Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-03-04

which prescribes his oath, my countrymen,
| is yours the government you have chosen
| him to administer for time is yours the
suffrage which executes the will of freemen
| is yours the laws aud the entire scheme of
our civil rule from the town meeting to the
State capitols and the national capitol, is
yours. Your every voter as surely as your
chief magistrate, under the same high sane
ton, though iu different sphere, exercises
q public trust. Nor is this all. Every cit
izen owes to the country vigilauJ watch
and close scrutiny Of its public servants,
| and fair and reasonable estimate of their
fidelity and usefulness Thus is the peoples
will Impressed upon the whole framework
of our civil polity-muncpal, Stale and
federal-aud this is the price of our Liberty
and The inspiration of our faith in the re
public.
1t is the duty of those serving The people
in public place 10 closely limit public ex-
penditures TO the actual needs of the gov
eminent economically administered he
cause this bounds the right of the govera
ment 10 exact tribute from the earnings OF
labor, or the property of the citizen, and
because public extravaganza begets extrav-
agance among the people. We should
never be ashamed of the simplicity
and prudential economies, which are
best suited to the operation of d rspnh-
lcau form Of government and most
compatible with the mission OF the America II
people. These who are selected for Il lin
tied time, to manage public affairs, are still
of the people, and may do much by Their
example to encourage, consistently with
the dignity of their official functions, that
plain way of life which among their fellow
citizens aids integrity aud promotes thrift
aud prosperity.
The genius of our institutions, the needs
of our people in their home life, aud the at
tenton which is demanded for the settle.
ment and development Of the resources oil
our vast territory, dictate the scrupulous
avoidance of any departure from that for
eign policy commended by the history. the
traditions and the prosperity of our Repub-
lie. 1t is the policy Of independence, ia
vored by our position and defended by our
known love OF Justice and by our power. 1t
is the policy OF peace suitable to our inter
ests. 1t is the policy of neutrality. rejecting
any share in foreign broils and ambitions
upon other continents, and repeiliug their
intrusion here. 1t is the policy of Monroe,
and of Washington and Jenerson-"Pcace,
commerce and honest friendship with all
nations; entangling alliances with none
A due regard for the interest and pros
perity of all the people, demand that our
finances shall be established upon such II
sound and sensible basis as shall secure the
safety and confidence of business inter
ests and make the wages of labor sure ard
eady; anu that our system Of revenue
shall be so mi listed as to relieve the people
from unnecessary taxation, having due
regard to the interests of capital invest ed
anu workingnen employed in American in
dustries, and preventing the accumulation
of surplus in the Treasury 10 tempt ex
trayagance and waste. Care for The prop
erty of The patton, and for the needs Of
future settlers, require that tue .pnb!ir
domain should be protected from purloin
ing schemes and unlawful occupation.
The conscience Of the people demands
that the Indians, within our boundaries,
shall be fairly and honestly treated as wards
of the government, and their education und
civilization promoted, with view TO their
ultimate citizenship; and that polygamy IN
the territories, destructive of the family re-
Iation and offensive to the moral sense OF
the civilized world, shall be repressea. The
saws should be rigidly enforced which pro-
hibit the immigration OF servle class tn
compete with American labor, with no in
tenlion Of acquiring citizenship and bring
ing with them and retaining habits and Gus
toms repugnant to our civilization.
The people demand reform in the admit
isiration ofthe government, and the appli-
cation of business principles to public al
fairs. As means to this end civil service
re!olm should be in good faith enforced
Our citizens have the right to protection
from the incompetency of public employees
who hold their places solely as the reward
of partisan service and from the corruptiug
influence of those who promise, and the Vi.
cious methods of those who expect, such re.
wards. And those who worthily seek pub
lie employment have the right to insist that
merit and competency shall be recognized
instead Of party subseryiency, or the snrren-
der of honest political belief
In the administration of the government
pledged to do equal and exact justice to all m-n,
| there should be no pretext for anxiety touching
the protection of the freedmen in their rights. or
| their security in the enjoyment OF their priv
leges under the Constitution and its amendments.
All discussion as to their fitness for the place &c
| corded TO them as American citizens Is idle aud
unprottabe except as it suggests the Necessity for
their Improvement The fact that they are citi-
Gems entities them to all the rights due to that
relai ion and charges them with all its duties, oh.
| legations and responsibilities.
| These topics aud the constant and ever-vary
| ing wants of an active and enterprising popula
| ton. may we'll receive the attention AMI the pa
| triotc endesvor of all who make and execute the
federal law Our duties practical. and call for
industrious application, an intelligent perception
| Of the claims of public Office, and, above MI,
| firm determinations by united action, to secure to
all the people of the land the full benefits OF the
best form OF government ever vouch safed to rnan.
| And let l, not trust to human effort alone: but
| humbly acknowledging the power and goodness
! OF Almighty God, w presides over the destiny
of nations aud who has at all times been revealed
in our country's history let US invoke His a'd
and His blessing upon our labors.
A RUNAWAY HUSBANDS RETURN.-A