CITIZENS ABROAD.

We commend the vigorous efforts made by the Administration to protect American citizens in foreign lands and pledge ourselves to insist upon a just and equal protection of all our citizens abroad. It is the unquestioned duty of the Government to procure for all our citizens without distinction right of travel and sojourn in friendly countries, and we declare ourselves in favor of all proper efforts tending to that end.

NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.

Under the administration of the Republican party the foreign commerce of the United States has experienced a remarkable growth, until its present annual valuation is approximately three billion dollars and gives employment to a vast amount of labor and capital which otherwise would be idle. It has inaugurated through the recent visit of the Secretary of State to South America and Mexico a new era of pan-American commerce and comity, which is bringing us into closer touch with our twenty sister American republics having a common historic heritage, a republican form of government, and offering us a limitless field of legitimate commercial expansion.

THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL,

The conspicuous contributions of American statesmanship to the cause of international peace so strongly advanced in The Hague conference are occasions for just pride and gratification. At the last session of the United States Senate eleven Hague conventions were ratified, establishing the rights of neutrals; plans were laid for the restrictions of submarine mines; limiting the use of force for the collection of international debts; governing the opening of hostilities; extending the application of the Geneva principle in many ways; lessening the evils of war, and promoting the peaceful settlement of international controversies. At the same session twelve arbitration conventions with great nations were affirmed and extradition principles were ratified. We indorse such achievement as the highest duty of people to perform, and proclaim the obligation of further strengthening the bonds of friendship and good will with all the nations of the world.

MERCHANT MARINE.

We adhere to the Republican doctrine of encouragement to American shipping and urge such legislation as will advance the merchant marine prestige of the country, so essential to the national defense, the enlargement of avenues of trade, and the industrial prosperity of our own people.

PENSIONS.

Another Republican policy which must be ever maintained is that of generous appreciation for those who have fought the country's battles and for the widows and orphans of those who have fallen. We commend the increase in the widows' pension made by the present Congress and declare for a liberal administration of all pension laws, to the end that the people's gratitude may grow deeper as the memories of the heroic sacrifices grow more sacred with the passing years.

CIVIL SERVICE.

We reaffirm our former declarations regarding the civil-service law.

PUBLIC HEALTH.

We commend the efforts made to secure. greater efficiency in national public health agencies and favor such legislation as will effect its purpose.

MINING.

In the interest of the great mineral industries of our country we earnestly support the establishment of a bureau of mines and mining."

COLONIAL.

The American Government in Republican hands has freed Cuba, given peace and protection to Porto Rico and the Philippines under our flag, and begun the construction of the Panama Canal. The present condition in Cuba vindicates the wisdom of maintaining between that republic and this imperishable bonds of mutual interest, and the hope is now expressed that the Cuban people will soon again be ready to assume complete sovereignty over their land. In Porto Rico the Government of the

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United States has met with loyal and patriotic support. Order and prosperity prevail and the well-being of the people in every respect promoted and conserved. We believe that the native inhabitants of Porto Rico should be at once made collectively citizens of the United States, and that all others properly qualified under existing law residing in said islands should have the privilege of becoming naturalized.

in the Philippines insurrection has been suppressed, law established, and life and property made secure. Education and practical experience are there advancing the capacity of the people for government, and the policy of McKinley and Roosevelt is leading the inhabitants step by step to an ever-increasing home rule.

PANAMA CANAL.

Time has justified the selection of the Panama route for the great isthmian canal, and events have shown the wisdom of securing authority over the zone through which it is to be built. The work is now progressing with a rapidity far beyond expectation, and already the realization of the hopes of the centuries is coming in view in the near future.

STATEHOOD.

We favor the immediate admission of the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona as separate States in the Union.

LINCOLN CENTENARY.

February 12, 1909, will be the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln that immortal spirit whose fame has brightened with the receding years and whose name stands among the first of those given to the world by the great Republic. We recommend that this centennial anniversary be celebrated throughout the confines of the nation by all the people, and especially by the public schools as an exercise to stir the patriotism of the youth of the land,

REPUBLICANISM AND DEMOCRACY CONTRASTED.

We call the attention of the American people to the fact that none of the great measures here advocated by the Republican party could

be inaugurated and none of the forward steps here proposed could be taken under a Democratic administration, nor under one in which the party responsibility is divided. The continuance of the present policies absolutely requires the continuance in power of that party which believes in them and which possesses the capacity to put them into operation.

Beyond all platform declarations there are fundamental differences between the Republican party and its chief opponent which makes one worthy and the other unworthy of public trust. In history the difference between Democracy and Republicanism is that one stood for debased currency, the other for honest money; the one for free silver, the other for honest currency; the one for free trade, the other for protection; the one for the contraction of American influence, the other for expansion. One has been forced to abandon every position it has taken on the great issues before the people, the other has held and vindicated all.

In experience the difference between democracy and republicanism is that the one means adversity, while the other means prosperity. One means low wages, the other means high wages. One means doubt and debt, the other means confidence and thrift.

In principle the difference between Democracy and Republicanism is that one stands for vac illation and timidity in government, the other for strength and purpose. One stands for obstruction, the other for construction. One promises, the other performs. One finds fault, the other finds work. The present tendencies of the two parties are more marked by inherent differences. The trend of Democracy is toward socialism, while the Republican party stands for a wise and regulated individualism. Socialism would destroy wealth, Republicanism would prevent its abuse. Socialism would give to each an equal right to take, Republicanism would give to each an equal right to earn. Socialism would offer an equality of position which would soon leave no one anything to possess. Republicanism would give equality to each; it would assure to each his share of the constantly increasing sum of possession.

In line with this tendency the Democratic party to-day believes in government ownership, while the Republican party believes in government legislation. Ultimately Democracy would have the nation own the people,

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while Republicanism would have the people own the nation.

Upon this platform of principles and purposes, reaffirming our adherence to every Re-publican doctrine proclamed since the birth of the party, we go before the country asking the support not only of those who have acted with us heretofore but of all our fellow-citizens who, regardless of political differences, unite in a desire to maintain the policies, perpetuate the blessings, and make secure the achievements of a greater America.

The Democratic convention of 1912 was held at Baltimore, Md., June 25July 3.

Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, was nominated for President and Thomas R. Marshall, of Indiana, was nominated for Vice President.

The following platform was adopted:

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM, 1912.

We, the representatives of the Democratic Party of the United States, in national convention assembled, reaffirm our devotion to the principles of democratic government formulated by Thomas Jefferson and enforced by a long and illustrious line of Democratic Presidents.

TARIFF REFORM.

We declare it to be a fundamental principle of the Democratic Party that the Federal Government, under the Constitution, has no right or power to impose or collect tariff duties except for the purpose of revenue, and we demand that the collection of such taxes shall be limited to the