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

ousIy contemplated Ine recognition OF any
| other money than gold and silyer-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 one 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
OF account among Asiatic nations, taken in
connection with the increasing commerce of
the world, gives the weightlest reasons for
an international agreement in the premises.
Our government should not cease TO urge this
measure until common standard of value
shall be reached and eStabliShed-a stand
ard that shall enable the United States to
use the silver from its mines as an auxiliary
cial exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength of the republic is increased
by the multiplication Oh landholders. Our
laws should look to the judicious encourage
ment of actual settlers on the public domain,
which should hencefUrth Do held as a sacred
trust for the benefit of those seeking homes
The tendency to consolidate large tracts of
land in the ownership of individuals or cor
poratiOnS should, with proper regard to
vested rights, be discouraged. One hundred
thousand acres of land in the hands of one
man is far less profitable to the nation in
every way than when It's ownership is divid-
ed among 900 men. The evil of permitting
large tracts of the national domain to be
consolidated and controlled by the few
against the many is enhanced when the
persons controlling it are aliens. 1t is but
fair that the public landssshould:be disposed
of only TO actual settlers and to those who
are citizens of tile republic, or willing to be-
come so. t
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Among our national interests one Ian
gulsheS-the foreign carrying trade. Itwas
very seriously crippled in our civil war, 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 larger than that of any
other nation, we have every inducement TO
restore our navigation. Yet the government
has hitherto refused its help. A small share
OF the encouragement given by tie govern
ment to railways and to manufactures, and
a small share of the capital and the Zeal
given by our citizens to those enterprises
would have carried our ships to every sea
and to every port. A law Just enacted re
moves some OF the burdens upon our navi-
CATION and inSpiass hope that this great in
terest may at last receive its due share of
attention. All efforts in this direction should
receive encouragement.
sACREDNEsS OF THE..BALLoT.
This survey of our condition as a nation
reminds us tIat material prosperity is but
mockery if it does not tend to preserve the
liberty of the people. A free ballot is tue
safeguard of Republ can institutions, with
out which no national welfare is assured.
A popular election, honestly conducted, EN-
bodies the very majesty of true government
Ten millions OF voters desire to take part in
the pending contest. The safety OF the re-
pubic rests upon the integrity of the ballot
upon the security of suffrage to the citizen. To
deposit fraudulent vote IS no worse crime
against constitutional liberty than to OBJ
struct the deposit of an honest vote. He
who cOrrupts suffrage strikes at the root of
free government. lie is the arch-enemy of
the republic. He forgets tina in trampling
upon the rights of others lie fatally imperils
his own rights. 1T iS'a good land which
the Lord our God doth give u.s." but we can
maintain our heritage only by guarding
with vigilance the source OF popular power.
L am, with great respect your Obedient SER
want, JAMES G.. BLAINE