Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-11
AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.

AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
The interests of agriculture de-
serve more attention from the Gov
ernment than they have yet received.
The farms of the United States afford
homes and employment for more
than one.half Of our people and
furnish much the largest part of all
Our exports. As the Government
lights our coasts for the protection
of mariners and the benefit of COM
merce, so it should give to tillers OF
the soil the lights of practical science
and experience.
Our manufactures are rapidly
making us industrially independent
and are opening to capital and labor
new and profitable fields of employ
ment. This steady and healthy
growth should still be maintained.
IsTHMUs CANAIul OBJECTS.
Our facilities foi transportation
should be promoted by continud
improvement of our harbors and
great interior water ways and by in
crease of our tonnage on the ocean.
The development of the worlds COM
metce has led to an urgent demand
for shortening the great sea voyage
around Cape Horn by constructing
ship canals or railways across the
isthmus which unites the continents.
Various plans to this end have been
suggested and will need consider
alton, but none of them have been
sufficiently matured to warrant US in
extending pecuniary aid. The SUBJ
ject is one which will Immediately
engage the attention of the Govern
ment with q view to thorough pro.
lection to American interest. We
will urge no narrow policy nor seek
peculiar or exclusive privileges in
any commercial route, but in the
language of my predecessor, be-
lieve it to be the right and duty of
the United States to assert and main
tain such supervision and authority
over any intsr-oceanic canal across
the isthmus that connects North and
South South America as will protect
our National interests.
THE UTAH PROBLEM.
The constitution guarantees abso-
Lutte religious freedom. Congress is
prohibited from making any law res
.pfSotiSg tho o.taLlishinvnt Or religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise there
of. The Territories of the United
States are subject to the direct legis-
lative authority of Congress, and
hence the general Government is re.
sponsible for any violation of the
constitution in any of them. It is
therefore reproach to the Govern
ment that in the most populous of
the Territories the constitutional
guarantee is not enjoyed by the peo-
pie and the authority of Congress is
set 1T naught. The Mormon Church
not only offends the moral sense of
mankind by sanctioning polygamy,
but it prevents the Administration of
justice through the ordinary instru-
mentality of law. In my judgment
it is the duty of Congress, while re-
specting to the utmost the conscien-
tious convictions and religious scru-
Piles of every person, to prohibit
within its jurisdiction all criminal
practices, especially of that class
which destroys family relations and
endanger social order; nor can any
ecclesiastical organization be safely
permitted to usurp in the smallest
degree the functions and powers of
the National Government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service can never be
placed on a satisfactory basis until it
is regulated by law for the good of
tho service itself, for protection OF
those who are entrusted with the
appointing power, against waste Of
time and obstruction to public busi-
ness caused by inordinats pressure
for place and for protection of incum-
bsnts against intrigue and wrong.
I shall at tho proper time ask Con-
gross to fix tenure of minor officers
and OF the several Executive Depart.
ments, and perscribs the grounds
upon which removals shall be made
during terms for which incumbents
have been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the
authority and limitations of the con.
| stitution, invading neither the rights
Of the States nor the reserved rights
Of the people, it will be the purpose,
of my Administration to maintain
the authority, and in all places with
in its jurisdiction to enforce obedi.
ence to all the laws OF the Union
in the interests Of the people, to dc.
mand rigid economy in al expendi
lures Of the Government, and to re
quire honest and faithful service o.
ell Executive officers. remembering
that tho Offices were created not fol
the benefits Of the incumbents O
their supporters, but for the servic'
of the Government.
CONCv uor0v