, 1889-03-05


BENJAMIN +. HARRISON.
when our national capital was located, was
east of Baltimore and 1t was argued by
many well informed persons that it would
move eastward rather than westward. Yet
in 1880 it was found to be near Cincin-
natl and now the census about to be taken
will show another stride to the west
ward. That which was a body has com
to be only the rich fringe Of the nations
robe.
EVERY NEW NINE,
furnace and factory is an extension of
the productive capacity of a state more
real and valuable than added territory. |
look hopefully to a continuance of our
protective system and to the consequent
Development of manufacturing and min
ing enterprises in states, hitherto wholly
given to agriculture as a potent influence
in the perfect unification of our people
men who have invested their capital in
these enterprises, farmers who have felt
the benefit of their neighborhood and
the men who work in the shops or field
will not fail TO find and defend COM
munitv of interest. Is is not quite
possible that farmers and promoters of
great mining and manufacturing enter.
prises which have recently been established
in the South, may yet find that a Tree bal
lot of the workingman without distinction
OF race is needed for their defense as well
as for his own.
IF DUR GREAT CORPORATIONS
would now scrupulously observe their le-
gal limitations and duties they would
have less cause to complain OF unlawful
limitations, their rights or violent inter-
ference with their operations. The COM
munity hat by concert. open or secret,
among its citizens, denies to a portion OF
its members their certain rights under
The law has severed the only safe bond of
social order and prosperity. Evil works
from bad center both ways. 1t democrat
ICES those who practice it, destroys the
faith of those who suffer by it in efficiency
Of law as a safe protector OF man in whose
breast that faith has been darkened and
is naturally a subject of dangerous and
uncannY suggestions.
OUR NATURALIZATION LAWS
should be so amended as to make inquiry
into the character and good disposition of
persons applying for citizenship. The
more careful and searching of our exist.
ing avs nave been in their administration
unimpressive and often unintelligible In
form. We accept a man as a citizen
without any knowledge of his fitness and
when he assumes the duties of n citizen
he is without knowledge as to what they
are. The privileges of American citizen
shin are so great and its duties 50 grave
that We may well insist Upon good knowl.
edge of every person applying for citizen.
ship and good knowledge by him of our
institutions. We should not cease to be
hosp!table to immigration, but we should
cease to be careless as to the character of
it.
WE HAVE HOPEFULLY MAINTAINED
the policy of avoiding all interference
with European affairs. We have been
only Interested spectators of their con-
tentiOns in Diplomacy and in war and
ready to use other friendly officers to pro-
mote peace. We have the just right to
expect our European policy to be the
American policy OF the European courts.
1t is so manifestly incompatible with these
precautions for our peace and safety, which
all great powers habitually observe and
enforce in matters affecting them that the
shorter water way between our
Eastern and Western seaboards should be
dominated by any European government.
We may confidently expect hat such pure
pose will not be entertained by any friend
ly powers. We shall, in the future, as in
the past, use every endeavor to maintain
and enlarge our friendly relations with all
the great powers, but they will not expect
us to look kindly upon any project that
would leave US subject to dangers of hos
tile observation or environment. We
shall neither fail to respect the flag of any
friendly nation or Just rights of its citi-
zens, nor to exact like treatment Tor our
own
THE 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 appoint
ment is not otherwise provided for in the
constitution or by act of congress, has
become very burdensomo and its wise and
efficient discharge full of difficulty. The
civil list is so large that a personal knowl-
edge of any large number of applicants is
impossible. The president must rely
upon the representations of others, and
these are often made inconsiderately and
without any just sense OF responsibility. |
have the right, | think, to insist that
those who volunteer or are invited to give
advice as to appointments shall exercise
consideration and fidelity. A high sense
of duty and an ambition to improve the
service should characterize all public off
GERS.
There are many ways in which the
comfort of those who have business with
our public officers may be promoted by
thoughtful and obliging officers, and |
shall expect those whom | may appoint
to justify their selection by conspicuous
efficiency in the discharge OF their duties.
Honorable party service will certainly not
be esteemed by me a disqualification for
public office, but it will be in no case
allowed to serve as a shield of Official
negligence. incompetency or delinquency.
1t is entirely creditable to seek public
office by proper methods and with pro-