Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-14

Tense. They have furnished to our regular
army regiments that have won high
praise for their commanding officers; for
courage and soldierly qualities and for
hdeifty TO the ends met death. In civility
they are the toilers of their communities,
making their full contribution to the wild
ening streams of prosperity which the com.
munities are receiving. Their sudden
withdrawal would stop production and
bring desertion TO the household. Gener-
ally they do not seek TO quit their homes
ana their employers resent the interior
ence of emigration agents who seek TO slim.
ulate such "a desire.
But, Notwithstanding all this, in many
parts OF oar country where the colored
population Is Jorge the people of that race
are by various devices deprived of any
effective exercise of their political rights
and of many of their civil rights. The
wrong does not expend itself upon those
whose votes are suppressed. Every con
stituency in the union is wronged IL has
been the hope Of every patriot that a sense
OF justice and Of respect for the law would
work d gradual cure Of these fragrant
present can be accepted as a
permanent condition. If IL is said
that these communities must work
out this problem for themselves we have
"a right to ask whether they are at work
upon ii. Do they suggest any solutionl
When, and under what conditions is the
black man to have a free BALLOT When is
he in fact, to have those full civil rights
which have so long been his in lawi When
is that equality of influences which our
form of government was intended TO secure
TO the electors to be restored. This gener-
alton should~ courageously face these grave
questions and not leave them as a heritage
Of woe to the next. The consultation should
proceed with candor, calmness and great
patience upon the lines of justice
and humanity, not of prejudice
and cruelty. No question In our country
can be at rest except on the firm case of
justice and of the law. earnestly invoke
the attention of congress to the considera-
ton Of such measures within its wei de-
fined constitutional powers as will secure
to all or people a free exercise of the right
OF suffrage and every other civil right IN
der the constitutions and laws Of the United
States. No evil, however deplorable, can
Justify the assumption, either on the part
Of the executive or of congress,
of powers not granted, but both will be
highly blamable il all the powers granted
are not built wisely and firmly up to cor
rect these evils.
The power to take the whole direction
and conduct of the election of members of
the house of representatives is clearly
given 20 the general government. A par
tial and qualified supervision of these cleo
lipuS Is hON pFONhitu " Dy Ia" anu IN
my opinion this law may be so strengthened
and extended a. TO secure on the whole
better results than can be attained by a
law taking all the processes of such cleo
ton into federal control. The colored man
should be protected in all of his relations
to the fece -al government, whether as citi-
zen, Juror or witness in our courts, as an
elector of member of congress, or as a
peaceful traveller on our interstate rail-
ways.
THE MERCHANT MARINE.
There Is nothing more justly humiliating
TO the national pride and nothing more hurt
full to the national prosperity than the infe ri
ority of our merchant marine compared with
that of other nations whose general re-
sources, wealth and sea coast line do not
suggest any reason for their supremacy on
the sea. Ii was not always so and our
people are agreed, / think, that it shall not
continue 10 be so.
Ii Is not possible in this communication
to discuss the causes of the decay of our
shipping interests or the differing methods
by which it is proposed to restore them.
The statement Of a few we'll authenticated
facts and some general suggestions as to
legislation is all that is practicable.
The steamship lines sailing under
the flags of England, France, Germany,
1 Spain and Italy and engaged in foreign com
mere were promoted and have since been
and now are literally aided by grsnts of
public money in one way or another ms is
generally known. That the American lines
{ steamships have been a~bardoned by US
to any unequal content with the lines of
other natiols unth they have bee1 with
! drawn or in the few cases where they are
maintained are subject to serious disad-
vantages, is n matter of common knowl.
edge. The present situation fs sRch that
the sailing aud merchandise 6nds Liver
pool often a necessary Intermediate port
between New York and some of the South
American cities.
THE P~AN-AMERIcASs.
South American states to the conference Of
American nations now in session at Wash
ington reached our shores by reversing
that line of travel is very conclusive of the
need OF such a conference and very sugges-
tive as the first and most necessary step In
the direction of fuller and more beneficial
intercourse with nations that are now our
~neighbors, not only upon the lines of lati-
tude but upon the lines of established COM
mercial intercourse.
/ recommend that such appropriations be
made for the ocean mail service on Ameri-
can steamships between our ports and
those OF Central and South America, China,
Japan and the important islands In both the
great oceans as will be literally remuner
alive for the service rendered, as will en-
courage the establishment and in some fair
degree equalize the chances of American
steamship lines In the competition which
they must meet. That American states
lying south of us will cordially cooperate
in establishing and maintaining such a line
of steamships to their principal ports, l do
not doubt.
A NAVAL EsExvE
We should also make provision for q
naval reserve TO consist of such merchant
ships Of American construction and Of a
specific tonnage and speed as the owners
will consent to place at the use of the gov
ernment In case of need. A 20 ironed
cruisers England has adopted this policy
and as . result now upon nacessity can
lp1sce upon her nGral Tat $500 81 the xsst-
est steamships In the world. A proper
supervision of the construction of such
vessels would make their conversien into
effective ships of war very ensy. I am an
advocate of economy in our national ex-
penditures, but IL Is a misuse Of terms to
make this word describe . policy that
~withholds an expenditure for the purpose
of extending our foreign The
enlargement and Improvement Of our
mevchans marine, the development of q
sufficient body Of trained Ameri-
can seamen, the promotioa of
rapid and regular mail communication
between the ports of other countries and
our own, and the adoption of large and
! swift American merchant steamxhins tn