Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-07

sense OF responsibility.
have right, think, to insist that those
who volunteer or are invited to give advice a.
TO appointments shall exercise consideration
and fidelity. A high sense of duty and ambition
to improve the service should characterize all
public officers There are many ways in which
the convenience and comfort Of those who have
business with our public ofices may be ppo-
NOTED by a thoughtful and obliging oficer, and |
shall expect those whom 1 may appoint to
justify their selection by conspicuous enc |
iency in the discharge of their duties.
Honorable party service will certainly not be |
esteemed by me disqualification for public |
ONCE, but it will in no case be allowed to serve
as a shield Of official negligence. incompetency |
or delinquency.
1t is entirely creditable to seek public once |
by proper methods and with proper motives |
and all applicants will be treated with consid- |
Grafton But shall need, and the heads Of de-
partments will need, time for inquiry and de-
liberation. Persistent importantly will not,
thersfore, be the best support Of an applica-
ton for ONCE,
Heads of departments, bureaus and all other
public officers having any duty connected there
with, will be expected to enforce the civil
service law fully and without evasion. Beyond
this obvious duty hope to do something more
TO advance the reform of the civil service. The
ideal even my own IDEAL shall probably not
attain. Retrospect will be safer basis Of iudg-
ment than promises. We shall not however, I
am sure, be able to put our civil service upon
non-partisan basis until we have secured an in
cumbency that fair minded men Of the opposi-
ton will approve for impartiality and integrity
AS the number Of such in the civil list is in
creased, removals from office will diminish.
While treasury surplus is not the greatest
evil it is q serious evil Our revenue should be
ample to meet the ordinary annual demands
upon our treasury with a sufficient margin for
those extraordinary, but scarcely less impera-
tive demands which arise now and then. Elk
penditures should always be made with econ
omy and only on public necessity. Wasteful-
ness prof1igacy and favoritsm in public ex-
penditures Is criminal. But there is nothing in
the condition of our country or Of our people to
suggest that any thing presently necessary to
the public prosperity, security or honor should
be unduly postponed.
1t will be the duty of Congress wisely to fore
cast and estimate the extraordinary demands,
and having added them to our ordinary expend-
itures to exhaust our revenues that no consid-
cradle annual surplus will remain.
We will fortunately be able to apply to the
redemption of the public debt any small or un-
foreseen excess 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 in
crease of the pubic debt. 1t is quite possible,
1 am sure, to effect the necessary reduction in
our revenues without breaking down our pro-
tective tariff or seriously injuring any domestic
interests.
The construction of sufficient number Of
modern warships and of their necessary arma-
ment should progress as rapidly as is consist
ent with care and perfection in plans and work
manship. The spirit courage and skill OF our
naval officers and seamen have many times In
III.
guns rating greatly beyond that Of the naval
list. That they will again do so upon occasion,
1 do not doubt. but they ought not by premedi-
tation or neglect be left to the risks and .ex-
igences of an unequal combat.
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 impossible.
Our pension laws Should give more adequate
and discriminating relief to the Union soldiers
and sailors and to their widows and orphans.
Such occasions as this should remind US that
we owe every thing to their valor and sacrifice.
1t is subject of congratulation that there is
near prospect of the admission into the Union
OF the Dekotas and Montana and Washington
Territories This act of justice has been I'M
reasonably delayed in the case Of some Of them.
The people who have settled these Territories
are intelligent enterprising and patriotic and
the access of these new States will add strength
TO the Nation.
1t is due to the settlers in the Territories who
have avaled themselves of the invitations of
our land laws to make homes upon the public
domain that their titles should be speedily ad-
justed and their honest entries confirmed by
patent.
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 reform. The National Con-
| gress has not yet taken control OF cleo
tions in that case over which the Constitution
| gives it Jurisdiction, but has accepted and
adopted the election laws Of the several States,
| provided penalties for their violation and a
| method of supervision Only the ineficiency
OF the State laws or an unfair or partisan ad
| ministration of them could suggest departure
| IRON this policy. 1t was clearly, however, in
| the contemplation of the trainers OF the Con,
stitution that such an exigency might arise, and
| provision was wisely made for it. The freedom
| of the ballot is condition of our National life
and no power vested in Congress or in the ex
| ecutive to secure or perpetuate it, should re-
| main unused upon occasion
| The people of all the Congressional districts
have an equal interest that the election in each
| shall truly express the views and wishes Of a
majority Of the qualified electors residing within
i it. The results of such elections are not local.
! and the insistence of electors residing in other
| districts that they shall be pure and free does
| not SAVIOR at all of impertinence. II, in any OF
the States the public security is thought
| to be threatened by ignorance among
the electors, the obvious remedy is educa-
| ton. The sympathies and help Of our peo-
| pie will not be withheld from any community
| struggling with special embarrassments or diff
ficulties connected with the suffrage, If the rem
| edies proposed proceed upon lawful lines and
are promoted by Just and honorable methods
| How shall those who practice election frauds
recover that respect for the sanctity of the bal
lot which is the first condition and obligation OF
good citizenship? The man who has come TO re-
| gard the ballot box as a juggler's hat has re-
| nounced his allegiance.
| Let US exalt patriotism and moderate our
| party contentious. Let those who would die
+, for the flag on the field of battle give better
proof of their patriotism and higher glory to
| their country by promoting fraternity and JUS
| tice party success that is achieved by un-
fair methods or by practices that partake ofrev-
! olution is hurtful and evanescent even from a
| party standpoint. We should hold our differing
| opinions in mutual respect and, having sub
| mitted them to the arbitrament Of the ballot,
should accept an adverse judgment with the
same respect that we wouli have demanded of
| our opponents, if the decision had been in our
| favor.
| No other people have Government more
| worthy Of their respect and love or land so
magnificent in extent so pleasant to look upon
and so full of generous suggestion to enterprise
and labor. God has placed upon our head a
diadem and has laid at our feet power and
| wealth beyond definition or calculation. But
| we must not forget that we take these gifts
| upon the condition that justice and mercy