Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-04

"orsny VI osscuuous ~ ~ uot uepar ture. Dut
= return, that we have Witnessed. The protsc-
tive party had then it, opponents. The argu-
msnt was made as now that its
benefits enured to particular classes or
sections. II the question became in any sense
or at any time sectional, it was only be-
cause slavery existed in some of the states. But
for this, there was no reason why the cotton
producing states should not have led or walked
abreast with the New England states in the pro-
duction Of cotton fabrics. There was this rea-
son only why the states that divide
with Pennsylvania in the mineral treas
ures Of the great southeastern and
central mountain ranges should have been 30
tardy in bringing to the smelling furnace and
to the mill the coal and iron from their near op
posing hill sides. Mill fires were lighted at the
funeral pile of slavery. The emancipation
proclamation was heard in the depths of the
earth, as well as in the sky. Men were made
free and material things became our better
servants. The sectional element has happily
been eliminated from the tariff discus
sion. We have no longer states that are
necessarily only planting states. None are ex-
cluded from achieving that diversifcation Of
pursuit among the people which brings wealth
and contentment. The cotton plantation will not
be less valuable when the product is spun in the
country town by operatives whose necessities
call for diversified crops, and create a home
demand for garden and agricultural products.
Every new mine, furnace and factory is an ex-
tension Of the productive capacity Of the state
more real and valuable than added territory.
Shall the prejudices and paralysis OF slavery
continue to hang upon the skirts of progress?
How long will those who rejoice that slavery
no longer exists cherish or tolerate the inca
pacities it put upon their communities? I look
hopefully to the continuance of our protec-
tive system, and to the consequent de-
velopment of manufacturing and min
ing enterprises in the states, hitherto
wholly given to agriculture, as a potent infiu-
ence IN the perfect unifcation of our people,
The men who have invested their capital in
these enterprises, the farmers who have felt
the benefit of their neighborhood, and the
men who work in shop or field, will not
fail to find and to defend a commu-
nifty Of interest. Is it not quite pos
sible that the farmers and the promoters of
the great mining and manufacturing enter
prises, which have recently been established in
the south, may yet find that the free
ballot of the workingman, without dis
tinction OF race, is needed for their
defense as well as for his own? 1 do
not doubt that if those men in the south who
now accept the tariff views of Clay and the
constitutional exposition of Webster, would
courageously avow and defend their
real convictions they would not find it diff
cult, by friendly instruction and COOP
Grafton, to make the black man their
efficient and safe ally, not only in estab-
lisning correct principles in our national
but in preserving, for
their local communities, the benefits of
social order and econimical and honest gov
eminent At least until he good Offices Of
kindness and education have been fairly tried,
the contrary conclusion cannot be plausibly
urged.
Ihave altogether rejected the suggestion of
a special executive policy for any section of
our country. 1t is the duty of the
executive to administer and enforce,
in the methods and by the instrumentalities
pointed out and provided by the Constitution,
all the laws enacted by Congress. These
laws are general and their administra-
ton should be uniform and equal As citi-
zen may not elect what laws he will obey,
neither may the executive elect which he
viii enforce. The duty to obey and to
execute embraces the Constitution in its en-
tirety and the whole code of laws enacted under
it. The evil example of permitting in
corporations or communities
10 nullify the laws because they cross
some selfish or local interests or preju-
dices, is full of danger, not only
10 the nation at large, but much more to
those who use this pernicious exps;
dent to escape their Just obliga
lions or to obtain an unjust advantage over
to appeal to the law for protection,
and those who would use the law as a defense
must not deny that use of it to others.
II our great corporations would more
observe their legal limitations
md duties they would have less cause
10 complain of the unlawful limitations of their
rights or of violent interference with their
operations. The community that by concert,
open or secret, among its citizens denies to a
portion Of its members their plain
tights under the law has severed the
,nly safe bond of social order and
prosperity. The evil works from bad
,enter, both ways. It demoralizes those who
practice it, and destroys the faith Of those who
'uffer by it in the efficiency of the law as safe
protector. The man in whose breast that faith
mas been darkened is naturally the subject Of
dangerous and uncanny suggestions. Those
Who use unlawful methods, if moved by no
higher motive than the selfshness that
prompted them, may well stop and inquire
What IL to be the end Of this. An unlawful
cannot become . permanent condi-
ion Of government II the educated and in
auential classes in community either practice
'r connive at the systematic violation Of laws
hat seem to them to cross their convenience.
What can they expect when the lesson, that con-
'enience or supposed class interest is Q sufi-
'ient cause for lawlessness, has been well
earned by the ignorant classes? A community
where law is the rule of conduct, and where
courts, not mobs, execute its penalties, il the
,nly attractive field for business investments
md honest labor.
Our naturalization laws should be 20 amend
ID a. 10 make the inquiry into the character
md good disposition Of persons applying for
more careful and searching. Our
existing laws have been in their administration
N unimpressive and often an unintellieible
orm. We scceptthe man a. acitixen without any
- TO what they are. The privileges
4 American citisenship are % great and it, du-