ent sentiments, I will tell you what I'd do if I were in your place; I would go home and get the Governor of the State to call the Legislature together, and get them to recall all the state troops from the war, elect Senators and Members of Congress and ratify the Constitutional Amendment prospectively, so as to take effect in five years.'

So far as known these suggestions from Lincoln met with no response from the Confederate Vice-President, and the Hampton Roads conference closed wtih nothing accomplished. There was considerable disappointment on both sides at the result; for it was hoped something for the benefit of the South and for the good of the country at large might grow out of it. Mr. Stephens, on his return to Richmond, reported the result to Mr. Davis, who recommended a vigorous prosecution of the war, and asked Mr. Stephens to make a speech to the public inspiring them with new courage and hope. The conscientious VicePresident, knowing the hopelessness of prolonging the struggle, declined to do

this, and soon after left Richmond for his home in Georgia, and never

Mr. Davis in Richmond afterwards. There is but little doubt that if Lincoln and Stevens could have had their way, the Hampton Roads conference would have terminated the war and saved the South $400,000,000, saved a good many lives on both sides, and probably avoided much of the trouble that followed in the course of reconstruction.

The opinion is current in some parts of the South, notably in Georgia, that the Southern members of the conference were in favor of compensated emancipation; but that the Northern members would not agree to it. This notion is erroneous. No other overtures were ever made to settle the troublesome question. Lincoln's efforts to save the South the loss of their slaves proved unavailing, and the war was prosecuted to its bitter end, with all its bitter results, including the assassination of the best friend the South ever had in the ranks of their opponents.

T

Democrats had no other plan with which to improve the ruinous conditions which they had themselves produced, than to coin silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. The Republican party, denouncing this plan as sure to produce conditions even worse than those from which relief was sought, promised to restore prosperity by means of two legislative measures-a protective tariff and a law making gold the standard of value. The people, by great majorities, issued to the Republican party a commission to enact these laws. This commission has been executed, and the Republican pledge is redeemed; and prosperity, more general and more abundant than we have ever known, has

followed these enactments.

There is no longer any controversy as to the value of any government obligation. Every American dollar is a gold dollar or its equivalent, and American

credit stands higher than that of any nation. Capital is fully employed, and everywhere labor is profitably occupied. No single fact can more strikingly tell the story of what Republican government means to the country than thisthat while during the whole period of 96 years from 1801 to 1897 there was an excess of exports over imports of only $383,028,497, there has been in the short three years of the present Republican Administration an excess of exports over imports in the enormous sum of $1,483,738,049, and while the American people, sustained by this Republican legislation, have been achieving these splendid triumphs in their trade and commerce, they have conducted and in victory concluded, a war for liberty and human rights. No thought of National aggrandizement tarnished the high purpose with which American standards were unfurled. It was a war unsought and patiently resisted, but when it came the American Government was ready. Its fleets were cleared for action. Its armies were in the field and the quick and signal triumph of its forces on land and sea bore equal tribute to the courage of American soldiers and sailors and to the foresight of Republican statesmanship. To ten millions of the human race there was given "a new birth of freedom," and to the American people a new and noble responsibility.

MCKINLEY'S ADMINISTRATION.

We endorse the administration of William McKinley. Its acts have been established in wisdom and in patriotism, and at home and abroad it has distinctly elevated and extended the influence of the American Nation. Walking untried. paths and facing unforseen responsibilities, President McKinley has been, in every situation, the true American patriot and upright stateman, clear in vision, strong in judgment, firm in action, always inspiring and deserving the confidece of his countrymen.

In asking the American people to indorse this Republican record and to renew their commission to the Republican party, we remind them of the fact that

the menace to their prosperity has al

ways resided in Democratic principle and no less in the general incapacity of the Democratic party to conduct public affairs. The prime essential of business prosperity is public confidence in the good sense of the Government and its ability to deal intelligently with all new problems of administration and legislation. That confidence the Democratic party has never earned. It is hopelessly inadequate, and the country's prosperity, when Democratic success at the polls is announced, halts and ceases in mere anticipation of Democratic blunders and failures.

SOUND MONEY.

We renew our allegiance to the principle of the gold standard, and declare our confidence in the wisdom of the legislation of the Fifty-sixth Congress, by which the parity of all our money and the stability of our currency on a gold basis has been secured. We recognize that interest rates are a potent factor in protection and business activity, and for the purpose of further equalizing and of further lowering the rates of interest we favor such 'monetary legislation as will enable the varying needs of the season. and of all sections to be properly met in order that trade may be evenly sustained, labor steadily employed and commerce enlarged. The volume of money in circulation was never so great, per capita, as it is today.

