Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-19
INAUGURAL.
Gov. I.arrabee's Address ON
Entering His Second Term.
The Address Largely Devoted TO a DIS.
cusslon of the Railway
Problem.


|, Problem.
Fe'iow Citizens desire to acknowledge to
the people of Iowa, who have vested me with
the Office Of Chief Magistrate of the State, my
deep appreciation of this renewed expression
OF their confidence. In assuming the second
time the grave responsibility of Executive, it Is
my prayer that the peoples support which in
the past has been so generously accorded me,
may continue to aid me In the discharge Of my
official duties.
AMERICAN LABOR.
The necessity of maintaining for our people
the elevated social position which they now
occupy makes it the imperative duty of the
Government to guarantee to them, by the con-
tinuance OF wise system OF protection, such
liberal returns for their industry as are neces-
sary TO assert the dignity Of labor among
free and enlightened people. The application
OF science to the trades has CORRESPONDENCE
increased their wants. The American laborer
cannot and should not content himself with a
mere suficiency Of food, clothing and shelter.
An enlightened community, of which he is a
worthy member makes demands to which he
must respond. He must make provisions for
self-improyement, for elevation OF his home
and the education Of his children. He is a
new factor in modern society, whose presence
a government for the people should not ignore.
The practice of free trade, as advocated by the
party in control Of our Federal Government,
has been repeatedly tried In this country, and
always with the same disasterous results. 1t
was always used as means of reducing a
surplus In the Treasury, and never failed to
ultimately cause a deficit both in the finances
Of the Government and the people. Except
in one or two instances when well known
causes for brief period suspended the oper-
alton of the general law, every Inauguration
OF free policy parayzed the industrial inter
ests Of the country, greatly reducing the wages
of laborers and causing financial depression.
Free trade always has had, and, until circum-
stances and conditions have materially changed,
always will have the same disastrous results In
America. In striking contrast with such
state Of affairs, protection to American indus
tries has secured prosperity for all interests,
and has bettered the condition OF the masses
by enabling them to partake OF all the com
forts of life essential to the happiness Of en-
lightened beings. A general shrinkage in val
ues, caused by the Partially Of the present Adj
ministration to free trade, and the large immi-
grafton Of laborers from foreign countries, has
produced growing discomfort among the in
dustrial classes especially in the larger cities.
Moreover, they feel kccnly the injustice of an
unequal division Of profits between themselves
and capital and organize to effect the corrcc-
ton Of many real and some imaginary evils
Though impelled by honest motives they do
not always find the proper remedies. All in
forests of good citizens arc best subservcd by
the securely OF property and the protection OF
tons. Labor and capital should work in har-
moDy, and not waste their strength in useless
wars; they have common interests, mutual OBJ
legations and rights. Capital should conccde
10 honest labor an equitable share OF their
common earnings, and while it is entitled to
protection il should be allowed to rule. The
welfare Of our laboring classes and the future
safety Of our government urgently demand n
check in the flow Of criminal and paupcr immi-
grafton. The future development OF our re-
sources and the healthy growth Of our insttu-
tons require an increase in quality rather than
quantity Of population. The present require
mcnts of admission TO American citizenship
arc scarcely in keeping with its dignity. Our
naturalization laws should be so amended and
enforced as to make moral worth an indispcns-
able requisite for the high distinction of be
coming an integral part of the most powerful
and most enlightened sovereign people.
FREE BALLOT.
The purity Of the ballot box is the hulwark
OF our liberties. To dcllc il, whether by fraud
or intimidation, is to strike at the very founda-
lion OF republican government. Unless a Tree
ballot and honest count can be secured in
every State in this Union, o national election
is little more than a mOckcry. Hundreds OF
thousands Of qualified electors Of the South
are virtually denied the right Of suffrage. The
total Congressional vote of the seven districts
Of the State OF Mississippi in 1886 was 1884;
and OF the ten districts of Georgia 1880, or
an average OF only 2,152 for each district.
