Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-03-07

lous and prosperous states offer 70 the thir-
teen states, weak in everything except cour-
age and the love of liberty, that then fringed
our Atlantic seaboard.
The territory OF Dakota has now popu-
lation greater than any of the original
states, except Virginia, and greater than the
aggregate of Ave of the smaller states in /
1880. The center OF population, when our |
National capital was located, was east OF |
Baltimore, and it was argued by many well |
informed persons that it would move east |
ward rather than westward. Yet in 1880 |
It was found to be near Cincinnati, and N |
the new census, about to be taken, viii show |
another stride to the westward. That which |
was the body has come to be only the rich
fringe of the Nations robe. But our growth
has not been limited to territory, population
and aggregate wealth, marvellous as It has
been ia each of these directions.
"The masses of our people are better fed,
clothed and housed than their fathers were.
The facilities for popular education have
been vastly enlarged and more generally
diffused. The virtues Of courage and patriot
ism have given recent proof OF their contln-
ued presence and increasing power in the
hearts and over the lives our people. The
influences of religion have been multiplied
and strengthened. The sweet offices OF
charity have greatly increased. The virtue
of temperance is held in higher estimation.
We have not attained an ideal condition.
Not all of our people are happy and prosper
ous not all of them are virtuous and law
abiding; but on the whole, the opportunities
offered to the individual to secure the COM
forts Of life are better than are found else
where, and largely better than they were
here one hundred years ago.
1.-The surrender OF large Measure OF SOW
ereignty to the general government, erected
by the adoption of the constitution, was not
accomplished until the suggestions of reason
were reinforced by the more imperative
voice of experience. The divergent interests
of peace speedily demanded a more perfect
union The merchant, the ship-master and
the manufacturer discovered and disclosed
to our statesmen and to the people that COM
mercial emancipation must be added to the
political freedom which had been so bravely
won. The commercial policy of the mother
country had not relaxed any Of its hard and
oppressive features.
"To hold in check the development Of our
commercial marine, to prevent or retard the
establishment and growth of manufacture In
| the states, and so to secure the American
market for their shops, and the carrying
trade for their ships, was the policy OF Euro
pean statesmen, and was pursued with the
most selfish vigor. Petitions poured in upon
congress, urging the imposition OF dls-
eliminating duties that should encourage the
production of needed things at home. The
patriotism Of the people, which no longer
found a field of exercise in war, was ener-
getically directed to the duty of equipping
the young republic for the defense of its
Independence by making its people selt-de-
pendent Is
Societies for the promotion of home manu-
factures and for encouraging the use Of do
mestics in the dress of the people were or
ganized in many of the states. The revival
at the end of the century of the same patri-
otto interest in the preservation and deveE
opment of domestic industries, and the de-
fense of our working people against injurious
foreign competition, is an incident worthy OF
attention. 1t is not depar ture, but a re-
turn that we have witnessed"
He then urges the necessity Of amending
our naturalization and immigration laws SC
as to admit only those who will not be bur-
den upon our people.
In his foreign policy he says that 1--WE
should neither fail to respect the flag of any
friendly nation or the just rights OF its citi
zens, nor to exact the like treatment OF ou
own. Calmness, justice and consideration
should characterize our diplomacy" 81
The president then refers to the burden
some duty of filling the public Offices moi
otherwise provided for, and urges the higf
sense of duty which should prompt thos'
who offer advice on this subject, and say
that party service will in no case be allowed
to shield official negligence, incompetency o.
delinquency The civil service law, he says
must be enforced.
He then calls attention to the surplus il
the treasury, and says that the duty Of con
gress is to take steps to make proper re
!, ductiop Of the revenue without breaking
down our protective tariff or seriously in
; iuring any domestic industry
! The president then urges still more rapi'
! progress in constructing a navy and So
: coast defenses '"'
Afteradvising revision of our pension
laws, to give more adequate and discrimi
mating relief to the Union soldier, he e1
presses qualification on the admission of fou
new states into the Union. 20
: ttBut shall need and the heads of the de
. partments will need time for inquiry and dc
}. liberation. Persistent Importantly will not
IS therefore, be the best support of an applies
tion for office. Heads of departments, bu
e reaus and all other public officers, havin
!. any duty connected Herewith, will be e,
:, pected to enforce the civil service law full
= and without evasion. s.0.s
y sit is very gratifying to observe the ger
'e eral interest now being manifested in tn
Il reform of our election laws. Those who hav
e been for years calling attention to the pres
l. ing necessity of throwing about the halle
T. box and about the elector further safe -guarC
= in order that our elections might not only
" free and pure. but might clearly appear I
!. be so, will welcome the accession of any on
! who did not SO soon discover the need of r,
! form. 't
= y. "The National congress has not as We
- taken control of elections in that case owe
which the constitution gives it Jurisdiction
Il but has accepted and adopted the electio
y laws of the several states, provided penaltie
"a for their violation and D method of suPerv
"a sion. Only the inefficiency of the state law
u or an unfair or partisan administration
a them could suggest a departure from tn
n policy. It was clearly, however, in the col
q temptation of the trainers Of the CONSTITUTED
3 that such an exigency might arise and pr
y vision was widely made for it.
J 1.-The freedom Of the ballot is a conditio
y of our National life and no power vested
congress or In the executive to secure or pc
y pet.iate it, should remain unused upon occ,
~ sion. The people OF all the congressional di
tricts have an equal interest that the ele
z ton in each shall truly express the views an
q wishes Of majority Of the qualified electo
n RESTING within II. The results Of such ele
y tions are not local, and the 'insistence
Il electors residing In other districts that the
) shall be pure and free does not SAVIOR at q
n of impertinence. q s2 l&'3-!AI
s 'sIf, in any of the states, the public securit
= is thought to be threatened by ig1noran'
n / among the electors, the obvious remedy
II edhcafi6n. The sympathY and help of .,
N mnnity sstrugzling with speciah emharras
= ffage, Il the rsanedies proposed proceed ups
- I..sf,I Is,la nsxd uea vti.0r,nkad kS5s A,of a,