Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-03-03

fA}SSfsFss Nh Sl1' possible without an
CHAuNCEY NJ. DEPEw. understanding of the
successive stages in the development of our sys-
tenn. The political mission OF theUnited States
has SO far been wrought out by individuals and
teri torial conditions. -Four men of unequaled
genius have dominated our century, and the
growth Of the West has revolutionized the
Republic. The principles which have hereto
fore controlled the policy of the country have
mainly owed their force and acceptance to
Hamilton Jefferson. Webster and Lincoln"
The speaker paid an eloquent tribute to
the superb intelligence of Hamilton and the
great results that emanaUed from his IDEAS
Of Jefferson, Mr. Depew said, he stood
supreme in our history as q political leader
and had left no successor. Webster's burn
ing words, Liberty and Union, now and
forever, one and inseparable," broke the
spell of supreme loyalty to the State and
created an unquenchable and resistess pat
riotism for the United States, so, when at
last the Union was assailed by arms, love of
country bursJ the bonds of materialism and
sacrificed every thing for the preservation
OF the Nations life. From the unassaila-
BILE conviction of the power of the
general Government to protect itself, to
coerce State, 20 enforce its laws every
where and to use all the resources of the
people to put down rebellion came not only
patriotism, but public conscience With
conscience was the courage, so rare in COM
merclal communities which will peril bust
ness and apparent prosperity for an idea.
This defeated the slave power and is to-day
the most potent factor in every reform.
Continuing he said:
The field for the growth and development
of this sentiment and for it's practical applica-
ton without fear OF consequences the great
West. In the genesis of nations there is no
parallel with the growth of the West
and its influence upon the world. The
processes of its settlement reduce to
comparative lnsigniticance the romances
and realities of the State builders of
the past. Movements of peoples which at
other periods have been devastating m gra-
lions, due to the delirum of speculations,
are here the wise found ng and sober develop
ment or prosperous communities. The orig
inal conditions surrounding hardy and
adventurous pioneers; the riches in poverty,
where hope inspired the efforts and the self
denial to clear, or develop, or improve or stock
the farm, which was to be ut once the family
home and estate; the church and the school
house growing simultaneously with the settle
ments; citizenship OF the great Republic, which
could only come through the admission of the
Territory as State into the grand confederacy
of commemorative, and only be lost by the dis
solution of the Union; citizenship which meant
not only political dignity and independence
but incalculable commercial and business adj
vantages and opportunties-these were the
elements which made the West, and these were
educators of the dominant power in the Nation
FOR the present and the future
After reviewing the clreer of Abraham
Lincoln as statesman, Mr.. Depew con-
tinued:
THE best of Presidents have lowered the
standard of administration when seeking u
second term. The present executive is an Off
Ger highly esteemed for singular honesty and
drecness Of purpose and remarkable for mex
perlence in the duties OF government and for
ignorance of the great issues before the
country. With perfect frankness and hon
est intention to carry out his pledges
he dehed the traditions Of his party
in his bold utterances for Civil-Service
reform. He both understood what he was
promising and believed he had the courage and
the power to make good his word. The best
sentiment OF the country is overwhelmingly
behind him on this question. And yet as the
canvass of 1885 opens the tremendous advan-
tages Of an auxiliary force of 1000 faithful
workers has relegated Roman virtue to the
rear and brought the spoils system to the front.
with the growth OF the Republic the known
and implied powers of the President become of
increasing value. AS, with larger and more
populous districts Congress becomes more dis
tant and vague, the people will need and de-
mand an executive to whom appeal can be i'm
mediate and whose responsibility is direct.
He should, however, by constitutional prohibi-
ton, be made ineligible for a. second term.
AS the pecuiaritieS of his position on retire
ment from office prevent his participation ir
the ordinary business avocations OF the citizen
he should receive an adequate pens: on for life,
and on the retired list, though still in its serv-
ice. be subject to call for any public duty where
his experience, character and ability would be
OF value. Thus his administration, free from
temptation and the baser ambitions would be
lmpelled with resolute and unt1inching en-
deavor to win the plaudits OF the present and
the admiration and gratitude of posterity'
Mr. Depew then paid some attention to
the purity of elections 1t was the duty of
the State to protect the ballot. sThe bal
lots should be printed by the State and dis
tributed at the public cost, under condi-
lions which would enable the most ignOr-
ant voter to select his ticket without help,
and deposit it with no one knowing it's
contents but himself"
Mr. Depew then spoke on the danger of
depressing independence. He said:
while no act or thought should tend to
resurrecS the baleful doctrine OF State sover-
eighty we need to be educated in the di-
rection of State rights The immensity
OF our nationality and its centralzing
tendencies create feeling of Dependent
cy upon government which enfeebles
the American character and is hostile
to American liberty. Home rule is the school
and inspiration of manliness and independ-
ence. The town meeting brings power directly
to the people where it belongs, and clearly
and sharply draws the line between pub
lie business and private business The
American travelling in Europe chafes
under the restraints of administration.
The Government carries his person
and goods transmits his message. appears as
proprietor In the mine and factory, and suf-
locates the enterprise, development and ambi-
ton. The demagogue and the agitator are al
ready appealing to the Government for strong
gOvernment-to make it so strong that it will
both imp0verish and enrich with it's bur-
dens and ITS bounties, and the citizen surren-
dering his individuality will go for every thing
to the Government. This is the underlying
principle of despotism, under whose operation
there would have been no great Republic, and
The West would have remained a wilderness
I'VE are too great and too generous and
have too many and vast opportunities to adopt
the selfish motto of America for Amer
leans, meaning to include only those
who are now citizens and their de-
Scendants. But the needs of the present
and the preparation for the future re-
qure that all citizens shall be Americans.
Healthy patriotism can be sentimental, but it
must be intelligent The marching music of
the columns of liberty must be, not the Mar
seillaise or the National anthem, but the high
and harmonious teachings of the common
school,
He declared Americanism to be the i'm
placable foe of anarchy, and said:
The teachers of disintegration, destruction
fJ