The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-07

THE NAVY.
The construction of sufficient number
of modern war ships and few other nee
essary armament should progress as
rapidly as is consistent with care and per
lection in plans ard workmanship. The
spirit, courage and skill of our naval Of
ficers and seamen have many times in our
history given to weak ships and inefficient
guns rating greatly beyond that of the
naval test. That they will again do SO
upon occasion do not doubt, but they
ought not, by generalization or
neglect, to be left to the risks and exigen-
cles of an unequal combat. We should
encourage the establishment of American
steamship lines. The exchanges of com
MERGE demand stated, reliable and rapid
means of communication, and until these
are provided the development of our
trade with states lying south of US is i'm
possible.
ELECTION LAWS.
Those who have been for years calling
attention to the pressing necessity of
throwing about the ballot box and about
the elector further safeguards, discover
the need of reform. The national con-
gress has not as yet taken control of cleo
tions over which the Constitution gives it
Jurisdiction, but has accepted and adopted
the election laws of the several states,
provided penalties for their violation and
a method of supervision. Only the
inefliciency of state laws or an
unfair or partisan administration of
them could suggest departure from
this policy. 1t was clearly, however, in
the contemplation of the trainers of the
Constitution that such an exigency might
arise and provision was wisely made for
it. The freedom of the ballot Is the con-
dition of our national life, and no power
vested in congress or in the executive to
secure or perpetuate it should remain I'M
used. The people of all congressional
districts have an equal interest that the
election in each shall truly express the
views and wishes of majority of the
qualified electors residing within it.
The results of such elections
are not local, and the insistenoe
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 public security is
thought threatened by ignorance among
the electors the obvious remedy is educa-
ton. The sympathy and help of our peo-
ole will not be withheld from any com
munity struggling with special embarrass-
ments or difficulties connected with
suffrage. If the remedies proposed pro-
coed upon lawful lines they will be pro-
NOTED by Just and honorable methods.
A wHAoK AT THE NORTHERN STATES.
How shall those who practice election
frauds recover that respect for the sane
tity of the ballot, which ID the first con-
dition and obligation of good citizenship.
The man who has come to regard the
ballot box as n juggler's hat, has re-
nounced his allegiance. Let us exalt
patriotism and moderate our party con
tentions., Let those who would die for the
flag on the field of battle give better
proof of their patriotism aud a higher
glory to their country by promoting
fraternity and Justice. A party sue
cess that is achieved by unfair
methods, or by practices that
partake of revolution, is hurtful, is
eyanescent even from party
standpoint. We should hold our differ
ing opinions in mutual respect, and
having submitted them TO the arbitrament
of the ballot, should accept an adverse
Judgment with the same respect that we
would have demanded of our opponents
if the decision had been in our favor.
THE PERoRATIoN.
No other people have a government
more worthy of their respect and love or
a land SO magnificent in extent, so pleas
ant to look upon and so full of suggestions
to enterprise and labor. The government
has placed upon our head a disdem, and
has laid at our feet power and wealth be-
yond definition or calculation. But we
must not forget that we take these
gifts upon the condition that justice
and mercy shall hold the reins of power,
that the upward avenues of hope shall be
free to all people.
do not mistrust the future. Dangers
have been in frequent ambush along our
path, but we have uncovered and van
ouished them all. Passion has swept some
of our communities, but only to give us
new administration that the great body
of our people are stable, patriotic and
law abiding. No political party can long
pursue advantage at the expense of pub.
lie honor, or by rude aud indecent
methods, without protest ard disaffec'
ton in its own body. The peaceful
agencies of commerce are more
fully revealing the necessary unity of all
our communicated the increasing inter
course of our people is promoting mutual
respect. We shall find unalloyed pleasure
in the revelation which our next census
will make of the swift development of the
great resources of some of the states.
Each state will bring its generous contrl-
bdtion to the great aggregate of the ma
tons increase,a and when the harvests from
the fields, the cattle from the hills, shall
have been weighed, counted and valued,
we will turn from them all to crown with
the highest honor the state that has most
promoted education, virtue, justice and
patriotism among its people
gt-nnnn n diaansa "a anrnfnla 10 IL il mot