Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-21

adequately tell. without attempting to dis
cuss 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 AMI executed
in a spirit of justice and of the most grateful
liberality, and that, in the competition for
civil appointment honorable military service
should have appropriate recognition.
The law regulating appointments to the
classified civil service received my support in
the senate, in the belief that it opened the
way TO a much needed reform. / still think
80, and therefore cordially approve the clear
and forcible expression of the convention
upon this subject. The law should have the
aid of a friendly Interpretation and be faith
fully and vigorously enforced. All appoint
ments under it should be absolutely free from
partisan considerations and influence. Some
extensions of the classified list are practi-
cable and desirable, and further legislation ex-
tending the reform to other branches of the
service, to which it is applicable, would re-
ceive my approval In appointments to
every grade and department, fitness, and not
party service, should be the essential and
discriminating test, and fidelity and eff
cheney the only sure tenure of office. Only
the interests of the public service should sug-
gest removals from office. know the prac-
tical difficulties attending the attempt to
apply the spirit of the civil service rules to all
appointments and removals. 1t will, how
ever, be my sincere purpose, II elected, to adj
vance the reform.
l notice with pleasure that the convention
did not omit to express with solicitude for the
promition Of virtue and temperance among
our people. The Republican party has al
ways been friendly to everything that tended
to make the home life Of our people free, pure
and prosperous, and will in the future be
true to its history in this respect.
Foreign Relations.
Our relations with foreign powers should
be characterized by friendliness and respect.
The right of our people and Of our ships to
hospitable treatment should be insisted upon
with dignity and firmness Our nation is too
great, both in material, strength and power,
to indulge in buster or to be suspected of
timorousness. V~acillation and inconsistency
are incompatible with successful diplomacy
as they are with the national dignity. We
should especially cultivate and extend our di-
plomatic and commercial relations with the
Central and South American states. Our
fisheries should be f~ostered and protected.
The hardships and risks that are the neces-
sary incidents of the business should not be
increased Dy an mnOspltable exclusion from
the near lying ports. The resources of 9
firm, digniied and consistent diplomacy are
undoubtedly equal to the prompt and peaceful.
solution of the difficulties that now exist
Our %neighbors will surely not expect in oui
ports a commercial hospitality they deny tt
us in theirs.
l cannot extend this letter by a special ref
erence to other subjects upon which the con
vention gave an expression. In respect tc
them, as well as to those | have noticed, | an
in entire agreement with the declarations Of
the convention. The resolutions relating t.
the coinage, to the rebuilding of the navy, tc
coast defenses and to public lands, expires:
conclusions to all of which l gave my support
in the senate.
Inviting a calm and thoughtful considera
ton Of these public questions, we submit
them to the people. Their intelligent patriot
ism and the good Providence that made anc
has kept us a nation will lead them to wis,
and safe conclusions.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN HARRISON.