The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-22
(Continued from Isl pdge.)

some OF Its forms the ge-WOrkeE
alone suffers loss, while idle capital
receives its dividends from trust
fund. Producers who refuse to join
the combination are destroyed, and
competition as an element of price is
eliminated. 1t can not be doubted
that the legislative authority should
and will find method of dealing
fairly and effectively with these and
other abuses connected with the sub
ject.
It can hardly be necessary for me
to say that l am heartily in SYM
pathy with the declaration of the
Convention upon the subject of pen
sions to our soldiers and sailors.
What they gave and what they suf-
fered l had some opportunity to OBJ
serve and in a small measure to eX-
perience. They gave ungrudgingly;
it was not a trade, but an offering.
The measure was heaped uD, running
over. What they achieyed only a
distant generation can tell. With
out attempting to discuss 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
and executed in spirit of justice and
of the most grateful liberality, and
that in the competition for civil ap.
pOintments honorable military SER
vice should have appropriate recOg
milton. The law regulating appoint
ments 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
so, and therefore cordially approve
the clear and forcible expression OF
the Convention upon this subject.
The law should have the aid of
friendly Interpretation and be faith.
fully and vigorously enforced. All
appointments under it should be alb
soluteIy free from partisan consider
ations and influence. Some ex-
tensions of the classified lists are
practicable and desirable, and further
legislation extending the reform to
other branches of the service, to
which it is applicable, would receive
annrnUal N ~ 70
every grade and department fitness,
aud not party service, should be the
essential and discriminating test, and
fidelity and efficiency the only sure
tenure of Office. Only the interests
of the public service should suggest
removals from Office. 1 know the
practical difficulties attending the
attempt to apply the spirit of civil
service rules to all appointments and
removals. 1t will, however, be my
sincere purpose. if elected, to advance
the reform.
notice with pleasure that the Con-
yention did not omit to express its
solicitude for the promotion of the
virtue and temperance of our people.
The Republican party has always
been friendly to everything that
tended to make the home life of our
people free. pure and prosperous, land
will in the future be true to its his
tory in this respect.
Our relations with foreign powers
should be characterized by friendi-
ness and respect. The right of our
people and of our ships to hospitable
treatment should be insisted upon
with dignity and firmness. Our ma
tion is too great both in material
strength and in moral power to in
dulge in buster or to be suspected of
timOrousness. VacilliatiOn and in
consistency are as Incompatible with
successful diplomacy as they are with
the national dignity. We should es-
pecially cultivate and extend our di-
plomatic and commercial relations
with the Central and South American
States. Our fisheries should be fOs-
tered and protected. The hardships
and risks that are the necessary Incl.
dents of the business should not be
Increased by an inhOspitable eXclus-
ion from the near-lying ports, The
resources of firm, dign fed and
consistent diplomacy are undoubted-
~ equal to the prompt and peaceful
solution of the difficulties that now
exist. Our neighbors will surely not
expect in our ports a commercial
hospitality they deny to us in theirs.
can not extend this letter by
special reference to other subjects up
on which the Convention gave ex-
preston. In respect to them, as well
as to those l have noticed, l am in
entire agreement with the declara-
tions of the Convention. The reso-
buttons relating to the coinage, to the
rebuilding of the navy, to coast de-
fences, and to public lands, express
conclusions to all of which | gave my
support in the Senate. Inviting a