The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-07-05

| of just pensions to our soldiers; for the neces-
sary works of National importance in the i'm
prOvement of harbOrs and the channels OF i'll
ternal, coastwise and foreign commerce; for
the encouragement of the shipping interests of
the Atlantic. Gulf and Pacific States. as well
| as for the payment of the maturing public
debt: This policy will give employment to
| our labor, activity to our various industries
| increase the security of our country, promote
| trade, open new and direct markets for our
produce and cheaper the cost of transportation.
| We affirm this to be far better for our country
| than the Democratic policy of loaning the gov
ernments money without interest to ''lct
| banks"
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
| The conduct of foreign affairs by the present
Administration has been distinguished by its
ineficiency and its cowardce. Having with
| drawn from the Senate all pending treaties
effected by Republican Administrations for the
removal of foreign burdens and restrictions
upon our commerce and for its extension into
better markets, it has neither effected nor pro-
posed any others in their stead. Processing
adherence to the Monroe doctrine, it has seen
with idle cOmplacency the extension of foreign
inhuence in Central America and of foreign
trade everywhere among our nelghhOrS. 1t
has refused to charter. sanction, or encourage
any American organization for constructing
the Nicaragua Canal, IA work of vital impor
tance to the maintenance of the Monroe doc
trine, and of our national influence in Central
and South America: and necessary for the de
velOpment of trade with our Pacific territory.
with South America and with the islands aid
further coasts of the Pacific ocean.
THE PROTECTION OF OUR FISHERIES.
We arraign the present Democratic Admins
tration for its weak and unpatrOtic treatment
of the fisheries question, and its pusiIanmous
surrender of the essential privileges to which
our fishing vessels are entitled in Canadian
ports under the treaty of 1918, the reciprocal
maritime legislation of 1880 and the comfy of
nations, and which Canadian fishing vessels
receive In the ports of the United States. We con-
denim the policy of the present Administration
and the Democratic majority in Congress toward
our fisheries as unfriendIy ard conspicuously
unpatriOtic, and rs tending to destroy val
liable National industry and an Indispensable
resource of defence against a 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 safeguard of him who
wears it, and protect him, whether high or low.
rich or poor, in all his civil rights. 1t should
and must afford him protection at home, and
follow and protect him abroad in whatever
land he may be on Il lawful errand.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The men who abandoned the Republican
party in 1884 and continue to adhere to the
cause of honest government, of sound finance.
of freedom, of purity of the ballot. but espcc-
lally have deserted the cause of reform i'll the
Civil Service. We will not fail to keep our
pledges because they have broken theirs
because their candidate has broken his. We
therefore repeat our declaration of 1884. TO
wit: 1.-The reform of the Civil Service au-
spiciousy begun under the Republican Admin
istration should be completed by the further
extension Of the reform system already cSab-
lished by law to all the grades of the service to
which it is applicable. The spirit and purpose
of the reform should be observed in all EXecu-
tive appointments, and all laws at variance
with the object of existing reform legislation
should he repealed. to the end that the dangers
tc free institutions which Iurk in the power of
official patronage NAV be wisely and ctlcctuaIv
avoided.
PENSIONS FOR TnE SOLDIERS.
The gratitude of The Nation to the defenders
OF the Mon cannot be measured hv laws The
legislation of Congress should conform to the
pledge made by a loyal people. and be so ell
larged and extended As to provide against the
possibility that any man who honOrablv Wore
the Federal uniform should become the inmate
of an amshousc. or dependent upon private
charity. In the presence OF an ovcriowng
Treasury it would be public scandal to do
less for those whose yalOrouS service preserN-
ed the Government. We denounce the hostile
spirit of President Cleveland in his numerous
vetocs of measures for pension relief. and the
action of the Democratic House of Rcprc>C Cl:ta-
tivcs in refusing even consideration of .:cncr-
al pension legislation.
In support of the principles herewith enuu-
ciated. we invite the cooperation of patriotic
men of all parties, and especially of all work
ingmen, whose prosperity is seriously threat
ened by the free-trade policy of the present
Administration.