Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-05
PRESIDENT HARRISON.

service This ideal, even my owl
ideal. / shall probably not reach. Retros
pection will be safer basis of judgmen
than promise. We shall not, however,
am sure, be able to put civil servlc
upon non-partisan basis until we hav
secured an incumbency that fairmindeC
men of the opposition will approve for i'm
partiality and integrity. If the numbe
of such in the civil list is increased re
movals from office will diminish.
THE SURPLUS.
While a treasury surplus is not the
greatest evil, it is serious evil. Our rev
enue should be ample to NEE
the ordinary annual demands upor
our treasury and q sufficient marglr
for those extraordinary but scarcely les:
imperative demands which arise now anc
then. -,
Expenditure should always be made with
economy and only on public necessity
Wastefulness, profiigacy and favorItlsn
in public expenditure is criminal. But
there is nothing in the condition Of oul
country or Of Europe to suggest tha'
anything presently necessary to the
public prosperity, security or honor should
be unduly postponed. 1t will be the duty
of congress wisely to estimate these extra
to our ordinary expenditure to so exhaust
our revenue laws that no considerable an
nual surplus will remain, we
will fortunately be able to
apply to the redemption of public debt
any small unforeseen surplus of revenue.
This is better than to reduce our income
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, am sure, to effect
the necessary reduction in revenues with
out breaking down our protective tarlif or
seriously injury any domestic interests.
ENLARGEMENT OF THE NAVY.
The construction of a sufficient number
of modern warships and of their necessary
armament should progress as rapidly as
is consistent with care and per
lection in plans and workmanship.
The spirit and courage of our
naval officers and seamen have many
shines IN our history given TO weak
bhips and inefficient guns, a rating greatly
beyond that of the naval list. That they
Will again do so upon occasion 90 NOT
doubt, but they ought not, by premedlta-
ton or neglect, be left to the risks ana eX-
igencies of an unequal combat.
We should encourage the establishment
changes of commerce demand stated. re-
liable and rapid means of communication,
and until these are provided the develop
ment of our trade with the states lying
south of us is impossible.
Our pension laws should give more ade-
uuate and discriminating relief to the
union soldiers and sailors. and 70 their
widows and orphans. Such occasions as
this should remind US that we owe every
THING RI their alOr and sacrifice.
NEW STATES AND LAND TITLES.
1t is a subject of congratulation that
there is near prospect of the admission
into the union of the Dakotas, and Mon
tana and Washington territories. This
act of Justice has been unreasonably de-
layed in the case of some of them. The
people who have settled these territories
are intelligent. enterprising and patriotic
and the accession of these new states Will
add strength to the nation.
1t is due settlers in the territories who
have availed themselves of the invitations
of our land laws to make homes upon the
public domain, that their titles should be
speedily adjusted and their honest entries
confirmed by patents.
ELECTION LAWS.
1t is gratifying to observe the general
interest now being manifested in the re-
form of our election laws. Those who
have been for years calling attention to
the pressing necessity of throwing about
the ballotbox and about the elector
further safeguards in order that our cleo
tons might not only be free and pure but
might clearly appear to be so, fulfill the
accession of any who-did not decide the
need of reform.
The national congress has not as yet
taken control of elections in that case in
which the constitution gives it juris-
diction, but has accepted and APP
proved election laws of several
states, provided penalties for their
violation and mode of supervision. Only
the inefficiency of the state laws or an I'M
fair or partisan administration of them,
could suggest departure from this pol
icy. 1t was clearly, however, in the con-
temptation of the trainers of the constitu-
tion that such an eXigency might arise
and provision wisely made for it. The
freedom of the ballot is a condition of our
national life and no power vested in con-
gress or in the executive to secure or per-
trate it should remain unused upon oc-
casion. The people of all the congression-
al districts have an equal interest
that the election in each shall
truly express the views and
wishes of the majority of the qualified cleo
tors residing within it. The results of
such elections are not local. and the insist
ence of electors residing in other districts
that they shall be pure and free does not
savor at all of impertinence. If, in any of
the states, the public security Is thought to
be threatened by ignorance among the cleo
tors, the obvious remedy is education.
The sympathies and help of our people
will not be withheld from any community
struggling with special embarrassments or
difficulties connected with the suffrage, If
the remedies proposed proceed upon lawful
lines and are promoted by Just and honor
able methods. Nor shall those who prac-
Uice election frauds recover that
respect for the sanctity of
the ballot. which is the first
condition and obligation of good citizen
ship. The man who is come to regard the
box as a juggler's hat has renowned his
allegiance. Let us exalt our patriotism
and moderate our party contentious; let
those who would die for the flag on the
field of battle give better test of their pa
triotism and higher glory to their coun-
try by promoting fraternity. \ victory
that is achieved by unfair methods or by
practices that partake of revolution is
hurtful and evaneScent, even from party
stand point.
We should hold our differing 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 an opponent, if the !
decision had been in our favor !
No other people have a government more |
of their respect and love or land so mag
in extent. so pleasant TO look upon |
and so full of generous suggestion to enter /
prise and labor. God has placed upon our |
head diadem and has laid at our feet |
power and wealth beyond definition or
but we must not forget that |
tpl Ia these ha
that justice and mercy shall b I'D the relns |
of power and that the upward avenues of /
hopes shall he free to all the people. do /
not mistrnst the fnture Dancar-s hn1n