The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-07-25


upon issues that grow out of the memories
OF the war, viii summon the Northern states
to combine In the assertion OF that national
ity which was their inspiration in the civil
struggle. And thus great energies which
should be united In common industrial de-
velopment win be wasted in hurtful strife
The Democratic party shows itself foe to
Southern prosperity by always invoking and
urging Southern political consolidation.
Such . policy quenches the rising instinct
OF patriotism In the heart Of the Southern
youth; It revives and stimulates prejudice;
1t substitutes the spirit of barbaric ven.
geance for the love OF peace, progress and
harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
The general character of the civil service
of the United States under all administra-
lions has been honorable. In the one su-
preme test-the collection and disbursement
of revenue-the record Of fidelity has never
been surpassed In any nation. With the
almost fabulous sums which were received
and paid during the late war, scrupulous In
tegrfty was the prevailing rule Indeed,
throughout that trying period it can be said
to the honor of the American name, that un-
faithfulness and dishonesty among civil OH
GERS were as rare es misconduct or cowardice
on the field of battle.
The growth of the country has continually
and Aecessarily enlarged the civil service,
until now Ii includes vast body of OfiicerA
Rules and methods of appointment which
prevailed when the number was smaller
have been found insufficient and impractica-
BILE, and earnest efforts have been made to
separate the great mass of ministerial officers
from partisan influence and personal control
Impartiality 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.
ating the legislative branch of the govern
ment from all control of appointments, and
the executive department will be relieved by
subjecting appointments to fixed rules, and
thus removing them from the caprice OF
favoritism But there should be rigid OBJ
Of equal competency the preference to th
soldiers who risked their lives in defense q
the Union.
/. Ientered congress in 1868, and in some.
what prolonged service never found 1t ex-
movsi Of civil ofscer e1oept in t"u u in in
stances, and then for nOn-political reasons
which were instantly conclnsive with the
appointing power. The officers In the dis
trict, appointed by Mr. Lincoln in 1851 upon
the recommendation of my predecessor,
served, as . rule, until death or resignation
adopted at the beginning Of my service the
test Of competitive examination for appoint
ments to West Point and maintained it SO
long as had the right by law to nominate a
cadet In the case Of many officers found
e1aV 0u0 pIco6uU INV WHICH UTUlII6t1lY umlCS
the term Of the commission offered q con-
slant temptation to changes for mere po
htical reasons have publicly expressed
the belief that the essential modification OF
that law would be In many respects advan.
tageoua
confirmed the conclusions 1of my Legislative
experience, and impressed me with the con.
Nction that the rule Of impartial appoint
n1ent might with advantage be carried be-
yond any existing provision Of the civil ser.
vice law. should be applied to appoint.
ments In the consular service. COnsula
should be commercial Notwithstanding
the globe with watchfulness for their conn-
ry'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 we'll in
structed 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 ngidly to secretaries of legation
In our diplomatic service. The people have
the right to the most efficient agents in the
discharge Of public business and the appoint
Ing power should regard this as the prior and
Interior consideration.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
Religious liberty is the right of eyery citi-
zen OF the republic Congress is forbidden
by the constitution to make any law sre-
ORCOVluk VAAo Cbtk1UllMuuOUV OI religion. OF
prohibiting the free exercise thereof For .
century. under this guarantee, Protestant
and Catholic, Jew and GENTLE, have wor-
shipped God according TO the dictates of
conscience. But religious liberty must not
be perverted to the justification of offenses
intrenched in one of the territories of the
Union, and spreading rapidly in four other
territories. claims the right to destroy the
great safeguard and imminent of social
order, and to practice as . religious privil-
ege that which is punished with severe pen
ness and unity Of the family must be pre-
served as the foundation Of all civil govern
ment, as the source of orderly admlnistra-
ton. as the surestguarantee of moral purity.
The claim Of the Mormons that they are
sbond 70 a%h9r.ed to gscSs s PSn%y
Of certain heathen tribes. II they should
come among US, to continue the rite Of
human sacrifice The law does not interfere
with what q man believes; It takes cogni-
sance only of what he doea As citizens, the
IS others, and to these they must be CON
lined POlygamy can never receive national
sanction or federation by admitting the com.
munity that npholds II as state in the
Union. Like others, the NormQns, must learn
that the liberty Of the individual ceases
OUR CURRENCY.
The people of the United States, though
0ften urged and tempted, have never sefii
ously contemplated the recognition of any
other money than gold and alver-and curl
tency directly convertible into them. They
any necessity less pressing than that Of des-l
perate war. The one special requisite for the
completion Of our monetary System is the
fixing Of the relative values Of silver and
e5 5srgs Rss q sx xsEI g. the money!
Among our national interests one Ian
yuishes-the foreign carrying trade. It was
very seriously crippled In our civil war, and
another blow was given to 1t in the general
M6stttution 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 ipducement To-
test0re our navigation. Yet the government
has hitherto refused it's help A small share;
of the encouragement given by the govern.
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 4 law jfst enscfed re-
moves some OF the burdens upon our nsvi-
Fatton, and inspires hope that this great In
Attention. All efforts In this direction should
receive encouragement
sACRkDNE8S OF THE BAIlOT
This survey OF our condition as q nation
reminds US that material prosperity Is but .
nockery i 1t 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 pop
.lar election, honestly conducted, embodies
he very majesty Of true government Ten
millions Of voters deatre to take part In the
pending contest The safely Of the repub-
10 rests upon the Integrity Of the ballot.
apon the security Of suffrage to the citizen.
70 deposit . fraudulent vote q no worse q
crime against constitutional liberty than to
Dbstruct the deposit Of an honest vote. He
who corups suffrage strikes at the very
root Of free government He ID the arch
enemy Of the republic He forgets that In
kampling uponf hsrightso % others hs fatally
tmperil. bis own righA IT y Q good land
which the Lord our God doth stve ", but
We can maintain onr heritage only BY guard
ing with vigilance tho source Of popular
power lam with great respect, your obedi-
M servant. JAMls g. BI.Ank