Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-05

The duty devolved by law upon the presi-
dent to nominate and by and with the ADVICE
and consent of the senate TO appoint all
public officers whose appointment Is
not otherwise provided for in the constitu-
tion or by act of congress, has become very
bur deusome, and its wise and efficient dis
charge full of difficulty. The civil list is so
large that personal knowledge of any large
number of applicants is impossible. The
president must rely upon the representations
of others, and these are often made in
considerably and without any just
sense of responsibility. ! have the right,
l think, TO insist that those who volunteer or
are invited to give advice as to appointments
shall exercise consideration and fidelity. y
sense of duty and ambition TO improve the
service should characterize all public officers.
There are many ways in which the conven-
fence and comfort of those who have
been identified with our public offices
may be promoted by a thoughtful
and obliging officer, and | shall eX-
pect those whom | may appoint to Justify
their selection by conspicuous efficiency in
the discharge of their duties. Honorable
party service will certainly not be esteemed
by me a disqualification for public office, but
it will in no case be allowed to serve as a
shield of official negligence, Incompetence or
delinquency. 1t is entirely creditable TO seek
public Office by proper methods and with
proper motives, and all applicants will be
treated with consideration. But shall need
and the heads of departments will need time
for inquiry and deliberation. Persistent i'm
portunity will not, therefore, be. the best
support of application for office. The heads
of departments, 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 some
thing more to advance reform of the civil
service The ideal, or even my own, shall
probably not attain a retrospect will be u
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 the ncumbency that
fair minded men of the opposition will ap-
prove for impartiality and integrity AS the
number of such in the civil list is increased,
removals from Office will diminish.
While the treasury surplus is not the
greatest evil, II Is serious evil. our rev.
cnue should be ample to meet the ordinary
annual demands upon our treasury, with
sufficient margin for those extraordinary
but scarcely less imperative demands which
arise now and then. The expenditure should
always be made with economy, and only
upon public necessity. Wastefulness, pro-
tigacy and favoritism in public eXpendi-
lures is criminal, but there is nothing IN the
condition of our country or our people
to suggest that anything at present
necessary to public prosperity, security or
honor, should be unduly postponed. 1t will
be the duty of congress wisely to forecast
and estimate these extraordinary demands,
and having added them to our ordinary ex-
pendtures, to so adjust our revenue laws
that no considerable annual surplus will re
main. We will fortunately be able to apply
to the redemption of the public debt
any small or unforeseen excess of rcve
nue.. This is better than to reduce
our income below our necessary eXpendi
lures with the resulting change between
another change of our revenue laws and an
increase of the public debt. 1t is quite possi-
BILE, am sure, to effect that necessary rcduc-
tion in our revenues without breaking down
our tariff or seriously injurlng any domestic
industry.
The construction of sufficient number of
modern war ships and their necessary arma-
ment should progress as rapidly rs is con-
slstent with care and perfection in plans
and workmanship. The spirit, courage and
skill of our. naval officers and seamen have
to weak ships and inefficient
guns rating greatly beyond that of the
naval list. That they will again do so upon
occasion 1 do not doubt. But they ought
Ss @ By and anssss tS f ss left Combat to-
We should encourage the. estab-
lishment of American steamship lines.
The exchanges of commerce demand
stated, reliable and rapid means of commu-
nication, and until these are provided the de-
velopment of our trade with the states lying
south of us is impossible
Our pension laws should give more ade-
quate and discriminating relief to union sol
diers and sailors and their widows. Such
occasions as this should remind us that
we owe everything to their valor and sacri-
fees.
1t is subject of congratulation that there
is a near prospect of the admission into the
union of the Dakotas, Montana and Wash
ington territories. This act Of justice has
been unreasonably delayed in the case
of some of them. The people who
have settled these territories are
intelligent, enterprlsing, patriotic and the ac-
cession of these new states will add strength
10 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 domain that their
titles should be speedily adjusted, ana their
honest entries confirmed by patents
1t is very gratifying to observe the general
our election laws. Those who have been for
years calling attention to the pressing neces-
slty of throwing about the ballot box and
about the electors further safeguards in
order that our elections might not only be
free and pure, but might appear to be So
will welcome the accession of any who did
not so soon discover the need of reform. The
national congress has not rs yet taken con-
troll of the elections in that case over which
the constitution gives it jurisdiction, but has
accepted and adopted the election laws of the
several states, which provide penal
ties for their violation and the methods
of supervision. Only the ine1iciepcy of state
laws, or the unfair or partisan administra-
tion of them, could suggest departure from
this policy. 1t was clearly, however, in the
contemplation of the trainers of the constitu-
tion that such an emergency might arise, and
provision was wisely made for it.
The freedom of the ballot is condition
of our national life, and no power
vested in congress or in the executive TO Sc
cure or perpetuate it should remain un-
used upon occasion The people of all con-
gressional districts have an equal interest
that the election in each shall truly express
the views and wishes of the majority OF the
qualified electors residing in it. The re-
suits of such elections are not local
and the insistance of electors residing in
other districts that they shall be pure and
free does not SAVIOR at all of impertinence. If
in any of the states the pubic security Is
thought TO be threatened by ignorance among
the electors, the obvious remedy is
education. The sympathy and help of
our people will not be withheld from any
community struggling with any embarrass-
ment or difficulties connected with the suf-
frlge if the remedies proposed pro-
ceed upon lawful lines, and are
promoted by just and honorable methods.
How shall those who practice election frauds
recover that respect for the sanctity of the
ballot which is the first condition and obliga-
tion of good citizenshipl The man who has
come TO regard the ballot box as iugger's
hat has renounced his allegiance.
Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our
party contentious. Let those who would die
for the flag on the field of battle give better
proof of their patriotism and higher glory TO