Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-03-05
only attractive field for business investments

OUR NATURALIZATION LAWS
Our naturalization laws should be 50
amended as TO make the inquiry into the
character and good disposition of persons APP
plying for citizenship more careful and
searching. Our existing laws have been in
| their administration uuimpressiye and
often unintslligible form. We accept the
man as citizen without any knowledge Of
his fitness, and he assumes the duties of citi-
zenship without any knowledge as TO what
| they are
The privileges of American citizenship are
50 great and the duties so grave that we may
| well insist upon a good knowledge of every
person applying for citizenship, and a good
knowledge by him of our institutions We
should not cease TO be hospitahle as TO imni-
/ grafton, but we should cease TO be careless
| 10 the character of il. There are men of all
races, even the best whose coming is neces-
sal1y burden upon our public revenues or
threat TO social order. They should be
identified and excluded
FoREIGN POLICY.
We have happily maintained policy of
avoiding all interference with European
affairs. We have been only interested spec
tators of their contentious in p!omacy and
in war, ready to use our friendly offices to
| promote peace, but never obtruding our adj
/
the distresses of other powers into CONNER
| cial advantages TO ourselves We have a
just right to expect that our European
policy viii be the American policy
i of European courts. 1t is 50 mani
testify incompatible with those precau-
| tons for our peace and safety which
| all the great powers habitualy observe and
enforce in matters affecting them, that a
shorter water way between our eastern and
| western seaboards should he dominated by
any European government, that we may con
fidently expect that such a purpose viii not
be entertained by any friendly power. We
shall, in the future as in the past, use every
endeavor to maintain and eularge our friend
| ly relations with all the great powers, but
they viii not expect us TO look kindly
upon any project that would leave
| us subject to the dangers of hostile
observation or environment We have
not sought to dominate or to absorb
| any of our weaker neighbors, but rather TO
aid and encourage them to establish free and
stable governments, resting upon the consent
of their own people We have a clear right
to expect, therefore, that m European gov
eminent will seek TO establish colonial de-
Tendencies upon the rrtory OF these indie
! pendent American states. That which
sense of justice restraints us from seeking
they may be reasonably expected willingly to
| forego.
1t must not be assumed, however, that our
interests are so exclusively American that
our entire inattcntion to any events that may
| transpire elsewhere can be taken for granted.
Our citizens, domiciled for purposes of trade
! IN all countries and in many of the islands of
| theSea, demand and will have our adequate
| care in their personal and commercial rights.
The necessities of our navy require conven-
| lent coaling stations, and dock and harbor
| privileges.
These and other trading privileges we will
feel free to obtain only by means that do not
in any degree partake of coercion, however
| feeble the government from which we ask
| such concessions. But. having fairly obtained
them by methods and for purposes entirely
/ consistent with the most friendly disposition
towards all other powers, our consent will be
necessary to any modification or impairment
| of the concession.
We shall neither fail To res rect the flag of
any friendly nation or the just rights of its
citizens nor to exact the like reatment for our
own. Calmness, justice AMI consideration
should characterize our diplomacy. The offi-
ces of an intelligent diplomacy or of friendly
arbitration in proper cases should be adequate
to the peaceful adjustment of all interna-
tional difficulties. BY such me. hods we will
make our contribution to the worlds peace,
which no nation values more highly, and
avoid the approbrium which must fall upon
the nation that ruthleS>ly breaks it.
| TO ENFORCE THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW
The duty devoived By law upon the presi-
dent to nominate and, by and with the advice
and consent of the senate, to appoint all pub
| lie officers whose appointment is rot other
| wise provided for in the constitution or bv
| act of congress, 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 impossible The president
must rely upon the representations of others,
| and these are often made inconsiderately and
without any just sense OF responsibility.
have right, think, 10 insist that those
who volunteer are invited to give advice
as to appointments shall exercise considera-
| ton and fidelity. A high sense of duty and
an ambition to promote the service should
characterize all public officers There are
many ways in which the convenience and
comfort of those who have business with our
| public offices may be promoted by a thought
| full and obliging officer, and l shall expect
those whom may appoint to ju tify their
selection by conspicuous efficiency in the
discharge of their duties
Honorable party service will certainly not
be esteemed by me a disqualification for pub
, lie Office but it will in no case he allowed tc
serve as shield of official negligence, incom-
potency or delinquency. 1t is entirely credit
able 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 depart
ments viii need, time for inquiry and deliber-
, alton. Persistent importantly will not, there
fore, be the support of application for
office. Heads of departments bureaus and
all other public officers having any duty con-
nected 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
civil service The ideal or even my own ideal
I shall probably not attain RetroSuect will