The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-09-19

Z
ject IS in entire harmony with my views.
PURITY or THE BALLOT.
Our civil compact is 4 Government by
majorites and the law loses its sanction
the magistrate our respect when this
compact is broken. The evil results Of
election frauds do not expend themselves
upon the voters, who are robbed of their
rightful influence in public affairs. The
individual, ar community, or party, that
practices or conniyes at election frauds,
has suffered irreparable injury and viii
sooner or later realize that 70 exchange
the American system Of majority rule for
minority control, is not only unlawful
and unpatriotic but very unsafe for those
who promote IL The disfFanehisement
Of single legal elector by fraud or in
iimidation Is a crime too enlve TO be re-
garded lightly The right ofevery quali-
fed elector to east one free ballot and to
have It honestly counted must not be
questioned. Every constitutional power
should be used to make this right secure
and punish frauds upon the ballot.
Our colored people do not ask special
legislation in their interest but only to
be mad, secure in the common rights Of
American citizenship. They viii, how
ever, naturally mistrust the sincerity of
those party leaders who appeal TO their
race for support only in those localities
where the sufFerage is free and election
results doubtful. and compass their dis
franchisement where their votes would
be controlled and their choice cannot be
coerced.
The Nation, not less than the States, is
dependent for prosperity and security
upon the intelligence and morality of the
people. This common interest very early
suggested National aid in the establish
ment and endowment of schools and col
leges in the new states. There is, be-
lieye a present exigency that calls for
still more liberal and direct aPpropria-
tions in aid Of conImon-school education
in the States
RIGHTS OF TERRITORIES PENSIONS.
The Territorial form Of fCioyernmentisa
temporary expedient, not a permanent
civil condition. It is adapted to the ex-
igency that suggested it, bat becomes in
adequate and even oppressive when ap-
piled to fxed and popalous communities
Several Territories are well able to bear
the burdens and discharge the duties of
free commonwealths in the American
Union. To exclude them Is to deny the
Just rights Of their people and may well
excite their indignant protest No cues
ton of the political preference Of the peo-
pie Of Territory should close against
the hospitable door which has opened
to two-thirds Of the existing States. But
admission should be resolutely refused to
any Territory majority Of whose people
cherish institutions that are repugnant
to our civilization or inconsistent with a
republican form Of government
The declaration Of the convention
against "all combination Of capital, or
ganizedin trusts or otherwise, TO control
arbitrarily the condition of trade among
cur citizens" is in harmony with the
views entertained and publicly express
ed by me long before tie assembling
Of the convention. Ordinarily. capital
shares the losses OF idIeness with labor.
bat under the operation Of the trust. in
some Of It's forms, the wage worker alone
suffers loss, while idle capital receives It's
dividends from a.trust fund. Producers
who refuse to join the combination are
destroyed, and competition as an element
of prices is eliminated 1t cannot be
doubted that tine legislative authority
should and viii find method Of dealing
fairly and effectively with these and 9TH
er abuses connected with this subject.
It can hardly be necessary for rue to
say that an heartily in sympathy with
the declaration of the convention upon
the subject of pensions to our soldiers
and sailors What they gave and what
they suffered had some opportunity to
observe, and, in small measure, to ex-
perience. They gave ungrudgingly it
was not trade, bot an Offering The
measure was heaped up, running over.
What they achieved, only distant gen
Grafton can adequately tell Without at
tempting to discuss particular proposi-
tions, I may add that measures in behalf
Of the surviving veterans of the war and
Of the families Of their dead comrades
shonld be conceived and executed in a
spirit Of justice and of the most grateful
liberaIity. and that, in the competition
for civil appointment, honorable militia
ry service should have appropriate rec
ognition.
CIVIL SERVICE APP0lSTME2gs.
The law regulating appointments to
the classified civil service received my
support in the Senate in the belief that
it opened the way to a much-needed re-
form. still think so, and therefore cor
daily approve the clear and forcible ex-
preston Of the convention upon this sub
ject. The law should have the aid Of
friendly Interpretation and be faithfully
and vigorously enforced, All appoint
ments under it should be absolutely free
from partisan considerations and inhu-
enee. Some extensions Of the classified
lists are practicable aad desirable, and
further legislation extending the reform
to other branches of the service, to which
il is applicable, would receive my ap-
proYal. In appointments to every grade
and department, fitness, and not party
service, should be the essential and dis
eliminating test. fidelity and e aciencv
the only sure tenure Of Office. Oaly the
interests of the public service should
suggest removals from office. know the
practical difficulties attending the at
tempt to apply the.spirit Of the civil ser
vice rules to all appointments and re-
movals. 1t viii, however, be my sincere
purpose if elected, 10 advance the reform.
| notice with pleasure that the con-
vention did not omit to express its solic-
itude for the promotion Of virtue and
temperance among our people. The Re
publican party has always been friendly
to everything that tended to make the
home life Of our people free. pure and
prosperous, and will in the future be
true 70 its history in this resrect.