Huntsville gazette., 1884-07-26

py, and has increased the confidence of those
people in our friendly disposition. 1t fell to
my lot as Secretary of State in une, 1881 to
quiet apprehension in the Republic of Mexico
by giving the assurance in an official dispatch
that there is not the faintest desire in the
United states for territorial EXTENSION south
of the Rio Grande. The boundaries of the
two republics have been established in con-
formity with the best jurisdictional interests
of both. The line Of demarcation.is not mere
ly conventional. 1t is more. 1t separates q
Spanish-American people from a Saxon
American people. 1t divides one great ma
ton from another with distinct and natural
fnality."
We seek the conquests Of peace. We de.
sire to extend our commerce, and in an
especial degree with our friends and neigh
bors on this continent. We have not inn
proved our relations with Spanish America
as wisely and persistently as we might have
done. For more than generation the SYM
to drift away from us. We should now mako
every effort to gain their friendship. Our
trade with them is already large. During tho
last year our exchanges in the western hem
fsphere amounted to $3.50. 600, ,000-nearly one
fourth of our entire foreign commerce. To
chose who may be disposed to underrate the
value OF our trade with the countries
of North and South America it may
be well to state that their population
is nearly or quite 500O0,0 0,0G-and that, in
proportion to aggregate numbers, we import
from Europe. But the result of the whole
American trade is in high degree unsatiS-
factory The imports during the past year
exceeded $22o 600, ,000 while the exports were
less than S125, 600, ,000-showIng balance
against US of more than 100000, ,000 But the
money does not go to Spani h America. We
send large sums to Europe in coin or its
equivalent to pay European manufacturers
for the goods which they send to Spanish
America We are but paymasters for this
enormous amount annually to European fac
tors-an amount which is a serious draft, in
every financial depression, upon our re-
sources of specie.
Can not this condition of trade in great part
be changed Can not the market for our
products be greatly enlarged! We have made
q beginning in our effort to improve trade
relations with Mexico aud we should not be
content until similar and mutually advan-
tageous arrangements have been ucces 5fuy
made with every nation of North and South
America. While the great powers OF Europe
are steadily enlarging their colonial dom ma.
ton in Asia and Africa it is the especial
province this country to improve and expand
1T trade with the nations of America. No
field promises so much No field has been
cultivate so little. Our foreign policy should
be an American pol cy in its broadeSt and
most comprehensive Sense-a policy of
peace OF friendship, of commercial enlarge
meut
The name of american, which belongs to us
in our national capacity, must always eXalt
the just pride of patrio ism. Citizenship OF
the republic must be the panoply and safe
guari of him who wears it. The American
citizen, rich or poor, native or naturaliZed,
Nullc OF cOlOfeQ, everywhere Walk Sc
cure in his personal and civil righ.s Tne re-
public Should never accept lesser duty, it
can never assume nobler one, than the pro-
lection of the humblest man who owes it 10y
alty-prOtectlOn at home, and protection which
shall follow him abroad, into whatever land ne
may go upon lawful errand
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
l recognize, not without regret, the neces
sity for speaking of two sections of our com
mon country. But the regret diminiShes
when see that the elements which separated
them are fast disappearing. Prejudices have
yielded and are yielding, while a growing
cordiality warns the Southern and the North
ern heart alike. Can any one doubt that be-
tween the sections confidence and esteem are
today more marked than at any period in
the sixty years preceding the election of
President Lincoln; This is the result in part
OF time and in part of Republican principles
applied under the favorable conditions of
uniformity. 1t would be great
ender Which enanse southern 5eeae
wealths are learning to vindicate civil rights,
and adap ing themselves to 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 hopefully 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 protection of
the revenue laws which the Republican party
offers. Some OF the Southern States have al
ready entered upon a career of industrial de-
velopment and prosperity. These at least,
should not lend their electoral votes to de-
StrOy their own future.
Any effort to unite the Southern States
upon issues III It grow out of the memories of
the war will summon the Northern States to
combine in the assertion of that nationality
which was their inspiration in the civil strug-
gle. And thus great energies which should be
united in a common industrial develOpment
will be wasted in hurtful strife. The Demo
~ n fnn RI thar
prosperity by always invoking and urging
Southern political consolidation. Such
policy quenches the rising instinct of patriot
ism in the heart of the Southern youth; it re-
wives and stimulates prejudice; is substitutes
the spirit of barbaric vengeance for the love-
OF peace, progress and harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE. !
The general character of the civil service
OF the United states under all administrations
has been honorable. In the one supreme test
the collection and disbursement of revenue
the record of fidelity has never been sur
passed in any nation. With the almost fabu-
lOus sums which were received and paid dur
ing the late war, scrupulOus integrity was the
prevailing rule. Indeed, throughout that try
ing period it can be said 10 the honor of the
American name that unfaithfulueSS and dis
honesty among civil officers were as iare as
misconduct and cowardice On the field O. bat
tie.
The growth of the country has continually
and necessarily enlarged the civil service,
until now it includes vast body of officers.
Rules and methods of appoint ment which pre-
vailed when the number was smaller have
been found insufficient and 1mpracticable,
and earnest eft orts have been made to sep
arate the great mass of ministerial officers
from partisan influence and personal control.
lmpartiality in the mode of appointment to
be based on qualification, and security of
tenure to be based on faithful discharge of
duty, are the two ends to be accomplished.
The public business will be aided by sep
arating the legislative branch of the Govern
ment from all control of appointments, and
the Executive Department will be relieved by
subjectlng a pOintmentS to fixed rules and
thus removing them from the caprice of
favoritsm. But there should be rigid OBJ
servance of the law which gives in all cases
of equal competency the preference to the
soldiers who riSked their lives in defense Of
the Union.
/ entered Congress in 1868, and in a some
what prolonged service never found it eX-
pedient to re- u est or recommend the remov-
al OF a civil Oiicer except in four instances
and then for non-political reasons, which
were instantly conclusive with the appointing
power. The officers In the district, appointed
by Mr.. Lincoln in 1851 upon the recomnenda
ton of my predecessor. served. as "a rule I'M
I'll death or resignation. 1 adopted at the be-
ginning of my service the test of compe tive
examination for az pointment to West Point,
and maintained t so long AS | had the right
by law to appoint cadet. In the case of
many officers found that the present Jaw,
which arbitrarily limits the term of tle COM
mission, offered a constant temptation to
changes for mere political reasons. / have
~ q cd he hai iaf III ha