The number of votes cast ut the same election
In the eleven Congressional districts OF Iowa
was 3i52S6. being an average OF 81 ,3S9 votes
for each district The constitution Of the Unit
ed States Is thus nullilied in the South, and the
voice Of the people is stiilcd and the nulliicrs,
encouraged by past achievements, are now
seeking to obtain control Of the Senate and the
Supreme Court. Under such circum-
stances the good citizens OF the North
| should no longer remain in doubt
as to their 1uty. Regardless OF political allli-
atious, they should demand that Congress cx-
ercise its power 10 enforce by appropriate leg
islation the provisions OF the fifteenth amend
mcnt to the constitution, and guarantee to
every citizen of the United States the privi-
lege to cast his vote free and unmolcstcd, In
accordance with his political convictions.
PENSIONS.
The surplus, which in the course of years has
| accumulated in the National Treasury, has
been the cause Of much anxiety to the present
| Administration. II appears TO me that SO long
as the Union soldier is compelled TO seek
refuge in the poor house or Is found suffering
for want Of the uecessarics OF lifc the treasury
| surplus should not create any apprehension In
| the minds Of patriotic men. No better use
could be made OF the savings OF the nation
| than TO relieve the distress and administer to
| the comfort OF the brave veterans OF the
| late war, who at the risk OF health and life
preserved the existence, and asserted the su-
| prcmacy Of our Government Furthermore
the patriotism Of American heroes should not
| be allowed to remain the cause Of this poverty
| and misery OF their wives aud children or
| other dependent relatives. These have right
| to expect that the country to which their sup
porters offered and sacrificed health, strength
and life, will at least grant 10 them what alone
is in its power TO grnni-cxcmption from such
| suffering as Is caused 10y poverty and want.
| By pursuing this course the Nation would not
only act in keeping with her own dignity, but
\ would SOW seeds Of hcrosm and patriotic deyo-
| ton TO bear precious fruit In ages to come.
POSTAL. TELEGRAPH.
The sentiment in favor OF the establishment
Of postal telegraph system by the National
| Government is constantly growing. While
| the telegraph is not likely to ever supplant the
mail, 1t cncroachcs daily upon its domain. 1t
| has made itself Indispensable to modern jour
nalism and commerce. II has, together with
| the railroads, shortened geographical dis
| tances, and IL is the faithful sentinel that
| guards the safety and thereby adds to the
| speed Of the iron horse As messenger for
| purely social communications, the telegraph IL
as yet employed 10 a very limited extent, owing
( TO the sliortsighicd policy of the few men who
| control the Telegraph system OF the country
has by an extensive tariff placed its benefits
beyond the reach Of the masses. Successful
| experiments have been made by other govern
mcnis in the direction Of operating telegraph
| lines in connection with their postal service,
| and there is every reason TO bcliivc that, even
with materially reduced tariff postal tce
graph could within few years be made self
supporting in America. While 1t would con-
vert large part Of the surplus from the Ma
tional Treasury into a safe AMI permanent In
yestment, il would also extend the benefits or
the service TO the people and open to the cleo
| trio spark an unlimited field for the full dcv2l-
| opment OF its usefulness.
STATE AFFAIRS.
The progressive spirit Of the people OF Iowa
has ever led them 10 take advanced positions
upon all questions Of progress AMI reform,
| which since the birth Of our State have agitat
| cd the Nation. The abolition sentiment at an
early day found fertile soil within our borders.
When the hcresy Of State rights threatened
the very life Of the Nation, Iowa was In the
front rank Of the loyal States which came to
the rescue and aided in asserting her suprem-
acy. Devoted to the true spirit OF freedom she
I led all the States In the Union In extending the
elective franchise to the colored race and
and again in these later years she was one Of
| the first Ia the sisterhood Of States to abolish
within her borders the slavery of intemperance.
But the work Of progressive Commonwealth
| is never done. The body polite, like every Or
| ganism is subject to the law Of evolution.
New issues constantly arise. New ideas born
OF the spirit OF progress, constantly battle with
| the musty conceptions OF conservatism, preju-
| dice aud tradition; the gigantic interests, the