Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-09-14

prompt action be taken by Congress on
the enactment Of such legislation as viii
best secure the rehabilitation Of our Amer
lean merchant marine and we protest
against the passage by Congress Of the free
ship bill ~ calculated 20 woIk injustice
TO labor by lessenng the wages of those
engaged in preparing the materials as we'll
As those directly employed in our ship
Yards
We demand appropriations for an ea.ly
rebuilding Of our navy for the coustruc-
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 onr 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, Gull
and Pacific states as well a. 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 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 ineiiiciency and its cowardice. Having
Withdrawn from the Senate all pending
treaties effected by the Republican admin
istrat0n for ther 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
10 the Monroe doctrine, it has seen with
idle complacency the extension of foreign
influence in Central America and OF foreign
trade everywhere among our neighbOrs.-
1t has efused 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 OF our 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 unpatriotic
treatment Of the fisheries question aud its
pusillanimOus surrender OF the essential
privileges to which our fishing vessels are
entitled to in Canadian ports under the
treaty Of 1873 reciprocal maritime legis-
latlon OF 1886, 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 as
unfrendly and conspiciously unpatriotic
and as tending to destroy a valuable
national industry, and indispensable re-
source Of defence against foreign enemy.
The name of America applies alike so all
citizens Of the republic and imposes upon
all alike the same obligation Of obedience
TO thes law az the 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 or poor
in all his cIyil rights. IL should and must
afford him protection at home and protect
him abroad in whatever land he may be
on q lawful errand. The men who
abandoned the Republican party in 1884,
and continue to 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 keep our pledges because they have
broker theirs or because their candidate
has broken his. We therefore repeat our
declaration of l--l, 20 wit: Reform Of
civil service auspciously begun under the
Republican administration should be COM
pleted by further extension Of the reform
system already established by law TO all
grades OF service to which it is applicable.
The spirit and purpose Of reform should
be observed in all executive appointments,
and all laws al variance with the object
Of existing reform legislation shoHld be
repealed to the end that dangers TO free
institutions which Turk in power Of official
patronage may be wisely and effectively
avoided.
The gratitude Of the nation 10 the de.
Tenders OF the union cannot be measured
by laws. The legislation Of Congress
should conform TO the pledge made by the
loyal people and be 80 enlarged aud eX-
tended as 10 provide against the pOssi-
bility that any men who honestly wore
the federal uniform shall become an in
mate of an aims house or dependent upon
private charity in the presence Of an over
lowing treasury. 1t 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
vetocs of measures for pension relief and
acton of the democratic representatives
in refusing even a consideration of general
pension legislation.
In support Of the principles herewith
we invite the cooperation of
patriotic men of all parties and especially
Of all workingmen whose prosperity Is
seriously threatened by the free trade
position OF the present administration.
The first concern Of all good govern
ment is the virtue and sObriety Of the
people and the purity of their homes
The Republican party cordially sympa-
lhizes with all well directed efforts for the
promotion Of temperance and morality.