Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-03-08

not, therefore, he the best support oil an |
application for office Heads Of depart
ments, bureaus, and all other public officers
having any duty connected Herewith, Will
be expected TO enforce the civil service law
fully and without evasion Beyond this
obvious duty, hope to do something more
to advance the reform Of the civil service.
The ideal, or even my own ideal, | shall not
probably attain retrospect will be a safer
basis of judgment than promises. We shall
not, however, | am sure, be able TO put our
civil service upon non partisan basis until
we have secured an incumbency that fair
minded men Of the opposition will approve
for impartiality and integrity. As the num-
ber Of such in the civil list increases, re-
movals from office will diminish.
THE SURPLUS.
While a treasury surplus is not the great
est evil, it is a serious evil. Our revenue
should be ample TO meet the ordinary an
nual demands upon our treasury, with suth
cient margin for those extraordinary but
scarcely less imperative demands which
arise now and then. Expenditure should
always he made with economy and only
upon public necessity. Wastefulness, prof
legacy or favoritism in public expenditure
is criminal but there is nothing in the con
dition Of our country or our people TO sug
gest that anything presently necessary to
the public prosperity, security or honor
should be unduly postponed. 1t will be the
duty Of Congress wisely to forecast and es
timate these extraordinary demands, and,
having added them to our ordinary eXpen
dtures to 50 adjust our revenue laws that
no considerable annual surplus will remain.
We will fortunately he able 10 apply to the
redemption Of the public debt any small
and unforeseen excess Of revenue. This is
/ better than to reduce our income below our
/ necessary expenditures, with the resulting
| choice between another change of our rev
/ enue laws and an increase Of the public
debt 1t is quite possible ! am sure, to eff
! feet the necessary reduction in our reve.
nues without breaking down our protective
tariff or seriously injuring any domestic
industry.
THE NAVY.
The construction Of sufficient number
Of modern war ships aud of their necessary
armament should progress as rapidly as is
consistent with care and perfection in plans
and workmanship The spirit, courage and
/ skill of our naval officers and seumen have
many times in our history given to weak
ships and inefficient guns rating greatly
beyond that Of the naval list That they
will again do so upon occasion do not
doubt, but they ought not, 10y premedtation
or neglect to be left to the risks and eXi
gencies Of an unequal combat We should
encourage the establishment Of American
steamship lines The exigencies Of com
merce demand stated, reliable and rapid
means Of communication, and until these
are provided the development Of our trade
with the states lying south of us is impossi-
bic.
TUE PENSION LAWS
our pension laws should give more adc-
quate aud discriminating relief to the I'm
ION soldiers and sailors and to their widows
and orphans Such occasions as this should
remind Us that We owe everything to their
valOr and sacrifice
THE NEw STATES.
1t is a subject Of congratulation that
there i, near prospect Of the admission
INTO the Union of the Dakotas and Montana
and Washington territories. This act OF
Justice has been unreasonably delayed in
the case of some of them The people who
have settled those territories are intelli
gent, enterprisng and patriotic and the
accession of these new states will ado
strength to the nation. 1t is due to the
settlers in the territories, who have availed
themselves Of the invitations of our land
laws to make homes upon the public do
main, that their titles should be speedily
adjusted and their honest entries confirmed
10y patent.
, THE ELECTION LAWS
1t is very gratifying to observe the gen
rral interest now being manifested in tn,
reform Of our election laws Those wh,
have been for years calling attention to tn,
pressing necessity Of throwing about tn,
ballot box and about the eector further
safeguards, in order that the elections
might not only be free and pure but nigh
clearly appear to be so, will welcome tn,
accession Of any who did not so soon dis
cover the need Of reform. The nationa
Congress has not vet taken control Of elec
tons in that case over which the constitu
ton gives it jurisdiction, but it has accept
{ ed and adopted the election laws Of the sew
eral states, providing penalties for their Vi
oation and a method of supervision. On
, ly the meticency Of the state laws, or tn
unfair, or partisan administration of ther
z could suggest a departure from this policy
y II was clearly, however, in the contempla
% tiun of the trainers of the Constitution
e that such an eXgency might arise and pr'
'- vision was wisely made for it. No powe
II vested in Congress or in the executive
secure or perpetuate it, should remain III
II used upon occasion. The people of all tn
r. congressional districts have an equal inter
est that the election il each shall truly el
r press the views and wishes of majorit
4 Of the qualified electors residing within i
, The results of such elections are not loca
y and the insistence of electors residing /
/ other districts that they shall be pure an
II free does not SAVIOR at all of mpertinenc,
4 If in any of the states the public secur
! ty is thought to be threatened by ignoran,
. Ia al. h.. al NlR
m education The sympathy and help of Of
TO people will not be withheld from any con
a munity struggling with special embarras
II ments or difficulties connected with the su
h frage if the remedl' proposed proceed u
m / on lawful lines and are promoted by Ju
5, and honorable methods. How shall tho
o. who practice election frauds recover tn
t, respect for the sanctity of the ballot whi
Mt is the first condition and obligation of go'
es citizenship The man who has come to
nt gard the ballot box as a iugglers hat h
of renounced his allegiance
ly Let us eXalt patriotism and moderate o
o. party contentious. Let those who wou
ur die for the flag on the field Of battle give
at better proof of their patriotism and hig
at er glory to their country 10y promoting fl
or ternity and justice A party success ii
Ir- is achieved bv unfair methods or by pri
ill and evanescent even from party star
nal point. We should hold our differing op
OF ions in mutual respect and having subn
Ia ted them to the arbitrument of the ball
es. should accept an adverse Judgment W
iil the same respect that we would have
do manded of our opponents If the decls
w had been in our favor.
we OUR COUNTRY.
Lls No other people have government nj
Is 1Is worthy of their respect and love, or a la
IlS 50 magnificent in extent, so pleas
'u' to look upon and so full of gen
~, Gus suggestion to enterprise and lab
W. God has placed upon our head diadt
~ and has laid at our feet power and wea
beyond definition or calculation. But
~ must not forget that we take those gifts
-" ON the condition that justice and me
- shall hold the reins Of power and that
~ upward avenues of hope shall be free "a
ulr the people do not dstrust the futl
~ Dangers have been in frequent ambush
v ~. along our path, but we have uncovered
Wv .,o vanquished them ALL Passion has sw
;I some of our communities, but only to :
~ ~ us new demonstration that the great 10
10Y of our people are stable, patriotic and !
abiding
No political party can long pursue
res vantage at the expense of public honor
ad- by rude and indecent methods, without
int, test and fatal disaffectiun in its own bC
not The peaceful agencies Of commerce
ion more fully revealing the necessary unit
cry all our communities, and the increasing
dis tercourse of our people is promoting M
It is al respect We shall find unaloyed pl
any ure in the revelation which our next
Dssi- sus will make Of the swift developmer
the the great resources of some of the st'
Of Each state will bring its generous cont
any ton to the great aggregate of the nat
ght, increase Aud when the sheaves from
teer fields, the cattle from the hills, and the