Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-07-07
We demand the reduction of letter

III " ItHAblt lihC oulS, WuSiC thG
citizen is the sovereign and the Off
cial the servant, where no power is
exercised except by the will of the
people, it is important that the SOW
ereign-ths people--should possess
intelligence. The free school is the
promoter of that intelligence which
is to preserve us SIS free nation !;
therefore, the state or nation, or both
combined, should support free insti-
tntions of learning, sufficient to af-
ford to every child growing up in the
land the opportunity of good COM
mon school education.
WHAT TO 30 wtTH THE SURPLUS.
We carr commend that
prompt act s iv Congress
in the enteNs# q taH le slation
as will bess aion
of our AmerisaR merchant naarine,
and we profess sep,n-t t passage
by Congress eee ar bill. as
calculated weei ip5ai& ,aor
by lessening thc wages u those en-
gagged in preparing material as we'll
as those directly employed in our
ship-yards, We demand appropri-
atoms for the early rebuilding of
our navy; for the construction of
coast Notifications and modern ordi
nance and other improved modern
means OF defense for the projection
of our defenseless harbors and cities;
for the payment of just pensions to
our soldiers; for necessary works Of
national Importance in the inn
provement of harbors and the
channels of internal, coastwise,
and foreign commerce; for the
encouragement of the shipping in
terests OF the Atlantic, Gulf, and
Pacific states, as well for the pay
ment of the maturing public debt.
This policy will give employment to
our labor, activity to our various in
dustrles, increase the security Of our
country, promote trade, open new
and direct markets for our produce,
and cheaper the cost of Transports
ton. We affirm this to be far better
for our country than the Democratic
policy of loaning the government
money without interest to pet
banks"
The conduct of foreign affairs by
the present administration has been
distinguished by its ineficency and
its cowardice. Having Withdrawn
from the Senate all pending treaties
effected by Republican administra
ton for the removal of foreign bur
dens and restrictions on ourcommerce
and for it's extension into better
markets, it has neither effected nor
proposed any others in their stead.
Processing adherence to the Monroe
doctrine, it has seen, with idle COM
placency, the extension Of foreign
influence in Central America, and of
foreign trade everywhere among our
neighbors. 1t has refused to char
ter, sanction or encourage any
American organization for construct
ing the Nicaragua canal, 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 Ameri-
ca, and with the islands and further
coasts of the Pacific Ocean.
PHE FISHERIES QUESTION.
We arraign the present Democrat
ic administration for its weak and
unpatriotic treatment of the fishery
question, and its pusillanimous
surrender of the essential privileges
to which our fishing vessels are en-
titled in Canadian ports under the
treaty Of 1910, the reciprocal mari
time legislation 81 1880, and the
comfy of nations, and which Cana
dian fishing vessels receive in the
ports of the United States. We
condemn the policy of the present
administration and the Democratic
majority in Congress towards our
fisheries and unfriendlv and con-
spiciously unpatriotIc, and as tend
ing to destroy valuable national
industry and an indispensable re-
source 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 safe
guard of him who wears it, and pro
tect him, whether high or low, rich
or poor, in all bis civil rights, it
should and must afford him protec
tion at home, and follow and
protect him abroad, in whatever land