protection I a guaranty that ought to commend itself it-self to every patriotic citizen Never was a more grievous wrong done the farmers of our country than that so unjustly un-justly inflicted during the past three years upon the woolgrowers of America Amer-ica Although among our most industrious indus-trious and useful citizens their interests inter-ests have been practically destroyed and our woolen manufacturers involved in similar disaster At no time within I the past thirtysix years and perhaps j never during any previous period have II so many of our woolen factories been i i < JWr i suspended a now The Republican party can be relied upon to correct these great wrongs if again entrusted with I the control of Congress RECIPROCITY 1 I Another decSaraition of the RepublK I i can platform that ha my most cordial i support is that which favors supprt ta whic favor reciprocity reciproc-ity The splendid results of the reciprocity procity arrangements that were made under the authority of the tariff law of 1890 are striking and suggestive The brief period they were in force in most cases only three years were not long enough t thoroughly test their great value but sufficient was shown by the trial to conclusively demonstrate the Importance and the wisdom of their adoption In 1892 the export trade of the United States attained at-tained the highest point in our hi tory The aggregate of OUT exports that year reached the immense sum of 103027814 a sum greater by 100000 000 than any previous year In 1893 owing to the threat of unfriendly tariff tar-iff legislation the total dropped to 847665194 Our exports of domestic merchandise decreased 189000000 but reciprocity stiil secured large reproit stil SeUT us a lae trade in Central and South America and a larger trade with the West Indies In-dies than we ha ever before enjoyed The increase of trade with the countries coun-tries with which we had reciprocity agreements was 3560515 over our trade in 1892 and 16440721 over our trade in 1891 The only countries with which the United States traded that showed increased exports in 1893 W r practically practi-cally those with which we had reciprocity reciproc-ity arrangements The reciprocity treaty between this country and Spain touching the markets of Cuba and Puerto Rico were announced September Septem-ber 1 1891 The growth of our trade with Cuba was phenomenal In 1891 we sold that country but 114441 bar I rels of flour in 1892 366175 in 1893 616406 and in 1894 662248 Here was a growth of nearly 500 per cent while our expomtations of flour to Cuba for the year ending June 30 1895 the year following the repeal of the reciprocity i treaty fell to 379826 barrels a loss of nearly half our trade with that country j coun-try The value of our total exports o f merchandise from the United States to Cuba in 1S91 the year prior to the negotiation ne-gotiation of the reciprocity treaty I was 12224888 in 1892 17953579 in 1893 24157698 in 1894 20125321 but i in 1895 after the annulment of the reel procity agreement it fell t only 12 887661 Many similar examples might 1 be given of our increased trade under recopTocity with other countries but I enough has been shown of the efficacy of the legislation of 1890 t justify the speedy restoration of its reciprocity provisions In my judgment congress should immediately restore the reciprocity reci-procity sections of the law with such amendments itf any a time and experience ex-perience sanctions as wise and proper The underlying principle of this legislation legisla-tion must however be strictly observed ob-served I is to afford new markets fr our surplus agricultural and manufactured I man-ufactured products without loss to the American laborer o a single days I work that he might otherwise procure I FOREIGN IMMIGRATION The declaration of the platform touching foreign immigration is one of I peculiar Importance at this time when our own laboring people ore in such great distress I am in hearty sympathy 1 pathy with the present legislation restricting stricting foreign immigration and favor I fa-vor such extension of the laws as will the United States from invasion secure te Sttes frm invain by the debased and criminal classes ctf I the old world While we adhere to the public policy under which our country has received great bodies of honest in I galt duEtrioius citizens who have added to i the wealth progress and power of the I country and while we welcome to our I shares the well disposed and industrious indus-trious immigrant who contributes by his energy and intelligence to the cause of free government we want no immigrant im-migrant who dont peek our our shores I to become citizens We should permit none t participate in the advantages of i our civilization who do not sympathize l with our form of government We i I should welcome none who come to make war on our constitution and profit I by public disquiet and turmoil Against I all such our gates must be tightly plosprL OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS The soldiers and sailors of the Union should neither be neglected no forgotten forgot-ten The country which they served so well must not mae their lives or conditions harder by treating them as supplicants for relief in old age or dis treat not regard with disdain or contempt con-tempt the earnest interest cne comrade com-rade naturally manifests in the welfare re oi another Doubtless there have teen pension abuses and frauds in the numerous nu-merous claims allowed by the government govern-ment but the poticy governing the administration ad-ministration of the pension bureau must always be fair and liberal No deserving applicant should ever suffer because of a wrong perpetrated by or for another Our soldiers and sailors gave the best they had They freely offered health strength limb and life to save the country in the time of its greatest peril and the government must honor them in their need as in their service with the respect and gratitude due to brave noble and self sacrificing mel who are justly entitled to generous aid in > their increasing necessities ne-cessities OUR MERCHANT MARINE AND NAVY The declaration of the Republican platform in favor of the upbuilding of our merchant marine ha my her approval The policy of discriminating duties in favor o our shipping which dute i of our his prevailed in I the early