The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-10

The Constitution which prasciibes bis
oath, my countrymen, is ynur..a Tie
government you have chosen him TO
administer for time, is yours; the gu
. frag which executes the will OF tree
men is yours The lave and en- ire scheme
OF our civil rule from the town meeting
, to the state capitals and the nationa,
; capital /. yours Your every voter. as.
surediy as your chiet magistrate, under
, the same high sanction, though in dif.
ferent sphere, exercises q Iublic tras'
N " is this all. Every citizen owes to
J the country viglant waicn and close
, scrutiny OF iis public servants, and 8
fair and reasonable estimate OF theil
fiielity and use illness. This is the
peoples will impressed upon the whole
{ framework of our civilpnlity. municipal
state and federal, and this is the prize o'
our liberty and the inspiration OF ou,
faith 10 republic. * e..
) Il il the duty of those serving Jhf
people in public place 10 closely linn,
public expenditures to the aciusi needs
Of the government, economically adj
ministered, because this hounds the
right Of government to ex'ra,t uibule
from the earnings Of labor or property
OF ci izens, and because public tx rava.
gance begets extravaganza among The
people. We should never he ashamed
Of the simplicity and prud n:ial econo-
mics which are hest suited TO the opera
tons of Republican form of government
aud most compatible with the mission
OF the American people. Those who
are selected for a limited time to manage
plblio affairs are still Of tae people, and
m any do much by their example TO en-
courage, consistently with the dignity OF
their official functions. that plain way OF
lite which among their fellow teens
aids Integrity and promotes thiift and
prosperity. The genius of our insli u.
lions, the needs Of our people in their
home life, and the attention which is de
mandei for the settlement and Develop
ment Of the resources OF our vast ter
ritory, dictate the scrupalous av, idance
OF any departure from that foreign po icy,
commended by :he history, The tradltioh
and the prosperity OF ou- republic. II
il the policy of Independence. favored
bv our position and defended, by our
known love OF justice, and by our pow
er. 1t is the policy OF peace suitable TO
our interests 1t is the policy OF neu-
trality, rejecting any share in foreign
hroils and ambitions upon the olher
continents, and repelling their intrusion
here. Ii i, the policy Of Monroe and
Washington and Jefferson-peace, CON-
merce and honest friendship With all ma
tions. enlaogling alliances With nore.
a due regard Tor the interests and
prosperity of all people demand that
our finances shall be eltabIishei upon
such sound aud sensible basis as shall
secure the safety and confidence OF bust.
ness interests aud make the wage Of la
bor sure and steady, and that our system
OF revenue shall be so adjusted as 10
relieve The people from unnecessary taxa
iion, having due regard to The inter
ests of capital invested and ~orKingmen
employed in American industries, and
preventing the accumulation of a surplus
in the treasury to tempt extravaganza
and waste
Care Tor the property ofthe nation
and for the needs OF future settlers re.
quires that the public domain should be
protected from purloining schemes and
unlawful occupation. The conscience
of the people demands that the Indians
without our boundaries shall be fairly
and honestly treated as wards OF the
government, and their education and
civilization promoted with vie v to their
ultimate citizenship, and that poIigamy
in the territories, destructive OF the fam
lily relation AMI offensive to the moral
sense of the civilized world, shall be re-.
pressed.
| The laws should be rigidly enforced
which prohibit the immigration OF SER
vile class to compete with American la
hor. with no intention OF acquiring citi-
zanship. and bringing with them the re
laining habits and customs repugnant 10
our civilization
The people demand reform in the ad-
ministration Of the government and the
application of business principles to pub
lie affairs. As means 10, this end civil
service reform should be in good faith
enforced. Our ciiz ns have the right
to protection from the iEcompetencY OF
Iublic employees who hold their places
solely as the reward OF partisan service.
and from the corruption and influence
of those who promise and the vicious
methods Of those who expect snch re-
wards and those who worthily seek pun
lie employment t. have the right to insist
that merit and competency shall be rec
aesaizsd, instead o. 0arty suhserviency
or the surrender Of honest political belief
In the administration OF government
pledged to equal and exact justice to all
men, there should be no pretext for anx
iety touching the protection of the freed
men in their rights or their security in
the enjoy ment of Their privileges under
the Constitution and its amendmenls.-
/ All discussion as to their fitness for the
place accorded TO them as American Cit
izens is idle and improbable, except as
i. suggests the necessity for their i'm
provement. The fact that they are ciii.
zens entities them to all the rights due
to the relation and charges them with al
its duties. obligations and responsibili-
ties. These topics aud the constsnt and
ever varying wants OF an active and en-
terprising population may we'll receive
the attention, and the patriotic endeavo'
of all who make and execute the fedora
Law. Our dnties are practical, and call
for the Industrious application and in
, teligent perception OF the claims OF pub
lie office, and above all q firm determln
, alton by united action 10 secure to al
:, lhe people of the land the full benefits
, OF the best form OF government eve
!, tvouchs to men and lei US not trus
to human effort alone, but humhly az
knowledge the power and goodness o
Almighty God. who presides over th'
destiny of nsions, and who has at al
times been revealed in our country
history. Let Us invoke His aid and Hi
blessings nDon our lahnrs.
:.
r. ILL., all -