We declare our steadfast opposition to the free and unlimited coinage of silver. No measure to that end could be considered which was without the support of the leading commercial countries of the world. However firmly Republican legislation may seem to have secured the country against the peril of a base and discredited currency, the election of a Democratic President could not fail to impair the country's credit and to bring once more into question the intention of the American people to maintain upon the gold standard the parity of their money circulation.

The Democratic party must be convinced that the American people will never tolerate the Chicago platform. We recognize the necessity and propriety of

the honest co-operation of capital to meet new business conditions and especially to extend our rapidly increasing foreign trade, but we condemn all conspiracies and combinations intended to restrict business, to create monopolies, to limit production or to control prices, and favor such legislation as will effectually restrain and prevent all such abuses, protect and promote competition and secure the rights of producers, laborers and all who are engaged in industry and

commerce.

PROTECTION.

We renew our faith in the policy of protection to American labor. In that policy our industries have been established, diversified and maintained. By protecting the home, competition has been stimulated and production cheapened. Opportunity to the inventive genius of our people has been secured and wages in every department of labor maintained at high rates, higher now than ever before, always distinguishing our working people in their better conditions of life from those. of any competing country. Enjoying the blessings of American common schools, secure in the right of self-government and protected in the occupancy of their own markets, their constantly increasing knowledge and skill have enabled them finally to enter the markets of the world.

We favor the associated policy of reciprocity, so directed as to open our markets on favorable terms for what we do not ourselves produce in return for free foreign markets.

In the further interest of American workmen, we favor a more effective restriction of the immigration of cheap labor from foreign lands, the extension of opportunities of education for our children, to raise the age limit for child labor, the protection of free labor as against contract, convict labor and an effective system of labor insurance.

Our present dependence on foreign shipping for nine-tenths of our foreign carrying is a great loss to the industries of this country. It is also a serious danger to our trade, for its sudden withdrawal in the event of a European war would

seriously cripple our expanding foreign commerce. The National defense and Naval efficiency of this country, moreover, supply a compelling reason for legislation which will enable us to recover our former place among the tradecarrying fleets of the world.

The Nation owes a debt of profound gratitude to the soldiers who have fought its battles, and it is the Government's duty to provide for the survivors and for the widows and orphans of those who have fallen in the country's wars.

The pension laws, founded on this just sentiment, should be liberal, and should be loyally administered, and preference should be given, wherever practicable, with respect to employment in the public service, to soldiers and sailors and to their widows and orphans.

We commend the policy of the Republican party in maintaining the efficiency of the civil service. The Administration has acted wisely in its effort to secure for public service in Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippine Islands only those whose fitness has been determined. by training and experience. We believe that employment in the public service in these territories should be confined as far as practicable to their inhabitants.

It was the plain purpose of the 15th amendment to the Constitution to prevent discrimination on account of race or color in regulating the elective franchise. Devices of state governments, whether by statutory or constitutional enactment, to avoid the purpose of this amendment, are revolutionary, and

should be condemned.

Public movements, looking to a permanent improvement of the roads and highways of the country, meet with our cordial approval, and we recommend this subject to the earnest consideration of the people and the Legislatures of the several states.

We favor the extension of the rural free delivery service wherever its extension may be justified.

In further pursuance of the constant policy of the Republican party to provide free homes on the public domain, we recommend adequate National legislation to reclaim the arid lands of the

United States, reserving control of the distribution of water for irrigation to the respective states and territories.

We favor home rule for and the early admission to statehood of the territories of New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma.

WAR REVENUE.

The Dingley act, amended to provide

sufficient revenue for the conduct of the war, has so well perfected its work that it has been possible to reduce the war debt in the sum of $40,000,000. So ample are the Government's revenues and so great is the public confidence in the integrity of its obligations that its newly funded 2 per cent bonds sell at a premium. The country is now justified in expecting and it will be the policy of the Republican party to bring about a reduction of the war taxes.

We favor the construction, ownership, control and protection of an isthmian canal by the Government of the United States.

New markets are necessary for the increasing surplus of our farm products. Every effort should be made to open and obtain new markets, especially in the Orient, and the Administration is warmly to be commended for its successful effort to commit all trading and colonizing nations to the policy of the open

door in China.

