Morris tribune., 1884-07-23

the sixty years preceding the election Of
President Lincolna This Is the result In part
Of time and In part of Republican principles
applied under the favorable conditions Of
uniformity. It would be great calamity to
change these influences under which southern
commonwealth are learning to vindicate
civil rights, and adapting themselves to the
conditions of political tranquility and indus
trial progress. If there be occasional and
violent outbreaks tn the south against this
peaceful progress, the public opinion of the
country regards them as exceptional and
hopefully trusts that each will prove the
last
CIVIL SERVICE.
My observation tn che department Of state
confirmed the conclusions Of my legislative
experience, and impressed me with the con-
viction that the rule Of impartial appoint
ment might with advantage be carried be-
yond any existing provision Of the civil
service law. 1t should be applied to appoint
ments in the consular service Consuls
should be commercial Notwithstanding
the globe with watchfulness for their coun-
try's interests. Their intelligence and COM
potency become, therefore, matters of great
public concern. No man should be appointed
to an American consulate, who Is not well
instructed IN the history and resources Of his
own country, and in the, requirements and
language Of commerce In the country to
which he Is sent The same rule should be
applied even more rigidly to secretaries Of
legation In our diplomatic service. The peo-
pie have the right to the most efficient agents
in the discharge of public business and the
appointing power should regard this as the
prior and Interior consideration.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
Religious liberty is the right Of every citi-
zen OF the republic. Congress is forbidden by
the constitution to make any law respecting
the establishment Of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof" For century,
under this guarantee, Protestant and Catho-
lie, Jew and Gentle, have worshiped God &C
eording to the dictates Of conscience. But
religious liberty must not be perverted to the
justification of offenses against the law. A
religious sect, strongly intrenched in one Of
the territories Of the Union, and spreading
rapidly into four other territories, claims the
right to destroy the great safeguard and
imminent Of social order, and to practice as
religious privilege that which Ia a crime
punished with severe penalty in every state
Of the Union. The sacredness and unity of
the family must be preserved as the founda-
lion Of all civil government, as the source Of
orderly administration, as the surest guaran-
antee Of moral purity.
The claim of the Mormons that they are
divinely authorized to practice polygamy
certain heathern tribes, if they should come
among u.s. 10 continue the rite of human sacri-
flee. The law does not interfere with what
man believes; it takes ccgnizance only of what
he does. As citizens, the Mormons are en-
titled to the same civil rights as others and to
these they must be confined; Polygamy can
never receive national sanction OF federation
by admitting the community that upholds it
as state in the Union. Like others, the
Mormons must learn that the liberty of the
Individual ceases where the rights of society
begin.
OUR CURRENCY.
The people of the United States, though
often urged and tempted, have never seri-
ously 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-
perate war. The only special requisite for
the completion of our monetary system is the
fixing of the relative values of silver and
gold. The large use of silver as the money
IF account among Asiatic nations, taken in
connection with the increasing commerce of
The world, gi4es the weightiest reasons for an
International agreement in the premises. Our
government should not cease to urge this |
measure until common standard of value |
hall be reached and established-a standard |
hat shall enable the United States to use the |
ilver from its mines as an auxiliary to gold |
II settling the balances of commercial ex- |
:hapge.
PIE PUBLIC LANDS:
The strength of the republic is increased by |
he multiplication of land-holders. Our laws |
hould look to the judicious encouragement |
# actual settlers on the public domain, which |
hould henceforth be held as a sacred trust |
or the benefit Of those seeking homes. The |
tendency to consolidate large tracts of land |
n the ownership of individuals or corpora
ions should, with proper regard to vested
lights, be discouraged. One hundred thou
and acres of land in the hands of one man is
ar less profitable to the nation in every way
700 men. Tie evil of permitting large |
racts of the national domain to be consohs
lated and controlled by the few against the |
many is enhanced when the persons con-
rolling it are aliens. 1t is but fair that the
public land should be disposed Of only to
lctual settlers and to those who are citizens
f the republic, or willing to become so.
SACREDNEsS OF THE BALLOT.
This survey of our condition as @ nation
eminds us that material prosperity is but a
nockery if it does not tend to preserve the
liberty of the people, A free ballot is the
jacquard of Republican institutions, without
which no national welfare is assured. A
op4lar election, honestly conducted, en-
EN- millions q Voters desire to o tka part IL
he pending contest The safety Of the rer
ublic rests upon the integrity Of the ballot,
pom the security Of suffrage to the citizen.
% deposit a fraudulent vote is no worse
rhine against constitutional liberty than to
bstruct the deposit Of an honest vote. He
rho corrupts suffrage strikes at the very
DOT Of free government. He is the arch
nemy of the republic. He forgets that In
upon the rights of others he fatally
nperils bis own rights. ut is good land
hat the Lord our God doth give u.s." but
re can maintain our heritage only by guard
ng with vigilance the source of popular
over.
I am with great respect your obedient
or-vonf T ArrS n pr ANN |