The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-25

foDthe goods which they, send to Spanish
America. We are but paymasters for this
enormous amount annuity to European fac
tors--an amount which is a serious draft in
every financial depression, upon our re-
sources of specie.
Cannot this condition Of trade In great
part DO ohangedl Cannot the market for
our products be greatlYenlarged! We have
made beginning I'm our effort to improve
our trade relations with Mexico, and we
should not be content until similar and
mutually advantageous arrangements have
been SUCCESSFULLY made with every nation of
North and South America. While the great
powers of Europe are steadily enlarging
their colonial domination in Asia and Africa,
it Is the especial province of this country to
improve and expand its trade with the
nations OF America No field promises SO
much. No field has been cultiv&sed so little.
Our foreign policy should be an American
policy in its broadcast and most conprehen-
sive sense-a policy Of peace, OF friendship,
of compercial enlargement.
The name of American, which belongs to
us in our national capacity, must always
exalt the just pride of patriotism. Citizen
ship Of the republic must be the Panoply and
|
can citizen, rich or poor. native or natural
lied, white or colored, must everywhere
walk secure In his personal and civil rights.
The republic should never accept a lesser
| duty, it can never assume nobler one than
| the protection Of the humblest man who
| owes 1t neutrality-suspicious. at home. and
protection which shall follow him abroad.
into whatever land, he may go upon a lawful
errand.
| THE SOUTHERN STATES
Irecognize, not without regret, the neces-
sity for spea king Of two sections of our COM
mon country. But the regret diminishes
when see that the elements which separated
them are fast disappearing. Prejudices have
yielded and are yielding, while q growing
cordially warns the southern and the
northern heart alike. Can any enc doubt
that between the sections confidence and
esteem are to-day more marked than at any
period in the sixty years preceding the cleo
ton of President Lincoln9 This is the result
in part of time and in part Of Republican
| principles applied under the favorable con-
| ditions Of uniformity. 1t would be great
| calamity to change these influences under
| which southern commonwealth are learning
to vindicate civil rights, and adapting them
selves TO the conditions of political tran
guilty and industrial progress. If there be
occasional and violent outbreaks in the
south against this peaceful progress, the pub
lie opinion of the country regards them as
exceptional and hopefully trusts that each
wib prove the last
The south needs capital and occupation,
not controversy. As much as any part of
the north the south needs the full protection
Of the revenue laws which the Republican
party offers. Some of the southern states
I ho al mt of in,
dustrial development and prosperity. These,
at least, should not lend their electoral votes
to destroy their own future.
Any effort to unite the southern states
upon issues that grow out of the memories
of the war, will summon the northern state
to combine in the assertion of that national
| ity which was their inspiration in the civil
struggle. And thus great energies which
should be united in common industrial de-
velopment will be wasted in hurtful strife
The Democratic party shows itself foe to
southern prosperity by always invoking and
urging southern political consolidation.
Such policy quenches the rising instinct CT
patriotism in the heart of the southern
youth; it revives and stimulates prejudice;
it substitutes the spirit of barbaric ven
geance for the love OF peace, progress and
harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The general character of the civil service
of the United States under all administra-
items has been honorable. In the one SUI
preme test-the collection and disbursements
of pevenue--the record of fidelity has never
been surpassed in any nation. With the
almost fabulous sums which were received
and paid during the. late war, scrupulous
integrity was the prevailing rule. Indeed
throughout that trying period, it can be said
| to the ho2or of the American name, that I'M
faithfulness and dishonesty among civil Off.
GERS were as rare as misconduct and coward
ice on the field of battle.
Th0growth of the country has continually
and necessarily enlarged the civil service,
until now it includes vast body of officers
Rules and methods of appointment which pre-
vailed whom the number was smaller have
been found insufficient and impracticable,
and earnest efforts have been made to sepa-
rate the great mass of ministerial officers
from partisan influence and personal con-
troll. Impartiaiity in the mode of appoint
ment to be baSed on qualification and Sc
curity of tenure to be based on faithful dis
charge of duty are the two ends to be ac-
| complish5d The public business will be
aided by separating the legislative branch of
| the government from all control of appoint
ments and the executive department will be
relieved by subjecting appointments to fixed
rules and thus removing them from the
caprice of favoritism. But there should be
rigid observance of the law which gives in
all cases of equal competency the preference
10 the soldiers who risked their lives in de-
Tense of the Union.
entered congress in 1868, and in q some
what prolonged service 1 never found it
expedient to request or recommend the
removal of civil officer except in four in
stances, and then for non-political reasons
which were instantly conclusive with the
appointing power. The officers in the dis
trict, appointed by Mr.. Lincoln in 1861 upon
the recommendation of my predecessor,
served, as a rule, until death or resignation.
1 adopted at the beginning of my service the
test of competative examination for appoint
ments to West Point and maintained it SO
long as had the right by law to nominate
a cadet. In the case of many officers 1
found that the present law which arbitrarily
| limits the term of the commission offere
| 10 I'M for