The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-12-05

4
ease, who were in every battle line OF their
| command, and were mustered out in sound
health and have, since the close OF the war,
while fighting with the same indomitable
| and independent spirit the contests of civil
life, been overcome by disease casualty.
lam not unaware that the pension roll al
ready involves very large annual expendI-
tpre, neither am deferred by that fact from
recommending that Congress grant pension
to such honorably discharged soldiers and
| sailors OF the war as, having rendered SUBJ
stantial service during the war, are now de-
pendent upon their ewn labor for main
teRanee and by disease or casualty are inca
FACILITATED from earning IT. Many of the men
who would be Included In this form of relief
are now dependent upon pnblic aid and ft
does not, IN my Judgment. consist with the
National honor that they shall continue to
subslst on the local nelisfgiven inuiscrim
thately to paupers, instead of upon the
special and generous provision of the Nation
they served so calamity and unselhshiy.
| Our people will, am sure, very generally
/ approve such legislatIon, and am equally
/ sure that the survivors OF the Union army
and navy will feel st nse OF relief when this
| worthy and suffering class of their comrades
| is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest Inequalities in
L the existing Law that shos4l1 be sFep3efied.
To some OF these the Secretary of Interior
has called attention.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that by
| the adoption OF new and better methods in
L the War Department, the calls of the pension
| office for information as te the military and
/ hospital records of pension claimants are
now promptly answered and the injurious
| and vexatious delays that have heretofore
occurred are' entirely avoided. This. win
greatly facilitate the adjustment OF all pend
| ing claims.
NEW STATES.
The advent of four new states. south Ua-
kota, North Dakota, Montana and Washing
ton, into the Union under the Constitution,
in the same month, and the admission of
their duly chosen representatives in our
National Congress at the same session, is an
| event as unexampied as it is interesting.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to obst rye the 4G0th ami
Versary of the discovery Of America by the
opening of a Worlds Fair or Exposition in
some one of our great cities will be present
ed for the consideration OF Congress The
value and interest of such an Exposition
may well claim the promotion Of the General
Government.
CIVIL SERVICE.
On the 4th of March last the Civil Service
Commission held but a single mt mber The
vacancies were filled on the 9TH u..y of May,
and since then the Commissioners have been
industriously, though with an inadequate
force, engaged in executing the law.
They were assured by me that cordial
support would be given them in the faithful
and impartial enforcement of the statutes
and OF the rules and regulations adopted in
aid of it.
The reform OF the civil service will make
no safe or satisfactory advance until the
present law and its equal administration are
we'll established in the confidence of the peo
pie.
1t will be my pleasure, it is my duty. to
see that the law Is executed with firm
ness and impartiality. If OF
its provisions have been fraudulently
evaded by appointing officers our re-
sentiment should not suggest the repeal
of the law, but reform in its administration
We should have one view of the matter and
hold IL with a sincerity that is not affected by
the consideration that the party to which We
belong is for tune in power.
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
The colored people did not iRtrude them.
selves upon us; they were brought here III
chains and held in the communities where
they are now chiefly found by a ere ell slave
code. Happily for both races, they are now
free. They have, from standpoint of ignor-
ance and poverty, which WAS our shame, not
theirs, made remarkable advances in educa-
ton and in the acquisition of property.
They have as people shown them
selves TO be friendly and faithful toward the
white race under temptations of tremendous
strength. They have their representatives
in the National cemeteries where a grateful
Government has gathered the ashes of those
who died In Its defense. They have fur
nished to our regular army regiments that
nave won high praise for their commanding
officers for their courage and soldierly qua
lities and for fidelity the enlistment oath.
They do not desire to quit their homes and
their employers resent the interference of
the emigration agents who seek to stimulate
euch desire. But, Notwithstanding all this,
In many parts of our country where the col
ored population is large. the people OF that
race are, Dy various devices, deprived OF any
effective exercise of their political rights
and of many of their ciytl rights.
The wrong does not expend itself upon
those whose votes suppressed. Every
constituency in the Union is wronged. 1t
has been the hope of every patriot that a
sense of justice and of respect for the law
would work gradual cure of these fragrant
evils. surely no one supposes that the pres
ent can be accepted permanent condi-
tlon.
1t is said that these communities must
work ont this problem for themselves. We
have right to ask whether they are at work
upon it. Do they suggest any solutionf
When and under what conditions is the
black man to have free ballot? When is he,
in fact, to have those fun civil rights which
have so long been his in faw? When is that
equality of influence which our Government
was Intended to secure to the electors to be
restored?
Earnestly invoke the attention of Con-
gress to the consideration of such measures
within its well defined Constitutional pow
ers viii secure to all our people a free
exercise of their rights of suffrage and every
other civil right OF the Constitution and laws
OF the United States.
STEAMSHIP SUBSIDIES
recommend that such appropriations be
made for ocean mail service in American
steamships between our ports and those OF
Central and South America, Japan and
the important islands in both of the
great oceans viii be literally re-
munerative for the service rendered
as viii encourage the establishment
and in some fair degree, equalIze the chances
OF American steamship lines in the competi-
ttons which they must meet.
That the American states lying south of
US viii cordially CO Cooperate in establishing
and maintaining such lines of steamships to
their principal ports, do not doubt.
We should also make provision for naval
reserve to consist OF such merchant ships of
American construction and of q specified
tonnage and speed as the owners viii CON
SO m SfaCN -,
case OF need as armed cruisers. England
has adopted this policy and. as & result
can now, upon necessity, at once place upon
her naval list some of the fastest steamships
in the world. a proper supervision OF the
construction of such vessels would make
their conversion into effective ships of war
very easy.
am an advocate of economy in our
National expenditure for tthe purpose of
extending our foreign comTnerce. The en-
largement and dcvelopmeRt of our mer-
chant marine, the development of a suf1cient
body of trained. veteran seamen, the
promotion OF rapid and regular mail COM
municaticn between the ports of other coun-
tries and our own and the adoption Of large
and swift American merchant steamships to
naval uses In time of war are public pur-
poses of the highest concern.
The enlarged participation of our people
in the carrying trade, the new and increased
markets that will be opened for the products
of our farmers and factories, the full
er and better employment OF our
mechanics which willyJ result from /
liberal promotion of for
eigu commerce, insure the widest possi-
bic diffusion OF benefit to all the States and
TO all our people. Every thing Is most pro-
pitious for the present Inauguration of a lib
eral and progressive policy upon this SUBJ
tect and We should enter upon IL with
promptness and decision.
CONCLUSION.
The legislation which have suggested, IL
Is sincerely believed, Will promote the place
and honor of our country. and the pros
perity and security of the people.
invoke the diligent and serious attention
OF Congress to the consideration of these
and such other measures may be pre-
sented having the same great end in view.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
Executive Mansion, W ashington, Dec. 3, 1883.
Barney Corri9an of Ellis. Kansas,
and Miss Lizzie BeckeFdorf of this city