Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-09-28

III Ompt action De taken ny tongiNna w
the enactment of such legislation as will
best secure the rehabilitation ofou Amer
lean merchant marine and we protest
against the passage 10y Congress Of the free
ship bill as calculated To work Injustice
to labor by lesseniug the wages of those
engaged in preparing the materials as well
as those directly employed in our ship
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-wise and foreign
commerce for the encouragement of the
shipping interests Of the Atlantic, Gulf
and Pacific states as we'll as for the pay
ment of the maturing public debt. This
policy will give employment to our labor,
! activity 70 our various industries in
crease the security of our country, pro-
mote trade. open new and direct markets
.or our produce and cheaper the cost Of
transportation. We affirm this TO be far
| better for our country than the democratic
policy of lOaning government money
/ without interest 10 "pet banks" The
| conduct of foreign affairs by the present
administration has been distinguished by
| its ineificiency and its cOwardce. 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| withdrawn from the Senate all pending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
| 1t has neither effected nor proposed any
others in their stead, protesting adherence
| to the Monroe doctrine, it has seen with
! idle cOmplaccncy the extension of foreign
/ influence in Central America and Of foreign
/ trade everywhere among our neIghbors.-
/ IL has refused to charter, sanction or en-
courage any American organization for
constructing the Nicaragua canal, "a work
of vital importance TO the maintenance
Of the Monroe doctrine and ofouI 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
ministratiOu for its weak and unpatriotic
treatment of the fisheries question aud its
pusillanimous surrender Of the essential
privileges 10 which our fishing vessels are
entitled TO in Canadian ports under the
treaty Of ISIS, reciprocal maritime legis-
ation Of 1876, and the comfy Of nations,
and which the Canadian fishing vessels
receive in ports of the United States.
We condemn the policy Of the present
administration and the Democratic ma
iOrity in Congress towards our fisheries rs
unfriendly and conspiciously uupatriotic
and as tending to destroy n valuable
national industry, and indispensable re-
source Of defence against a foreign enemy.
The name Of America applies alike TO all
citizens of the republic and imposes upon
all alike the same obligation Of obedience
to thes law at tho same time that the citi-
zenship is and must be the panoply and
safeguard Of him who wears 1t and pro-
tect him whether high or low, rich OF poor
in all his civil rights 1t should and must
afford him protection at home and protect
him abroad in whatever land be may be
ON a lawful errand. The men who
abandoned the Republican party In 1854,
and continue 10 adhere to the 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 in the civil service We Will not fail
/ TO keer our pledges Decade tboy have
/ broken theirs or because then candidate
/ has broken bis. We Therefore repeat our
/ declaration of lS-4, to wit: Reform Of
/ civil service auspiciously begun under the
/ Repnhican administration should he cOul-
plcted by further extension of the reform
system already established 10y law 10 all
grades Of service to which il Is applicable.
The spiri; and purpose Of reform should
be observed in all executive appointments,
and all laws at variance with the object
of existing reform legislation shoHld be
renealed to the end that dangers to fee
institutions which lurk in power Of official
patronage may be wisely and effectively
avoided,
The gratitude Of the nation TO the de-
Tenders Of tie union cannot he measured
by laws. The legislation Of Congress
should conform to the pledge made by the
loval people and be 40 enlarged and ex
tended as to provide against the posi-
biity that any men who honestly wore
the federal uniform shall become an in
mate of ala aims house or dependent upon
private charity in the presence OF an over
flowing treasury, IL would he pune B
scandal TO do less for those whose yaloroas
service preserved the government. We
denouncs the hostile spirit shown by
President Cleveland in his numerous
vetOes Of measures for pension relief and /
action of the democratic representatives
i'm refusing even q consideration of general
pension legislation.
In support Of the principles herewith !
enumerated we invite the cooperation Of
patriotic men of all parties and especially
Of an workingmen whose prosperity il
seriously threatened by the fee trade
position Of the present administration.
The first concern Of all good govern
ment IS the virtue and s0bfiety of the /
people and the purity Of their homes
The Republican party cordially sympa
,hiyes with all well directed efforts for the |
promotion Of temperance and morality.