years tory should be again promptly adopted 1 by tr congress and vigorously supported the until our prestige and supremacy on seas is fully attained We should no sea contribute directly or indirectly longer directy ly to the maintenance of the coClosal te marine of foreign countries hut provide vide an efficient and complete marine a of our town Now that the American navy is assuming a position commensurate commen-surate with our importance as f nation na-tion a policy I a glad to observe the strongly endorses Republican platform endore we must supplement it with a mer marine that will give us the chant tat wl advantages c rt in both our coastwise and foreign trade that we ought naturally i and properly to enjoy I should be at once a matter of public policy and national mater pride to repossess this immense tional prde t tll trade and prosperious ad proserus te CIVIL SERVICE REFORM The pledge of the Republican national convention that our civil service al cnventon thal or civi I laws shall be sustained and thoroaisrh 1 ly and honestly enforced and extended II wherever practicable is in keeping with the position of the party for the past l twentyfour years and will be faithfully observed Our opponents decry faihflly I cry these reforms They appear willing main to abandon all the advantages man 1 tained after s many years agitation I and efforts They encourage a return io methods of party favoritEm which I both parties have denounced that experience ex-perience ha condemned and that the I people have disapproved The Republican this reactionary can arty earnestly opposes I actionary and entirely unjustifiable po I icy It will take no backward step this question It will seek to upon I wil I improve but never degrade the public service IT DEMANDS ESPECIAL ATTENTION ATTEN-TION I There are other important and timely time-ly declarations of the platform which I cannot here discuss I must content I myself with saying that they have my I approval If a Republicans we have addressed overattention with lately addrsed overatt1lon whb what may seem great stress and earnestness ear-nestness to the new and unexpected assault upon the financial Integrity of the government we have done it because be-cause the menace is s grave a to demand I de-mand especial consideration and because be-cause we are convinced that if the I te people a aroused to the true understanding I I under-standing and meaning of this silver t inflation movement they will avert the danger In doing this we feel that J we render the best service possible to the country and we appeal to the intelligence i in-telligence conscience and patriotism of the people irrespective of party or section for their earnest support IT WILL MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER I OR-DER We avoid no issues We meet the sudden sud-den dangerous and revolutionary assault sault upon law and order and upon those t whom i confided by the constitution con-stitution and laws the authority t uphold up-hold and maincain them which our opponents have made with the same courage that w have faced every emergency since our organization a a party more them forty years ago Government Gov-ernment by law must first b assured everything else can wait The spirit of lawlessness must b extinguished by the fires of unselfish and lofty patriotism patriot-ism Every attack upon the public faith and even suggestion of the repudiation repu-diation of debts public o private must be rebuked by all men who believe that hcnety is the best policy o who love their country and would preserve unsullied I un-sullied its national honor SECTIONALISM ALMOST OBLITERATED OBLITER-ATED I The country it1 i to be congratulated upon the almost total obliteration of I the sectional lines which for so many years marked the division of the United Unit-ed States into slave and free territories II and finally threatened its partition into two separate governments by the dread ordeal of civil war The era of reconciliation so long and earnestly desired de-sired by General Grant and many other great leaders north and south has happily come and the feeling of distrust dis-trust and hostility between the sections I tions is everywhere vanishing let us I hope never to return Nothing is bet I ter calculated to give strength to the nation at home increase our power and I influence abroad and add to the permanency manency and security o our free institutions I in-stitutions than the restoration of cordial cor-dial relations between the people of all sections and parts of our beloved country I called by the suffrage of the people to assume the duties of the high office of president of the United States I shall count is a privilege toad I to-ad even in the slightest degree in the promotion of the spirit of fraternal frater-nal regard which should animate and I govern the citizens of every section i Rate or part of the republic After the lapse o a century since its utterance 1 utter-ance let us at length and forever after heed the admonition of Washington There should be no north no south no east no west but a common country coun-try I shall be my constant aim to improve im-prove every opportunity to advance the cause of government by promoting that I spirit o forbearance and justice which is so essential to our prosperity and happiness by joining most heartily in I all proper efforts to restore the relations I rela-tions of brotherly respect and affection which in i our early history character I Iced all the people of the states I I would be glad to contribute towards I I binding in Indivisible union the different differ-ent divisions of the country which indeed I in-deed now have every inducement of sympathy and interest to weld them sypathy intrt t gether more strongly than ever I j I would rejoice to se demonstrated to 1 the world that the north and the south and the east and the west are not separated sepa-rated or In danger of becoming sep rated differences because of sectional or pay difeences The wa is long since over We are not enemies but friends and as > a friends we will faithfully and cordially cooperate under the approving smile o him who has thus far so signally sustained and guided us to preserve inviolate our countrys name and honor its peace and good order and its continued con-tinued ascendancy among the greatest governments o the world WILLIAM MKINLEY |