Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-14

convention. Ordinarily capital shares
the losses of idleness with labor
bat under the operation of the trust in
some of its forms, the wage-worker
alone suffers loss, while idle capital re
ceives its dividends from a trust fund.
| Tn producers who refuse to join the com
bination are destroyed, and competition as
an element of prices is eliminated. 1t can
not be doubted that the legislative au-
thority should and will find method of
dealing fairly and effectively with these
and other abuses connected with this sub
ject.
LIBERAL PENSIONS.
1t can hardly be necessary for me to say
that | am 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 a small
measure to experience. They gave un-
grudgingly. 1t was not trade but an
Offering. It's measure was heaped up
and running over What they achieved
only distant generation can adequately
tell Without attempting to discuss par
ticular propositions, may add that meas
ures in behalf of the surviving veterans
of the war and of the families of their dead
comrades should be conceded and eXecu-
ted in spirit of justice and of the most
grateful lberality, ,.and.that in the com
petition tor civil appointment, honorable
military service should have appropriate
recognition
REFORM OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The law regulating appointments to
the classified civil service received my
support IN the Senate, il the belief tnat 1t
opsued The way TO 4 much needed reform.
| still think so, and therefore cordislly
| approve the clear and fOrciDle expressions
of the convention upon this subject. The
law should have the aid of a friendly in
Interpretation and be faithfully and Wig
orously enforced. All appointments un-
der it should be absolutely free from par
tisan consideration and influence. Some
extensions of the classified list are prac-
ticable and desirable, and further leglsla-
ton extending the reform to other
| branches of the service than to which it
is now applicable, would receive my ap-
proval. In appointments to every grade
and department fitness and not party ser
vice, should be the essential and diScriml-
mating test, and fidelity and efficiency the
only sure tenure of office. Only the in
| teres's of the public service should sug-
gest removals from offices | know the
practical difficulties at ending the at
tempt to supply the spirit of the civil ser
vice rules to all appointments and re-
movals. 1t will, however. be my sincere
purpose If elected to advance the reform.
HIGH GROUND TAKEN On THE TEMPERANCE
| QUESTION.
| | notice with pleasure that the conven'
| tion did not omit to express its solcitude
| for the promotion of virtue and temper
ance among our people. The republican
party has always been friendly to every
thing that tended to make the home lite
! of our DeoOle free, pure aud prosperous,
and Will in the future be true to its his
torS in this respect.
| A FIRM FOREIGN POLICY.
Our relations with foreign powers
| should be characterized by friendliuess
| and repect The right of our people and
OF our ships TO hospltable treatment should
| be insisted upon with dignity and firm
ness. Our nation is too great both III ma
teral strength and in moral power to in
duIge in bluster or to be suspected of
| timUrUusnesS. Nacillatiou and nConsist
| ency are as Incompatible with successful
| diplomacy rs they are with national dig
| nifty. We should especially cultivate and
extend our diplomatic and commercial re-
| latiOns with the Central and South Amerl-
can States. Our fisheries should be fOs-
tered and protected and the hard
| ships and risks that are the necessary
incidents OF the business should
not be increased by an inhospitable eX-
| clusiOn from the near lying ports. The
resources of firm, dignitied aud consist.
ent diplomacy are undoubtedly equal to
the prompt and peaceful solution of the
difficulties that now exist. Our neighbors
Will surely net expect in our ports com
mercial hospitality they deny to us in
theirs.
OTHER TOPICS
| cannot extend this letter by special
reference to the other subjects upon which
| the convention gave an expression. In
respect to them as well as to those have
| noticed am in entire agreement with the
declarations ef the convention. The reso
luilons relating to the coinage, to the re-
building OF the navy, to coast defences and
TO the public lands express conclusions
70 all of which gave my support in the
Senata
Inviting a calm and thoughtful consd
GRAFTON of these public questions, we sub
nit them to the people. Their intelligent
patriotism, and the Good Providence that
made and has Kept III a nation, will lead
them 10 wise ana safe conclusion.
Your obedent servant,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.