The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-08-19

should be acquired, directly or through
Fhe Nations strength is in the people. The
Nations glory is in the equality OF her jus-
otism of all her people. Hence, as far as
the plan adopted in disposal OF
public lands should have in view the original
policy, which encouraged many purchasers OF
lands for homes and discouraged the
massing of large areas. Exclusive OF Alaska,
about three-ffths of the national domains has
OF the remaining two-ffth- a considerable
Is either mountain or desert. A rap
idly increasing population creates a growing
for home4, and the accumulation OF
wealth inspires an eager competition to OBJ
tain the public land for speculative purposes.
the future this collision of interests win
be more marked than in the past, and the ex.
of the Nations trust In behalf OF
settlers viii be more difficult. I therefore
dations contained in tn report Of the Score
tary OF the Interior with reference to the
repeal and modification Of certain of our
Tne Nation has made princely grants and
to q system of railroads projected
as great National highways to connect the
charged that these donations from the peo-
pie have been diverted to private gain, and
corrupt uses, and thus public ind.gaation
has been aroused and suspicion ~engendered.
Our great Nation does not begrudge its gem
crosby, but II abhors pecalation and fraud,
the great corporattons to which these grants
were made can only be revived by q restor-
alton of confidence, to be secured by their
constant. nnequivoeal, and clearly mani
1 4 is,thf = application g .sS 10. Of Of the The u n.nEai1,s,,ed
charge of their obligations and entire justice
to all the people In the enjoyment of their
pa6iIo as asks sa and Il viii ss content sa ssats With b no ai Ie eas
secure these things should be the COM
purpose of the officers o. the Govern
this acoompiishment PROSPERITY would be
permanently secured to the roads and Ma
tloua! pride would take the place Of National
complaint.
II appears from the report Of the Commits
sioner Of tensions that there were on the
on thi pension rolls. who were classified as
follows; Army invalids. Al456; widows,
minor children and Dope. dent relatives on
a.S4s; navy widows. minor children and de.
p~eudents, l,9a6; survivors Of the war OF 1917,
S6. and widows OF those who nave served IN
those who enlisted In the late war is reported
as receiving pensions. exclusive OF the de-
On the list Of July 1916. the number of PEN
sioners was 234 ,SS1, and the increase within
the ten years next thereafter was ll0,304.
funds which the people more cheerfui}y ap-
p~rovedthau that made in recognition of the
services Of our soldiers, living and dead. the
be vitiated by the Introduction of any fraud
ulent practices. Therefore it is fully as I'm
portant that the rolls should be cleansed OF
thereon as that meritorious claims should be
speedily Examined and adjusted. The re.
forms in the methods Of doing the business
augurated, promise better results in both
these directions.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In the Territory Of Utah the law of the
United States passed for suppression Of pc.
Executed during the past year with measure
bly, good results. A number of convictions
have been secured for Unlawful rehabilitation,
entered, and slight punishment imposed upon
promise by accused that they would not
again offend against the law nor advise,
counsel, aid or abet, in any way. its violation
The Utah Commissioners express the opin.
ion, based upon such Information as they are
able to obtain, that but few polygamous mar.
riages have taken place in the territory dur.
ing the Last year. They further report that
ton lists of voters the name of a man actually
guilty of ~polygamy. and while none Of that
class are holding office. yet at the last cleo
ton in the territory. all the officers elected,
not actually living in the practice of polyg.
amy, subscribe to the doctrine of p~olygamous
m pnso aS' si e g e opa more Tsvs eiadfnr ana a , sSe
national
Illus Is Cno SCrduR6 SpeCtaCle pr6S6uUcu VI
a community protected by a Republican
form of Government to which they owe
allegiance, sustaining by their suffrages. q
that obligation of absolute obedience to the
laws of the land which lies at the foundation
of republican institutions. The strength,
rest upon our homes established by the Law
of God, guarded by parental care regulate q
by parental authority and sanctiied by pa
T.ese are not the homes Of polygamy. The
mothers Of our land, who rule the Nation al
they mold the characters and guide the
holy ordinances, and each, secure and happy
in the exclusive love OF the father of hel
children. sheds the warm, light of true wo
manhood, unperverted and unpolluted, upor
all within her pure and wholesome family cir
Gle.
These are not the cherries, crushed, and
unwOmanly mothers of polygamy.
There should be ne relaxation in the firm
but just execution of the law now in opera
further discreet legislation as viii rid tn,
| country of this blot upon its fair fame.
Since the people unfolding polygamy In
| our territories are reinforced by Immigration
from other lands, 1 recommend that a law b,
passed to prevent the Importation OF Nor
mons into the country.
CIVIL sERvIcE
I am inclined to think that there is nc senti
ment more general in the minds of the people
of our country than a conviction of the cor
rectness of the principle upon which law en-
forcing civil service reform is based. In it,
present condition. the law regulates onl,
part of the subordinate public position!
throughout the country, 1t apple!
a test of fitness to applicants for these place'
by means Of a competitive examination anC
gives large discretion to the Commissioner
as to the character of the examination ant
many other matters connected with its ex
ecution. Thus the rules and regulation
adopted by the Commission have much to d(
with the practical usefulness of the statute
and with the results of its application.
The people may well trust the Commissioner
to execute the law with perfect fairness an6
with as little irritation as is possible. But OF
course no relaxation of the principle which
underlies it, aud no weakening of the safe
guards which surround it can be expected
Experience in its administration viii proba.
bly, suggest amendment of the method of its
execution, but l venture to hope that we
shall never again be RENTED to the system
which distributes public positions purely al
rewards for partisan service.
Doubts may well be entertained whether
our government could survive the strain of 9
continuance of the system, whIch upon
g cry change of Administration inspires ar
immense army of claimants for Office TO lay
siege to the patronage of government, en-,
crossing the time of public officers with the
opportunities, spreading abroad the conta'
gion of their disappointment and filling the
air with the tunult of their discomfort
The allurements of an Immense number OF
offices and places exhibited to the voters OF