The Republican journal., 1888-09-20
stop further Chinese immigration would also
meet my approval. The expression Of the con
vention upon this subject is in entire harmony
with my views.

stop further Chinese immigration would also
meet my approval The expression Of the
vention upon this subject is in entire harmony
with my views.
ELECTION FRAUDS DENOUNCED.
Our civil compact is a government by major
tiles, and the law loses its sanction and 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. or community, or par
ty that practices or connivcs at election frauds
has suffered irreparable injury and will sooner
| or later realize that to exchange the American
system of majority rule for minority control is
not only unlawful and unpatriotc, but very
| unsafe for those who promote it. The l>fran-
| chlsement of single legal eector by fraud or
intimidation is crime too grave to be regarded
| lightly The right Of every qualified elector to
cast one free ballot and to have it honestly
| counted must not be questioned. Every con
>titutional power should be used 10 make this
right secure and punish frauds upon the ballot.
| Our coored people do not ask special legsla-
| tion in their interest. but only to be made Sc
| cure in the common rights Of American citizen
| ship. They will, however, naturally m>trust
the sincerity of those party leaders who appeal
| to their race for support only in those localities
where suffrage is free and election results
doubtful and compass their disfranchsement
where their votes would be controlling ana
| their choice cannot be coerced.
| THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The nation, not less than the States. Is depel.-
dent for prosperity and security upon the intel
| ligence and morality of the people. This col.-
mon interest very early suggested national all
| in the establishment and endowment of schools
and colleges in the new States There i, be-
lieve. present eNigency that calls for still
| more liberal and direct appropriations IN aid Of
common school education in tho States.
! THE ADMISSION OF TERRITORIES URGED.
! The Territorial form Of Government is tcm-
| porary eXpedient, not a permanent civil cund-
| ton. 1t is adapted to the eNgcncv that sug-
| gestcd it, but becomes inadequate and even op-
| pre>sive when applied to fixed and populous
| communities. Several Territories are well able
to bear the burdens and discharge the duties Of
| free COmlnonwealthS in the American tniun.
| To exclude them il to deny the lust rights of
| their people and may well excite their ndig-
nant protest. No question of the political
| preference of the people of a Territory should
| close against them the Eospitahe door which
has opened to two-thir,> Of the existing States
But admission should be resolutely refused to
any Territorya majority Of whose people cher
i>h institutions that are repugnant to our civil
zaton or inconsistent with a republican form
of Government.
OPPOSED 10 TRUSTS.
The declaration Of the convention against call
| combinations of capital. organized in trusts ar
otherWis to control arbitrarily the condition
VI tliuc dtHon9 our tlllIc.iS. i Ill llaIHiUHN
with the views entertained and publicly eX-
pressed by me long before the assembling of
the convention. Ordinarily capital shares the
losses of dencss with labor; but under the
operation of the trust. il some OF it, forms.
the Waye-worher alone suffers loss While idle
capital receives its dividends from trust fund.
Producers who refuse to join the combination
| are destroyed. and competition as an element
Of prices is eliminated. 1t cannot he doubted
| that the legislative authority should and will
Il ~,
with these and other abuses connected with
this subject
THE PENSION QUESTION.
1t can hardly he necessary for me to Say that
| l am heartily in sympathy with the declaration
of the convention upon the subject of peI>inf>
to our soldiers and sailors. What they gave
and what they suffered | had some opporiunity
| TO observe and in a small measure to expert
cnce. They gave un-ruagingly: it was not A
| trade. but an Offering The measure was
heaped up, running over. What they achieved
only distant generation can adequately tel.
" lthout attempting TO discuss particular prop
o>tions may add that measures in behalf Of
the surviving veterans of the war and OF the
families Of their dead comrades should be con
ccNed and executed in 4 spirit Of Justice and
of the most grateful liberality, and that in the
competition for civil appointment honorable
military service should have appropriate recug
milton. The law regulating appointments to
the classified civil service received my support
in the Senate. in the belief that il opened the
way TO a much needed reform. | Still think
so. and therefore cordially approve the clear
and forcible expression Of the convention up
on this subject. The law should have the ail
Of friendly Interpretation and be faithfully
and vigorously enforced. All appointments
under it should be absolutely free from parti-
| san considerations and influence. Some eNtcn
| sions of the classified list are practicable and
desirable. and further legislation, cNtendin.
the reform to other branches Of the service to
which it is applicable would receive my III
rroval. In appointments 10 every Grade and
department., fitness and not party service
should he the essential and discriminating test.
and fidelity and efficiency thc only Sure tenure
Of office, Only the Interests Of the public sen
vice should suggest removals from office. |
know the practical difficulties attendin. the al
tempt to apply the spirit ~ the ciNil service
rules to all appointments and removals. IL
Will. however. be my sincere purpose. if eject
ed. to advance the reform.
THE PROMOTION OF VIRTUE A>p GINrIE-
ANCE.
! notice with pleasure that lhr convention
did not omit to express il >olicitudc lur t.r
promotion of virtue and temperance among
our people. The Republican party h> always
been friendly to everything thai tended ~
make the home liir Of our people free. pure
and prosperous, and will in the future hc true
to it, history in this respect.
orE FOREIGN roIICN.
our relations with foreign power, Should l,c
characterized by frirndlinc>S and respect. Tile
right Of our people and Of oar ships 10 ho-l,it-
able treatment should be- insisted upon with
dignity and iirmnc>>. our nation j Too great.
both in material strength and in moral power
TO indulge i'll blusttr or 10 bc suspected of TIM
| orou>ne>>. Nacillation and Inconsistency are
Incompatible with successful diplomacy A. they
are with the national dignity We should -
pccially cultivate anl extend uur diplomatic
"a re- al 10 1tl
south American states.
TIE FISHERIES.
Onr fisheries should be fo>tcrrI and protect
cd. The hard>hipS anI risks that an. The nee
| c>sary incidents of the business should net NE
| increased by AN inho>ptahlc exclusion from
| the near lyn. ports. The resources of 4 firm
dgnied and consistent Diplomacy are I'M
doubtedy equal 10 the prompt ami peaceful
solution Of the difficulties that npw exist. cur
neiyhborS will surely not expect in oar port
a commercial hospitality they deny 10 Us in
theirs.
OTHER TOPICS.
cannot extend this letter TN special refer
| ence to other subjects upon which the conNen-
tion gave an expression. In respect To tilcn
rs well aS 20 those have nciitcd, | am in en-
tire agreement with the declarations If the
| convention. The resolutions relating 70 the
coinage to the rebuilding of the navy. to coast
dcfences and to public lands. express conciu-
sions to all of which gave my support in the
Senate.
Inviting calm and thoughtful consideration
| of these public questions, we submit them to
the people. Their intelligent patriotism and
the good Providence that made and has kept
us a nation will lead them to wise and safe
conclusions.
! Very respectfully, your obetiient servant,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
| BY the recent hurricane in Cuba forty-three