In the interest of our expanding commerce, we recommend that Congress create a Department of Commerce and Industries in the charge of a Secretary with a seat in the Cabinet.

The United States Consular system should be reorganized under the supervision of this new department, upon such a basis of appointment and tenure as will render it still more serviceable to the Nation's increasing trade.

The American Government must protect the person and property of every citizen, wherever they are wrongfully violated or placed in peril.

We congratulate the women of America upon their splendid record of public service in the volunteer aid association and as nurses in camp and hospital during the recent campaigns of our armies in the Eastern and Western Indies, and

we appreciate their faithful co-operation. in all works of education and industry.

President McKinley has conducted. the foreign affairs of the United States with distinguished credit to the American people.

In releasing us from the vexatious European alliance for the government of Samoa, his course is especially to be commended. By securing to our undivided control the most important island of the Samoan group and the best harbor in the Southern Pacific, every American interest has been safeguarded. We approve the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States.

We recommend the part taken by our Government in the peace conference at The Hague. We assert our steadfast adherence to the policy announced in the Monroe Doctrine. The provisions of The Hague conference were wisely regarded when President McKinley tendered his friendly offices in the interest of peace between Great Britain and the South African Republics. While the American Government must continue the policy prescribed by Washington, affirmed by every succeeding President, and imposed upon us by The Hague treaty of non-intervention in European controversies, the American people earfound, honorable alike to both contendnestly hope that a way may soon be ing parties, to terminate the strife between them.

THE PHILIPPINES.

In accepting, by the treaty of Paris, the responsibility of our victories in the Spanish war, the President and the Senate won the undoubted approval of the American people. No other course was possible than to destroy Spain's sovereignty throughout the West Indies and in the Philippine Islands. That course created our responsibility before the world for the unorganized population whom our intervention had freed from Spain, to provide for the maintenance of law and order and for the establishment of good government and for the performance of international obligations. Our authority could not be less than our responsibility, and wherever sovereign

rights were extended it became the high duty of the Government to maintain its authority to put down armed insurrection and to confer the blessings of liberty and civilization upon all the rescued peoples.

The largest measure of self-government consistent with their welfare and our duties should be secured to them by law. To Cuba, independence and self

government were assured in the same voice by which war was declared, and to the letter this pledge shall be performed.

The Republican party, upon its history and upon this declaration of its principles and policies, confidently invokes the considerate and approving judgment of the American people.

Adopted in Philadelphia, Pa., June 20, 1900.

E, the representatives of the Democratic party of the United States, assembled in National convention on the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, do reaffirm our faith in the immortal proclamation of the inalienable rights of Americans. and our allegiance to the Constitution framed in harmony therewith by the fathers of the Republic.

We hold with the United States Supreme Court, that the Declaration of Independence is the spirit of our Government, of which the Constitution is the form and letter. We declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; that any government not based upon the consent of the governed is tyranny; and that to impose upon any people a government of force is to stibstitute the methods of imperialism for those of the Republic.

We hold that the Constitution follows the flag and denounce the doctrine that an executive or a congress, deriving their existence and power from the people, exercise unlawful authority beyond it in violation of it. We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire, and we warn the people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism at home.

Believing in these fundamental principles, we denounce the Porto Rican law enacted by the Republican Congress, against the protest and opposition of the Democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the Nation's organic law and a flagrant breach of the National good

faith. It imposes upon the people of Porto Rico a government without their consent and taxation without representation. It dishonors the American people by repudiating a solemn pledge made in their behalf by the commanding General of our army, which the Porto Ricans welcomed to a peaceable and unresisted. occupation of their land. It doomed to poverty and distress a people whose helplessness appeals with peculiar force to our justice and magnanimity. In this, the first act of its imperialistic program, the Republican party seeks to commit the United States to a colonial policy inconsistent with republican institutions and condemned by the Supreme Court in numerous decisions.

We demand the prompt and honest fulfillment of every pledge to the Cuban people and the world, that the United States has no disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over the island of Cuba, except for its pacification. The war ended nearly two years ago, profound peace reigns all over the island, and still the Administration keeps the government of the island. from its people, while Republican carpetbagging officials plunder its revenues and exploit the colonial theory to the disgrace of the American people.

THE PHILIPPINES.

We condemn and denounce the Philippine policy of the present Administration. It has embroiled the Republic in an unnecessary war, sacrificed the lives. of many of its noblest sons and placed the United States, previously known and