Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-21

So they will not do so-under any
necessity less pressing than that of des-
perate war. The one special requisite
for the mpletion of our mon etary sys.
tenn IL the fixing of the relative values
of silver and gold. The large use OF sill
YER as the money of account among
Asitaic nations, taken in connection
with the increasing commerce of the
world gives the weightiest reasons for
An International agreement in the
premises. Our Government should not
cease to urge this measure until com.
mon standard of value shall be reached
and established-a standard that shall
enable the United States to use the sill
yer from Its mines as an auxiliary to
gold In setting the balances of com mer-
Ct al exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength of the Republic Is in.
creased by the m ultiplics ton of land.
holders. Our laws should look to the
judicious encouragement of actual set
tleas on the the public domain, which
henceforth should be held AZ sacred
trust for the benefit of those seeking
homes. The tendency to consolidate
large tracts of land in the ownership
of individuals or corporations should
with proper regard to vested rights,
be discouraged. One hundred thou
sand acres Of land in the hands Of one
man il far less profitable to the nation
in every way than when its ownership
10 divided among 1000 men. The evil OF
perm lifting large tracts Of the national
domain to be conso lidated and con.
trolled by the few against the many 10
enhanced when the people controlling
it are aliens. 1t IL but fair that the
public lands should be disposed of
only TO actual settlers and to those who
are citizens of the Republic, or willing
to become 80.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Among our national interests one Ian.
guishes-the foreign carrying trade. 1t
was very seriously crippled in our civil
wal, and another blow was given to it in
the general substitution of steam for sail
in ocean traffic. With frontage on the
two great oceans, with freightage lar
ger than that of any other nation, we
have every indncement to restore our
navigation. Yet the Government has
hitherto refused its help. A small share
OF the encouragement given by the Gov
eminent to railways and TO manufac
lures, and a small share of the capital
and the zeal given by our citizens to
these enterprises, would have carried
our ships to every port AMI every sea
A law just enacted removes some of the
burdens upon our navigation and i'll
spires hope that this great interest may
at last receive its due share of attention
All efforts In this direction should re
ceive encourage cement.
sACREDNEss OF THE BALLOT.
This survey of cur condition as ma
ton reminds US that material prospect
ty Is but mockery II 1t does not ten(
to preserve the liberty OF the people
A free ballot il the safeguard of repub
lican institutions, without which NJ
national welfare is assured. A pOpu
lar election, honestly conducted, em
| government. Ten million voters desir
The safety of the Republic rests upor
the integrity of the ballot, upon tn
Il security of the suffrage to the citizen
To deposit a fraudulent vote ia n
worse crime against constitutions
liberty than to obstruct the deposit @
An honest vote. He who corrupts SUI
frage strikes at the very root of fire.
government. He is the arch.enemy c
the Republic. He forgets thatin tramp
ling upon the rights of others he fatal
imperils his own rights. " 1t is goo
land which the Lord our God doth Civ
u.s." but we can maintain our heritag
only by guarding with vigilance th
source of popular power.
i L am, with great respect, your OBJ
dent servant. JAMES G.. BLAINE