Daily Republican., 1888-09-12

of whose people cherish institutions that
are repugnant to our civilization or in
consistent with Republican form, of
government.
The declaration of the convention
sgainst "All combinations or capital
organized In trusts or otherwise TO con-
troll arbitrarily the condition of trade
among our Citizens Is in harmony with
the views entertained and publicly ex-
pressed by me long before the assembling
of the Convention. Ordinarily capital
shares the losses of idleness with labor,
but under the operation OF the trust, Ia
some of its forms, the wage worker alone
suffers loss, while idle capital receives its
dividends from q trust fund. Producers
who refuse to Join the combination are
destroyed, and the competition as an ele-
ment Of prices is eliminated.
Il cannot be dou bted that the legisls
tive authority should and will find
method of dealing fairly and effectively
with these aud other abuses connected
with this subject.
PENSIONS AND CIVIL SERVICE
1t can hardly be necessary for me to
say that am heartily In syDpathy 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 q small measure TO expert
ence They gave ungrudgIngly; 1t was
not trade, but an offering. The mea
sure was heaped up, running over. What
they achieved only a distant generation
Can adequately tell. Without attempt
ing to discuss any particular propositions,
l may add that measures In behalf of the
surviving veterans of the war and of the
families Of their dead comrades should
be conceived and executed ia q spirit Of
justice and OF the most grateful liberal
ity, and that In the competition for civil
appointment, honorable military service
should have appropriate recognition.
The law regulating appointments to
the classified civf service received my
support In the Senate, in the belief that
1t opened the way TO much-needed re-
form. l still think so, and therefore
cordially approve the clear and forcible
ex preston of the Convention upon this
subject. The law should hAVe the aid Of
friendly Interpretation and be faithfully
and vigorously enforced, Ali appoint
ments under It should be absolutely free
from partisan considerations and influ
ence. Some extensions of the classified
list are practicable and desirable, aud
further legislation extending the reform
TO other branches of the service to which
1t is applicable would receive my ap-
proval.
In ap. ointments to every grade and de-
partment, fitness and not party service,
should be the essential and discriminating
test, and fidelity and efficiency the o1ly
sure tenure Of Office On'y the interest
of the public service should gu gest re
movals from office. know the practical
difficulties attending the attempt to apply
the spirit Of the civil service rules TO all
appointments and removals 1t will,
however, be my sincere purpose, If elect
ed, to advance the reform.
UPHOLD NATIONAL DIGNITY.
notice with pleasure that the ConVsn.
tion did not omit TO express Its solicitude
for the promotion of virtue and temper
ance among orr people. The Republican
party has always been friendly TO every
thing that tended TO make the home life
of our people free, pure aud prosperous
and will in the future be true 10 It's his
tory Ia this respect.
Our relations with foreign Powers
should be characterized by iriendliness
and respect. The right OF Our people and
OF our ships to hospitable treatment
should be insist3d upon with dignity and
hrmness. Our nation is too great, both
in material strength and In moral power,
to indulge in bluster and TO be suspected
of timOrousness.
4 Yacillation and inconsistency are at
incompatible with successful diplomacy
as they are with national dignity. We
should especially cultivate aud extend
our diplomatic and commercial relations
81 mi iRn a n
States.
Our fisheries should be fostered and
protected. The ha,dships and risks tina
, are the necessary incidents of the busi
ness should not be increased by an inhos
pitable exclusion from the near-lyint
, ports. The resources of firm, dignihet
} and consistent diplomacy are undoubted,
lily equal to the prompt and peaceful so
+ lutiou of the difficulties that now exist
I Our neighbors will surely not expect IL
) our ports commercial hospitality the.
deny to US in the irs.
cannot extend this letter by a speeia
! reference to other subjects upon Whicl
7 the Convention gave an expression.
In respect to them as we'll as those
7 have noticed, am In entire agreemen
4 with the declarations of the Convention
s Ths resolutions relating to the coinage
1 to the rebuilding of the navy, to eoas
8 defences and to public land, expression
r clusions to all OF which l gave my SUP
G port in the Senate.
t Inviting a calm and thoughtful con
5 sIderation of these public questions, W
l submit them to the people, Their intel
e gent patriotism and the good ProVidenc
r that made and has kept us nation Wi
/ lead them to wise and safe conclusions
r Very respectfully your obedient ser
want, BENJAMIN HARRISON.