Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-07-06
policy OF the Democratic administration in its
efforts to demonetize silver.
We demand the reduction of letter postage to
I I mar

pOllcy OF the Democratic administration in its
efforts to demonetize silver
We demand the reduction of letter postage to
cent per ounce.
In republic like ours where the citizen is
the sovereign and the official the servant where
no power is exercised except by the will OF the
people, it is important that the sovereign-the
people-should possess intelligence. The free
school is the promoter of that intelligence which
State or nation, or both combined should sup
port free institutions Of learning sufficient to
afford to every child growing up in the land the
opportunity OF good common school education
We earnestly recommend That prompt action
be taken by Congress in the enactment of such
legislation as will best secure the rehabilitation
against the passage by Congress of q free-ship
bill, as calculated to work injustice to labor by
lessenhg the wages Of those engaged in pre-
pairing materials, as well us those directly EN-
pioyed i'll our ship-yards We demand appro-
priations for the early rebuilding Of our navy;
for the construction of coast Notifications and
means OF defense for the protection of our de-
fenseless harbors and cities for the payment OF
Just pensions to our soldiers; for necessary
ment of harbors and the channels of internal,
ceoastwise, and foreign commerce. for
the encouragement Of the shipping in;
Pacific States, as we'll as for the payment
OF the maturing public debt. This policy will
give employment to our labor, activity to our
various industries: increase the security OF our
country, promote trade, open new and direct
markets for our products, and cheaper the cost
OF transportation. We affirm this to be far bet
ter for our country than the Democratic policy
of looming the Governments money without in
terest to pet banks"
The conduct of foreign affairs by the present
administration has been DISTINGUISHED by it's in
efficiency and its cowardice Having withdrawn
from the Senate all pending trenties effected by
Republican administration for the removal Of
foreign burdens and restrictions upon our
commerce and for it's extension into better
markets, it has neither effected nor proposed
any othsrs in their stead Protesting adher-
ence to tho Monroe doctrine, it has seen with
idle complacency the extension of foreign
influence i'll Central Americn and OF foreign trade
everywhere among our neghbors. 1t has refused
10 charter sanction, or encourage any American
organization for constructing the Nicaragua
Canal, u work OF vital importance to the main
tenance OF the Monroe doctrine and OF ma
Eonal influence i'll Central and South America
and necessary for the development Of trade with
our Pacific territory, with South America, and
with the islands and farther COASTS Of the Pacific
Ocean.
We arraign the present Democratic admins.
tration for its weak and unpatriotic treatment
of the fisheries question, and its pusillanlmous
surrender of the essential privileges to which
ports under the treaty OF 1878, the reciprocal
maritime legislation Of 1881, and the comfy
of nations, and which Canadian fishing vessels
condemn the policy Of the present administra-
ton and the Democratic majority IN Congress
toward our fisheries unfrendly and conspicu-
valuable national industry and an Indispensable
resource of defense against foreign enemy.
The name of American applies alike to all
citizens Of the republic and imposes upon all
alike the same obligation of obedience to the
laws. At the same time that citizenship is and
must be the panoply and safeguard OF him who
wears it and protect him whether high or low,
rich. or poor in his civil rights. 1t should and
must afford him protection ut home and follow
and protect him abroad in whatever land he may
DO on a lawful errand.
The men who abandoned the Republican party
in 1854 and continue to adhere to the Democratic
party have deserted not only the cause of honest
government, of sound finance, of freedom, and
purity of the ballot, but especially have deserted
the cause Of reform in the civil service. We will
not fail to keep our pledges because they have
broken theirs or because their candidate has
broken his. We therefore repeat our declaration
of 1884, to wit: "The reform of the
civil service auspiciously begun under
the Republican administration. should be
form system already established by law to al
tho grades OF the service to which it is applica
ble The spirit and purpose of the reform should
be observed in all executive appointments, and
end that the danger to free institutions which
lurk in the power Of official patronage may, h
wisely and effectively avoided"
The gratitude OF the nation to the defenders
of the Union cannot be measured by laws Tn,
legislation Of Congress should conform to thu
pledges made by loyal people, and be 80 en-
larged and extended as to provide against thl
possibility that any man who HONORABLE!
| mate OF an almshouse or dependent upon pri
vate charity In the presence of an overlowinI
Treasury it would be public scandal to do les
TOR those whose valorous service preserved tn
Government. We denounce the hostile spiri
shown by President Cleveland In his numerou
vetoes OF measures for pension relief, and tn
| action OF the Democratic House OF Representa-