Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19

specfs advantageous.
NV observation In the Department Of
State confirmed the conclusions o! my legis.
latiye experience, and impressed me with
the conviction that the rule OF impartial
appointment might, with advantage, be
carried beyond any existing provision OF
the ciyil-seryice law. IL should be applied
10 appointments In the consular service.
CoustIls should be commercial sent'ncls-
euciicl!ng the globe with wat,hinlness fo-
their couItry's interest. Their intel
ligence and competency become. there.
fore, matters OF great public concern. No
man should be appointed to m American
consulate who Is not well instructed in the
history and resources OF bis own country.
and In the requirements and language o;
commerce In the country TO which he Is
sent. The same rule should be applied even
more rigidly 10 secretaries OF legation in
our diplomatic service. The people have
the right TO the most efficient agents in the
discharge OF public business and the APP
pointing power should regard this as the
prior and Interior consideration.
TUE MORMON QUESTION.
Religious liberty is the right of every
citizen Of the republic. Congress Is Tor
hidden by the Constitution to make any
law respecting the establishment Of re-
ligion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof" For century, under this
guarantee, Protestant and Catholic.
Jew and Gentle, have worshipped
God according 10 the dictates OF con-
science. But religious liberty must
not be perverted 10 the Justification o.!
A rail-
sect, strongly entrenched In one Of
the Territories OF the Union. and spread
ing RAPIDLY into four other Territories,
claims the right TO destroy the great saie-
guard and imminent OF social order, aud
10 practice as religious privilege that
which is a crime punished with severe
penalty in every State Of the Union. the
sacredness and unity OF the family must be
preserved as the foundation OF all civil
government, as the source OF orderly al
as the sures. guarantee OF
moral purity.
The claim OF the Mormons that they are
divinely authorized to practice polygamy
should no more be admitted than the claim
OF certain heather tribes. II they should
come among us, 10 continue the rite OF hui
man sacrifice. The law does not interfere
with what q man believes; IL takes cOgai-
zance only OF what he does. AZ citizens,
the Mormons are entitled TO the same civil
rights as others. aud 10 these they mus be
confined. Polygamy can never receive
national sanction or liberation by admit
ting the community that uphold. II ~ a
State OF the Union. Like others. the Nor
mons must learn that the liberty OF the in
dividuaI ceases where the rights OF society
begin.
OUR CURRENCY.
The people OF the United States. though
often urged and tempted, have never seri-
Dusly contemplated the recognition OF any
other money than gold and silver. and cur
rency directly convertible into them. They
have not done so. they will not do so, under
any necessity less pressing than that OF des-
Derate war. The one special requisite for
The completion OF our monetary system Is
The fixing OF the relative values OF sllyera and
gold. The large use Of silver as the money
81 account among Aslatic nations, taken in
connection with the increasing commerce
81 the world. gives the weixhtieSt reasons
Tor an international agreement IN the prem
seS. Our Government should no. cease 10
urge this measure until 4 common standard
81 value shall be reached and establishel--i
standard that shall enable the United
States to use the silver from IT, mines
Is an auxiliary to gold in settling the DaI-
lnces OF commercial exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength OF the republic is increased
by the multiplication OF Iand-holders. Our
avs should look to the iudicious encour-
lgement Of actual settlers on the public
domain, which should hencefOrth be held
rs sacred trust for the benefit OF those
seeking homes. The tendency to consoli-
late large tracts OF land in the ownership
II individuals or corporations should,
with proper regard 10 vested rights,
be discouraged. One hundred thou
,and acres OF land in the hands OF one
nan is far less profitable TO the nation in
very way than when it, ownership is
divided among one thousand mon. The
vii Of permitting large tracts OF the ma
ional domain to be consolidated and con-
rolled by the few against the many is en-
lanced when the persons controlling it are
lliens. II is but fair that the public land
should be disposed OF only 10 actu1l set
lcrs. and TO those who are citizens OF the
'epublic, or willing 10 become so.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Among our national interests one Ian
foreign carrying-tr1dc. II
vas very seriously crippled in our civil
var. and another blow was given to it IN
he general substitution OF steam for sal in
)ccan traffic. With frontage on the two
yreat oceans. with freightagc larger than
hat OF any other nation, We have every
nducement to restore our navigation.
Yet the Government has hitherto re-
used its help. A small share OF the
Encouragement given b., the Government
o railways and TO manufacturers, and
mall share OF the capital and the zeal given
" our citizens 10 those enterprises, would
AVE carried our ships TO every sen and 10
very port. 4 law just enacted removes
ONE OF the burdens upon our navigl ion
nd inspires hope that this great inicrcS.
nay at least receive its due share n attel-
ion. All efforts in this direction should
occiye encouragement.
sACREDSEss or THE BALLOT.
This survey OF our condition A. a nation
eminds us that material prosperity IS but
mOckery II il does not tend t. preserve
he sherry Of the people. a free ballot l.
he safeguard Of republican Institutions,
Without which no national welfare Is as
ured. A popular election, honestly con-
luctcd, cmbodies the very majesty OF trla
government. Ten millions of voters desire
o take part in the pending contest. The
afety Of the republic rests upon the
integrity OF the ballot, upon the So
urity Of suffrage to the citizen. TO
deposit a fraudulent vote Is no worse
crime against constitutional liberty
han to obstruct the deposit OF an honest
'Ote. He who corrUpts suffrage strikes ut
he very root of free government. He is
he arch-enemy OF the republic. Heforgc,s
hat in trampling upon The rights OF others
le fatally imperils his own tights. ." lt il
good land which the Lord our God doth
i've us" but we can maintain orr heritage
nly by guarding with vigilance the source
4 popular power.
am, with great respect, your Obceient
ervant, JAMES q. BLAINE.