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

and even oppressive, when applied
to fixed populous communities
Several territories are well able TO
bear the burdens and discharge the
duties of free cOmmOnwealths in
the American Union. TO exclude
them Is to deny the Just rights of
their people, and may well excite
their indignant protest. No ques-
ton Of the political preference of
the people of "A territory should
close against them the hospitable
door which has opened to two.
thirds of the existing states. But
admission should be resolutely re.
fused to any territory, a majority
of whose people cherish institu.
tons that are repugnant to our
civilization or inconsistent with a
Republican form of government.
IN OPPOSITION TO TRUSTS.
The declaration of the cOnven.
ton against call combinations of
capital, organized in trusts or 9th.
wise, TO control arbitrarily the con.
dltlOn OF trade among our citizens,'
is in harmony with the views en-.
tertained and publicly expressed
by me long before the assembling
OF the convention. Ordinarily, cap
ltal shares the losses of Idleness
with labor, but under the opera
ton Of the trust, in some of its
forms, the wage-wOrker alone suf.
fers loss, while idle capital receives
its dividends from trust fund.-
Producers who refuse TO join the
combination are destroyed, and
competition az an element of prices
is eliminated. 1t cannot be doubt
ed that the legislative authority
should and will find a method of
dealing fairly and effectively with
these and other abuses connected
with this subject.
It can hardly be necessary for
me to say that I am heartily IN
sympathy with the declaration of
Of the convention upon the subject
OF pensions to our soldiers and sail
ors. What they gave and what
they suffered, | had some opportu.
nifty to observe, aud, in u ANAL
measure, to experience. They
gave ungrudgingIy; it was not a
trade, bat an Offering. The meas
ure was heaped up, running over.
What then achieved, only a dis
tant generation can adequately tell.
Without attempting to discuss par
ticular propositions, | may add
that measures in behalf of the sur.
viving veterans of the war and Of
the families Of their dead comrades
shall be conceived and executed in
a spirit of justice and of the most
grateful liberallty, and that in the
competition for civil appointment,
honorable military service should
have appropriate recognition.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The law regulating appointments
to the classified civil service receiv.
ed my support in the Senate, in
the belief that it opened the way
to much.needed reform. | 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: All appointments under
it should be absolutely free from
partisan considerations and inau-
ence. Some extensions of the clas
slied list are practicable and de-
sirable, and further legislation ex-
tending the reform to other branches
Of the service, to which it is appli-
cable, would receive my approval. !
In appointments to every grade !
and department, fitness, and not |
party service, should be the essen
tial and discriminating test, aud |
fidelity aud efficiency the only sure
tenure of office. Only the interest
Of the public service should sug-
gest removals from office. | know
the practical difficulties attending
the attempt to apply the spirit of
civil service rules TO all appoint
ments and removals. 1t will, how
ever, be my sincere purpose, if
elected, to advance the reform.
notice with pleasure that the
convention did not omit to express
Its sOlicitude for the promotion of
virtue and temperance among our
people. The Republican party has
always been friendly to everything
that tended to make the home life
Of our people free, pure and pros.
porous, and will, IN the future, be
true to its history IN this respect.
Our relations with foreign powers
shOnld be characterized by friendi-
ness and respect. The right of our
people ami of our ships to hospita-
bile treatment should be insisted
upon with dignity and lrmness.-
Our nation is too great, both in
material strength and in moral pow
eT, to indulge il buster, or to be
suspected OF timorousness. Vacil-
lation and inconsistency are as in
compatible with successful diplO.
macy as they are with the national
dignity. We should especially cul-
tlvate aud extend our diplomatic
and commercial relations with the
Central and South American states.
Our fisheries should be fOstered
and protected. The hardships and
risk that are the necessary Incl.
dents of the business should not be
increased by an inhOspitable exclu.
sion from tue near-lying ports.-
The resources of a firm, dignified !
and consistent diplomacy are I'm.
equal to the prompt and
peaceful solution of the difficulty :
that now exist. Our neighbOrs
will surely not expect in our ports
a commercial hospitality they deny
10 us in theirs. J
| cannot extend this letter by
special reference to other subjects
upon which tho convention gave an
expression. {
In respect to them, as well as to
hose | have noticed, am in entire a