Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-24

| sH0 " eAIchu our commerce, and in an
especial degree with our friends and neigh
bors on this continent We have not i'm
| proved our relations with SDaniSh-America
as wisely and as perSiStentiy as we might
have done. For more than generation the
sympathy of those countries has been al
lowed to drift away from us. We should
now make every effort to gain their friend
ship. Our trade with them is already large
During the last year our exchanges in the
western hemisphere amounted to three
| hundred anu nifty millions of dOllarS-near-
ly one-fourth of our entire foreign COM
meree- 10 those who may be disposed to
underrate the value of our trade with the
countries of North and South America il
! may De well TO state that their population is
nearly or quite fifty mlliiOns-and that in
proportion to aggregate numbers, weimport
nearly double as much from them as we do
from Europe. But the result of the whole
| American trade is in high degree unsatis-
factory. Ihe imports during the past year
exceeded two hundred and twenty-five mill
Ions, while the exports were less than one
hundred and twenty-five millions-showing
| balance against us of more than one hun
Gred millions of dollars. But the money
| uoes not go TO Spanish-America. We send
large sums to Europe iii coin or its equiva,
| lent TO pay European manufacturers for the
| goods which they send TO SpaniSh-A merica
we are but paymaSterS for this enormous
| amount annually 10 European factOrs-an
amount Which Is a serious draft in every
| pLcosiUil, upon OF
specie.
Cannot this condition of trade in great
part De changed? Cannot the market for oul
products De greatly enlarged? We have
madela beginning in our effort to improve
our trade relations with Mexico and we
| should not be content until similar and mu-
| tuaily advantageous arrangements have
Deen suecesSlvely made with every nation
OF North and South America. While the
great powers of Europe are steadily enlarg-
in Al,
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 cultt
vated 50 little. Our foreign policy should
De an American policy iii its broadest and
most comprehensive sense-a policy of
peace, of friendship. of commercial enlarge
ment
The name of American which belongs to
us In our national capacity must always eX-
alt the just pride of patriotism. Citizenship
OF the republic NUT BE- the panOpy and
safeguard of him who wears it. The Amer
can citizen, rich or poor, native or natural
lzed, white or cOlOred. must everywhere
walk secure i'll his PERSONA and civil rights.
The republic should never accept a lesser
duty, 1t can never assume nobler one than
the protection of the hun5est man who
owes it loyalty-protection at home and pro-
lection which shall follow him abroad into
whatever land he may go upon a lawful er-
rand.
THE soETHERN STATES.
recognize, not without regret, the npces-
sity for speaking of two sections of our
common country. But the regret tliminishes
when | see that tie elem -nts separated
them are fast disappearing. Preiudices have
yielded and are yielding, while growing
cordiality warns the Southern and the
Northern heart alike. Can any one doubt
that between the sections confidence and
esteem are to-;ay more marked than at any
Irali ttNsasg
tion of President Lincoln? This is the re- |
suit i'll part of time and in part Of Repub- |
lican princip eS applied under the favorable |
conditions of uniformity. 1t would be
great calamity to change these influences I'M
der which Southern cOmmOnwealthS are |
leanring to yindicate civil rights, and adapt |
ing themselves t. the conditions of political |
tranquility and industrial progress. If there |
be occasional and violent outbreaks in the |
South against this peaceful progress, the
public opinion of the country regards them
as exceptional and hopeful trusts that each
will prove the last.
The South needs capital and occupation.
not controversy. As much as any part Of
the North, the South needs the full protec-
tion of the revenue laws which the Republic
can party OffsrS. Some of the Southern
States have Already entered upon career
OF industrial development and prosperity. I
These, at least, should not lend their eiec-
toral 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 States
to combine i'll the assertion of that national
lty which was their inspiration in the civil
struggle. And thus great energies which
should be united in a common industrial de-
yelOpment will be wasted III hurtful strife.
The Democratic party shows itself foe to
Southern prISp .-tE by always invoking
and urSing Southern political consolidation.
Such policy quenches the rising instinct
OF patriotism i'll the heart of the Southern
youth; it revives and stimu ates prejudice: |;
It substi, ,utes the spirit Of barbaric vengeance
Tor The love OF peace, progress and harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE. [
The general character of the civil seryice
Of the United States under all administra-
tons has been honorable. In the one su-
preme test-the collection and disbursement
of revenue-the record of fidelity has never
been surpassed i'll any nation. With the al
most fabulous sums which were received
and paid during the late war scrupulOus in
tegrlty was the prevailing rule. Indeed I.
that trying period it can be said
to the honor of the American name that {
AMI dishonesty among civil $
officers were as rare as Misconduct and I
cOwardice on the field OF battle.
The growth of the country has continual
ly and necessarily enlarged the civil service I
until now 1t Includes vast body of officers (
Rules and methods of appointment which -,
prevailed wien the numDer was smaller
have been found Insufficient and impractic- :
able and earnest efforts have been made TO II
separate the great mass of ministerial of | /
licers from partisan influence and personal
control. Imparta ity in the mode of an
pont'nelit 10 b. based on qualification. and
secur ty of tenure 10 be based on faithful | il
discharge OF duty are the two ends to be ae- il
,ompllShed. HE public business will be
iidej BY separating the legislative branch
If the government from all control of ap- a
and the Executive Department u
Will be relieved by subjeciing appointments n
% fixed rules and thus removing them from
ne caprice OF fayorltism. But there should
De rigid observance of the law which gives
n all cases of equal competency the prefer u
'nce OF the soldiers who risked their lives Il
n defense of the Union. N
entered Congress in 1863 and in some
Vhat prolonged service / never found it eX-
,edient torequest or recommendt the removal
u clvll officer except in four instances, h
Ind then for nOn-politcal reasons. which ~
we're instantly conclusive with the appoint y;
ng power. The officers in the district, ap- u
'olnted by Mr. Lincoln, in 1861 upon the re- il
ommendatlon of my predecessor, served,
s rule, until death or resignation. [
dopted at the beginning of my service the
est OF competitive examination for appOint-
nent to West Point and maintained it so
Ong as had the right by law to nominate q
adet. In the case OF many officers ! found =
nat the present law which arbitrarily limits
lie term of commission offered constant
emptatlOn to changes for mere political
easons 1have publicly expressed the be-
ef that the essential modification of that
IVY would be in many respects advanta-
eOuS.
My observation in the Department Of
tate confirmed the conclusions of my legis-
tive experience, and impressed me with
le convection that the rule of impartial ap-
ointment might with advantage be carried
eyOnd any existing provision of the civil
7rvice law. 1t should be applied to ap-
olntments In the consular service. Com a
llS should be commercial sentinels-encir.
ing the globe with watchfuness for their
)untry's interests. Their intelligence and
become, therefore, matters of
reat public concern. NOman should be ap-
Dinted to an American consulate who is
OF well Instructed in the history and re-
,uroeS OF his own country, and in the re-
lrements and language of commence in
Ie country TO which he is sent. The same
lie should be applied even more rigidly to .
e secretaries OF legation in our diplomatic "A
rvice. The people have the right to the 81
ost efficient agents in the discharge Of
lbd: business, aud the appointing power
rrtlA "A ~ .IFsa-f.