Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-12

prompt action be taken by Congress on
the enactment of suoh legislation as will
best secure the rehabilitation ofour Amer
lean merchant marine and We protest
against the passage by Congress OF the free
ship bill as calculated to work injustice
to labor by lessening the wages of those
engaged in preparing the materials as well
as those directly employed in our ships
yards.
We demand appropriations for an early
rebuilding of our navy; for the construc-
ton of coast Notifications and modern
ordinance and other improved modern
means of defence for the protection Of our
defenceless harbOrs and cities for pay
ment of just pensions TO our soldiers for
necessary work Of national importance on
the Improvement Of harbors and channels,
and Of internal, Of coast-wiso aud foreign
commerce for the encouragement Of the
shipping interests Of the Atlantic, Gulf
and Pacific states - well ~ for the pay
ment Of the maturing public debt, This
policy will give employment to our labor,
activity 10 our various industries In
crease the security of our country, pro-
mote trade, open new and direct markets
for our produce and chespen the cost of
TRANSPORTATION. We afirm this 10 be far
better for our country than the democratic
policy of loaning government money
without interest to pet banks" The
conduct of foreign affairs by the present
administration has been distinguished by
It's inefficiency and its cowardice. Having
withdrawn from the Senate all pending
treaties effected by the Republican admin
istration for Their emoval Of foreign bur-
dens and restrictions upon our commerce
and for its extension into better markets.
IL has neither effected nor proposed any
Others in their stead. protesting adherence
TO the Monroe doctrine, IL has seen with
idle complacency the extension Of foreign
influence in Central America and Of foreign
trade everywhere among our DeighbOrs.--
IL has refused 10 charter, sanction or en-
courage any American organization for
constructing the Nicaraugua cana, a work
of vital importance TO the maintenance
of the Monroe doctrine and ofouT national
influence in Central and South America,
and necessary for the development OF
trade with our Pacific territory, with
South America and with the islands and
further coasts OF the Pacific ocean.
We arraign the present Democratic adj
ministration for its weak and unpatfiotic
treatment of the fisheries question and its
pusillanimous surrender Of the essential
privileges 10 which our fishing vessels are
entitled TO in Canadian ports under the
treaty of 1918, reciprocal maritime legis-
lation of 1886, and the comfy of nations,
and which the Canadian fishing vessels
receive in ports of the United States. vi
We condemn the policy Of the present
administration and the Democratic ma
iority in Congress towards our fisheries as
unfrjendly and conspiciously unpafrlotic
aud as tending to destroy o. valuable
national industry, and indispensable re-
source Of defence against a foreign enemy.
The name of America applies alike 10 all
citizens of the republic and imposes upon
all alike the same obligation OF obedience
10 thes law at the same time that the citi-
zenship is and must be the panoply aud
safeguard of him who wears 1t and pro-
tect him whether high or low, rich OF poor
in all bis civil rights. 1t should and must
afford him protection at home and protect
him abroad in whatever land he may be
on lawful errand. The men who
abandoned the Republican party 10 1884,
and continue to adhere 10 tbs Democratic
party, have deserted not only the cause OF
honest government, of sound finance, OF
freedom, Of purity Of the ballot, but
especially have deserted the cause OF re-
form 10 the civil service. We will not fail
to keen our pledges because they have
broken theirs or because their candidate
has broken his. We therefore repeat our
declaration Of 1884. to wit; "Reform of
civil service suspiciously begun under the
Republican administration should be com
pleted by further extensieh Of the reform
system already established by law TO all
grades of service to which il 10 applicable.
The spirit aud purpose Of reform should
be observed In all executive appointments,
and all laws at variance with the object
of existing reform legislation should be
repealed to the end that dangers to free
institutions which Turk in power of official
patronage may be wisely and effectively
avoided. Z
The gratitude OF the nation TO the de-
fenders Of the union cannot be measured
by laws. The legislation Of Congress
should conform to the pledge made by the
loyal people and be 30 enlarged and ex-
tended as TO provide against the posi-
hilitv that any men who honestly were
the federal uniform shall become an In
mate Of au aims house or dependent upon
private charity in the presence OF an over
flowing treasury. II would be public
scandal to do less for those whose valOrous
service preserved the government. We
denounce the hostile spirit shown by
President Cleveland in his numerous
vetoes of measures for pension relief and
action of the democratic representab yes
in refusing even consideration OF general
pension legislation. ID. .,..,f. is -,
In support Of the principles herewith
enumerated we Invite the cooperation OF
patriotic men of all parties and espeeiall y
OF all workingmen whose prosperity "
seriously threatened by the free trade
positon of the present ADMINISTRATION.
The first concern OF all good govern
ment il the virtue and sobriety of the
people and the purity of their homes
The Republican party cordially sympa'
thizes with all well directed efforts icr tle
r tofnraran<a aud ru0FnlifV