Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-24

statesman who can achieve these great object
| will be blessed as public benefactor. hav'
ventured to embOdy in the form of inquiries
appended to this letter some of the subjects
upon which your opinions are desired II 1t b
agreeable TO you to comply with the request o.
large body of voters and friends, without dis
tinction of party.
Truly your friend, O.. 81. BROWNING.
| Hon. David Davis, United States Senator.
DAVIS TO BROWNING.
WASHINGTON, May 24.-My dear sir: l have
had the pleasure to receive your letter of the
9th inst. As constituent friend, and al
honored citizen of Illinois, you have perfect
right to ask for my views on public questions
and have no hesitation in expressing them,
| taking the inquiries in the order presented.
PEACE IN THE UNIoN-Permanent prosperity
and fraternal fellowship are only to be attained
by silenoing sectional strife; faithful ad-
herence to the constitution and all amend
ments, strict observance of the laws in con-
1 formity Herewith, and equal rights and equal
protection for every citizen in every part of the
republic, will soon end the discords that have
too long vexed the country and injured its
material welfare. The people are weary of
| agitation, and want peace.
| CENTRAIIzATIoN-The constitution wisely
| defines the respective limits of federal and
| State governments under happy and harmo-
NOUS system wherein each is independent in
| its appropriate sphere, and both operate con-
currently to protect the integrity and stability
| OF the Union. Any encrOachment or destruc-
tiOn of the domain of the other necessarily dis
| locates the machinery of the constitution and
| involves danger to the whole body polite. In
fact, every departure from the great charter
| of liberty and law is attended with pain. The
demand by the adherents of one of the great
Inc fnF ntr norf ona.
stantially centralized government, destruc-
tive of home rule In the States and the very
reverse of what Mr.. Lincoln well described as
government of the people, by the people and
for the people. Carried to its logical conclu,
sion, such a change would finally overthrow
the Republic.
The THIRD TERM. AN innovation upon the
sano.i6ed traditions of the Presidency, first
established by the example of Washington, is
urgently demanded by powerful interest in
the Republican party. If the limitation of
two terms, heretofore universally accepted, is
to be destroyed, the way to seif-perpetuating
Presidency will be opened by the use and abuse
of the enormous public patronage. Break
down this barrier and an end of the expert
ment of Republican government looms up
darkly as the cost of fatal concession.
GREAT CORPORATIONS The rapid growth of
cooperative power and the malign influence
which it exerts by combinations on national
and State legislatures, is well grounded cause
of slarm. struggle is impending in the near
future between this Overgrown power, with its
vast ramifcations all over the Union and hard
grip on much of the political machinery on
one hand, and the people in an unorganized
condition on the other, for the control of the
government. 1t will be watched by every
patriot with intense anxiety.
CIVIL SERVICE. Neither the laws nor the
commissions created under them will effectually
remove the many and glaring abuses of the civil
service. The former have been constantly pow
less for GOOD, and an honest executive, bent
on real and not simulated REFORM has abund-
ant authority to make it effective everywhere If
he has the capacity to see his duty and the
courage to perform it.
SUBsIDIEs-Experience has demonstrated
that subsidies in any form are sources of cor
ruption, and ought to be forbidden. Private
enterprises that depend for success upon legis-
lation procured by venal agencies do not de-
serve public favor.
PUBLIC LANDs.-More than hundred and
fifty million dpllars, principal andSinterest,
have been voted by Congress to railroad cor
porations. The remaining lands should be
sacredly reserved for cultivators of the soil, so
that the labOring man may have a chance to
improve his condition, and to open future
homes for his children away from the seduc.
tions of great cities.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF-Tariff practically
means taxation, and all taxation not equitably
adjusted is excessive. While the interest on
an oppressive public debt, the pensions earned
with the blood of the soldiers and sailors who
fought for the Union and the regular expense
of carrying on the government, are to be met,
the duties on imports must continue to furnish
our sources of revenue. So long as those duties
are levied, manufacturers will be benefited
according to the degree in which duties may
be distributed. The existing tariff is regarded
as confused mass of in
congruities, and monopolies are created
by special legislation, open to constant fraud
on the revenue. 1t taxes the consumer heavily
on those articles especially that are most
needed by the toiling masses. It taxes every
newspaper, every school book, every bible, and
the salt of the workingmen with gross injustice,
because the poor pretense of revenue does
not exist to cover the wrong. revision, there
fore, which shall be at once searching and fair,
is demanded and should be promptly and eff
ciently made.
The PUBLIC DEBT.-The debt of the
United States in round numbers is
two thousand millions, deducting the
hoalded coin in the treasury. The interest
upon 1t last year was over one hundred mill
lions. These are appalling figures. The rapid
extinction of this debt is to be desired: First.
because it diminishes the present burden and
for the additional reason that one effect Of a
personal national debt is to create preferred
class to live on incomes, and free from taxes
under our laws. Having protection of the
the government at home ard abroad, they
would contribute nothing to its support.
ECONOMY. 1t is practicable by cooperation
between the executive and Congress, to reduce
the public expenditure many millions annually
without impairing the efficiency of the public
service.
Retrenchment is needed for reduction of
lakes, but it is also needed, because properly
administered it would become potent factor
in reforming the civil service.
ELEcT1oNs.-Th ballot box should
be the safeguard of the republic,
for it is intended to express tie
free will of the people. Therefore elections
ought to be exempt from the presence of any
menaciug force, and to be free from the con-
taminatiOn of corrupt returning boards. No
party deserves confidence that seeks to ascend
ancy by striking down honest suffrage either
by use of troops, by fraud, or by intimidation.
1t would not be proper for me to express any
opinion upon measures pending or proposed in
Congress. My votes will speak for themselves
at fitting time. Having thus freely answered
your inquiries, may add. in conclusion, that
my support will cheerfully be given to any
candidate for the Presidency who will strive to