Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-03-09

upon good knowledge OF every person apply
ing Tor citizenship and a good knowledge BY
hlIn OF our institutions. We should not cease
to Do hospitabioto TO immigration but we should
cease TO be careless as to the character OF 1t.
There are men OF all races, even the best,
whose coming is necessarily q burden upon
our public revenue or q threat to social order.
These should be identified and excluded.
We have happily maintained a policy OF
avoiding all interference with European affairs
We have been only interested spect ators of
their contention in diplomacy aud in war,
ready to use our friendly offices to promote
peace, but never obtrudng our advice and
never attempting unfairly to coin the distresses
OF other powers into commercial advantage to
ourselves. We have Just right to expect that
our European policy will be the American
policy OF European courts. 1t is so manifestly
Incompatible with those precautions for our
peace and safety which all the great powers
habitually observe and enforce in matters az
fecting them, that shorter waterway
between our eastern and westera sea.
boards should be dominated by any
European Government; that we may conft
dentlyexpect that such purpose will not BE-
entertained by any friendly power We shat
IN the future, ss In the past, use every enGeavor
to maintain and enlarge our friendly relations
with oil the great powers, but they will not
expect us to look kindly upon any project that
would leave us subject to the dangers OF a hos.
tile observation or environment. We have not
sought TO dominate or to absorb any OF our
weaker neighbors, but rather to aid and en-
courage them TO establish free and stable
governments, resting upon the consent OF their
own people. We have clear right to expect,
therefore, that no European Government will
seek to establish colonial dependencies upon
the territory Of those ndepe ndent American
states. That which sense OF justice restrans
us from seeking they may be reasonably ex-
pected willingly to forego.
1T must not be assumed, however, that our
interests are so exclusively American that our
entire inattention to any events that may trans
pire elsewhere can be taken for granted. Our
citizens, domiced for purposes of trade in all
countries and in many islands OF the sea, de
mand and Will have our adequate care in their
personal and commercial ghts. The necessi-
les or our navy require convenient coalng sta
t,ons and dock and harbor privileges These
and other trading privileges we will feel free 10
obtain only by means that do not in any degree
partake Of coercion, however feeble the gov
ernment from which we ask such concessions
Hut, having fairly obtained them by methods
and for purposes entirely consistent with the
most friendly disposition toward all other
powers, our consent will be necessary to any
modification or impairment OF the concession.
I'VE shall neither fail to respect the flag Of
any friendly nation or the Just rights Of its citi
zens, nor to exact the like treatment for our
own. Camness, justice and consideration
should characterize our diplomacy. The officers
OF an intelligent diplomacy or of friendly arbi-
in chp hn pdna
peaceful adjustmentof of all international difficult
ties. BY such methods we will make our con
tributon 10 the worlds peace, which no nation
values moro highly, and avoid the opprobrium
which must fall upon the nation that ruthless
ly breaks it
The duty devolved by law upon the President
to nominate, and by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, TO appoint all public Off
GERS whose appointment is not othe rwi Sc pro.
vlded for in the Constitution or by act OF Con
gress, has become very burdensome and its wise
and efficient discharge full OF difficulty The
civil list is so large that personal knowledge
of any large number of the applicants is impos-
sible. The President must rely upon the rep
resentations OF others, and these are often made
inconsiderately and without any just sense OF
responsibility. have a right, think, TO insist
that those who volunteer or are invited to give
advice as TO appointments shall exercise CON
sideraton and fidelity, high sense
OF duty and an ambition to improve
the service should characterize all pub
lie officers There are many ways in
which the convenience and comfort OF those who
have business with our public Offices
may be promoted by thoughtful and obliging
officer, and shall expect those whom may
appoint to justify their selection by conspicu-
Gus efficiency in the discharge Of their duties.
Honorable party service will certainly not be
esteemed by me as a disqualification for public
Office, but it will in no case be allowed to serve
as shield OF official negligence, incompetence
or delinquency. II is entirely creditlble to
seek public office by proper methods and with
proper motives, and all applicants will be treat
ed with consideration. But shall need, and
the heads of departments will need. time for
inquiry and deliberaton Persistent Emporium
ty will not, therefore, be the best support of
application for office. 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 obvi-
Gus duty hope to do something more to ad-
vance the reform of the civil service, The ideal
or even my own ideal shall probably not AT
tain. Retrospect will be a safer basis of judg-
ment than promises We shall not, however,
am sure be able 10 put our civil service upon
non-partisan basis until we have secured an in
cumbency that fairmnded men Of the opposi-
ton will approve for impartiality and integrity
As the number OF such in the civil list is in
creased removals from Office will diminish
While Treasury surplus is not the greatest
evil It is q serious evil. Our revenue should be
ample TO meet the ordinary annual demands
upon our treasury with a sufficient margin for
those extraordinary but scarcely less impera-
tive demands which arise now and then Ex-
penditures should always be made with econo-
my and only upon public necessity. Wasteful-
ness profigacy and favoritism in public ex-
penditures is criminal. But there is nothing in
the condition Of our country or of our people TO
suggest that any thing presently necessary TO
the public prosperity, security or honor should
be unduly postponed.
1T will be the duty Of Congress wisely to
forecast and estimate these extraordinary de,
mands, and, having added them to our ordinary
expenditures, 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 revenue This is better
than TO reduce our income below our necessary
expenditures with the resulting choice between
another chan &c Of our revenue laws and an in
crease of the public debt, 1t is quite possible,
am sure, TO effect the necessary reduction In
our revenues without breaking down our pro-
tective tsrif or seriously injuring any domestic
industry.