Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-03-16

any friendly nation or The Just rights of its
citizens, nor TO exact like treatment for our
own.
Calmness. justice and consideration should
characterize our diplomacy, and the offices
OF intelligent diplomacy and Of friendly
arbitration III proper cases should be ade-
quate TO the peaceful adjustment of all in
ternatlonal difficulties, and by such methods
we Will make our contribution 10 the world
peace, which no nation values more highly,
and avoid the opprobrium which must fall
upon the nation that ruthlessly breaks il.
CIVIL SERVICE
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 officers
whose appointment is not otherwise pro
vlded Tor in the constitution or by act of
ongres has become very burdensome, and
its wise and efficient discharge full of diff
Guilty. The civil district 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 incon-
siderately and without any just sense of
responsibility. ] have the right. l think,
to insist that those who volunteer or are in
vested to give advice rs to appointments
shall exercise consideration and fidelity, and
Il high sense of duty and ambition to inn
prove the service should characterize all
public officers. There are many ways in
which the convenience and comfort OF those
who have dealings with our public Offices
may be promoted by thoughtful and oblig-
ing officers, and l shall expect those whom l
may appoint to justify their selection by
conspicuous efficiency III the discharge of
thei9 duties. Honorable party service will
certainly not be esteemed by me as a dis
qualification for public Office, but it will in
no case be allowed To serve as a shield Of
Gfipiol nntifvanna ~ n4A,n, ~. 1l..
quency. 1t Is entirely creditable to seek
public Office 10y proper methods and with
proper motives. ana all applicants will
be treated with consideration, but
| shall need, and the heads of departments
will need time for inquiry and elaboration
Persistent importantly Will not, therefore,
be the best support of application, for the
official heads of the departments, bureaus
and all other public Offices having any duty
connected herewith, Will be expected 10 en-
force the civil service law fully and without
evasion. Beyond this obvious duty l hope
10 do something more to advance the re-
form OF the civil service. Ar ideal of my
own | shall probably not attain. Retrospect
will be a safer basis of judgment than prom
ises. We shall not, however, | am sure,
be able to put our civil service upon n non
partisan basis until we have severed the
incumbency from party service and placed
IL upon a plane that fair minded men of
the opposite party will approve for impair
tiailty and integrity, and as the number of
such in the civil list is increased, removals
from Office will diminish.
TREASURY SURPLUS.
While the treasury surplus is not the great
est evil, 1t Is q serious evil. Our revenue
should be ample to meet the ordinary an
nual demand upon our treasury, with suf-
ticient margin for those extraordinary but
scarcely less imperative demands which
arise now and then. Expenditure should
always be made with economy and only upon
public necessity. Wastefulness, proiiigacy
and favoritism in public expenditures is
criminal, but there is nothing in the condi-
ton of our country or of our people to sug-
gest that anything at present necessary to
the public prosperity, security or honor
should be unduly postponed. 1t will be the
duty of congress wisely to forecast and esti-
mate these extraordinary demands, and
having added them to our ordinary expendi-
lures, TO SO adjust our revenue avs 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 rev.
enue. This is better than to reduce our in
come below our necessary expenditures,
with the resulting choice between another
change of our revenue laws and an increase
of the public debt. 1t is quite possible. l
am sure, to effect that necessary reduction
III our revenue WITHOUT breaking GOWN our
protective tariff or seriously inJuring any
domestic industry. The construction of q
sufficient number of modern warships and
of their necessary armament should pro-
gress as rapidly as is consistent with care
and perfection III the plans n workmanship
The spirit of courage and the skill of our
naval officers and seanen have many times
in our history given TO warships and inetii-
clent guns n rating greater beyond that of
the naval list. That they will again 90 SO
upon OCCASION, / do not doubt, but they
ought not by reconciliation or neglect be
left TO the risks and exigencies of unequal
combat.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
We should encourage the establishment of
American steamship lines. The exchanges
OF commerce demand stated. reliable and
rapid means of communication, and until
these are provided the development of our
trade with the states lying south OF us is i'm
possible.
II PENSION LAWS.
Our pension laws should give "A more ade-
quate and discriminating relief to union
soldiers and sailors and their widows aud
orphans. Such occasions az this should
remind rs that we owe everything TO their
valor and sacrifice.
ADMISSION OF THE TERRITORIES.
1t is a subject of congratulation that there
ia q prospect OF the admission into the
union of Dakota and Montana and Wash
ington territories. This act of justice has
been unr~easonably delayed in the case OF
some of them. The people who have settled
these territories are intelligent, e%nterprising
and patriotic. and the accession of these
now states will add strength to the nation.
JUSTICE TO SETTLERS.
1t is due to the settlers in the territories
who have availed themselves of the invita-
tons of our land laws to make homes upon
the public domain that their titles should be
speedily adjusted and their honest entries
confirmed by patent.
II PURITY OF II BALLOT.
1t is very gratifying to observe the general
interest now being manifested in the reform
of our 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 in
order that our elections might not only be
free and pure, but might clearly appear to
be so, will welcome the accession of any
who did not so soon discover the need of re-
form. The national congress has not as yet
taken control of the elections in that case
over WHICH the constitution gives it juris-
diciton, but has accepted and adopted cleo
ton laws for several states, provided
penalties for their violation and a
method Of supervision. Only the inefiiciency
of state laws or unfair or partisan admins
tration of them could suggest a departure
from this policy. II was clearly, however,
in the contemplation of the trainers of the
constitution that 6uch an exioencv MIGHT