The Delta independent., 1889-03-12

tanned by any friendly power. We shall in
the future, as in the past, use every en-
deavor to maintain and enlarge our friendly
relations with all great powers, but they
will not expect US TO look kindly upon any
project that would leave US subject to the
dangers of hostile observation or environ
ment. We have not sought to domitate or
absorb any OF our weaker neighbors, but
rather to aid and encourage them TO estab-
lish free and stable governments resting
upon the consent Of the people.
We have clear right to expect, there
fore, that no European government will
seek TO establish colonial dependency
upon the territory OF these independent
American States. That which sense of JUS
tice restrains US from seeking, they may be
reasonably expected to be willing to fore
go. It must not be assumed, however, that
our interests are so exclusively American
that our entire inattention to any events
that may transpire elsewhere may be taken
for granted. Our citizens domiciled for
purposes of trade in all countries and in
many of the islands of the sea demand, and
will have, our adequate care in their per-
| sonal and commercial rights The neces-
sites Of our navy require convenient coal
ing stations and dock and harbor privileges.
These and other trading privileges we will
feel free to obtain only by means that do
not in any degree partake of coercion, how
ever feeble a government from which we
ask such concessions; but having fairly OBJ
tanned them by methods and for purposes
enIlrely CONSISTENT WITH Llt IlOSL
disposit toward all other powers, our
| consent will be necessary to any modifca-
ton or impairment of the concession. We
shall neither fail to respect the flag of any
friendly nation or the Just right of its citi-
zens, nor TO exact like treatment for our
own.
Justice and consideration should char
acterize our diplomacy. The Offices of in
telligent diplomacy or friendly arbitration
| in proper cases should be adequate to
l IL - II
culties. BY such methods we will make
| our contribution TO the worlds peace
which no nation values more highly, and
avoid the opprobrium which must fall upon
| a nation that ruthlessly breaks it.
The duty devolved by law upon the Pres
dent to nominate and, by and with the ad-
vice and consent of the Senate, to appoint
| all public officers whose appointment is not
provided for in the Constitution or by act
of Congress, has become very burdensome,
| and it's wise and efficient discharge full of
difficulty. The civil list is SO large that a
personal knowledge Of any large number of
the applicants is impossIb BILE. The Presi-
dent must rely upon the representations of
| others, and these are often made inconsid-
| erately and without any Just sense of re-
sponsibility.
/ have a right, I think, to insist that
those who volunteer or are invited to give
| advice as TO appointments, shall exercise
consideration and fidelity. A high sense
vice should characterize all public officers.
There are many ways in which The conven-
| ienoe and comfort Of those who have busi-
| meas with our public offices may be pro-
NOTED by a thoughtful. obliginC officer, and
| shall expect those whom may appoint to
Justify their selection by conspicuous eff
| cheney in the discharge of their duties.
Honorable party service will certainly
| not be esteemed by me disqualification
| for public offioe, but il will in no case be
l 1lnx -gsI In aS
| ligence, incompetency or delinquency. 1t
| is entirely creditable TO seek public Office
by proper methods and with proper mo
| tIves, and all applicants will be treated
with consideration; but shall need, and
heads of departments will need, time for
| INQUIRY and deliberation. Persistent i'm
portunity will not therefore be the best
support OF an application for ofice.
| The heads Of departments, bureaus and
all other public officers, having any duty
connected herewith will b expected to
enforce the civil service law fully and
without evasion. Beyond this obvious
| duty. ] hope to do something more 10 ad-
vance the reform of the civil service. The
ideal, or even my own ideal, ! shall proba-
| bly, not attain. A retrospect will be a
safer basis Of Judgment than promises. We
shall not, however, i am SURE, be ..able to put
i our civil service upon non-partisan basis
| until we have secured an incumbency that
fair minded men of Nhe opposition will ap-
prove for impartiality and integrity. As
the number OF such In the civil list is in
| creased removals from Office will diniu-
/ ish.
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
While the treasury surplus is not the
| greatest evil, it is a serious evil. Our rev
enue should be ample TO meet the ordinary
| annual demands upon the treasury with a
/ sufficient margin for those extraordinary
| but scarcely less imperative demands
| which arise now and then. Expenditures
| shnnfi alvFara ha rnaia with n~DnprnV and
| only upon public necessity. Fullness,
prodigacy and fayoritism in public expen-
| ditures is criminal, but there is nothing IN
the condition of our country or our people
to suggest that anything presently neces-
sary to public prosperity, security of honor
| should be unduly postponed.
1t will be the duty Of Congress wisely to
| forecast and estimate these extraordinary
demands, and, having added them to our
| ordinary expenditures, to adjust our rcve-
| nuc laws that no considerable annual sur
plus will remain. 1t will fortunately be
able to apply to the redemption of the pub
| lie debt any small or unforeseen 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 increase
| Of the public debt. 1t is quite possible to
| effect that necessary reduction in our reve-
nues without breaking down our protective
i tariff or seriously iniuring any industry.
/
The construction of q sufficient number
| of modern warships and their neccs-
sary armament should progress rs rapidly
| as is consistent with care and perfection in
| the plans and Workmanship. The
| spirit, courage and skill of our naval
| officers and seamen have many times in
our hiatory given TO weak ships and ineffi
| cient guns a rating greatly beyond that of
| the naval list That they will again do so
| upon occasion l do not doubt, but they
| ought not, by promeditation or neglect, be
| left to the exigencies OF unequal combat
We should encourage the establishment
| Of American steamship exchanges. Com
| merce demands 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 impcs-
| siblc.
THE DIRT TO soL3IsRs AND SAILORS.
Our pension laws should give adequate
| and discriminating reliefs to Union sol
diers and sailors and their widows and
| orphans. Such occasions as this should
remind us that we owe everything to their
vnlor and sacrifice.
1t 10 q subject of congratulaticn that
| there 10 near prospect of the admission
| into the Union of the Dakotas, Montana
and Washington. This act of justice has
been unreasonably delayed in the case of
/ some Of them.
The people who settled these Territories
arc intelligent, enterprising and patriotic,
| and the accession of these new States will
| add strength 70 the Nation.
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