Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-04
PRICE--THREE CENTS

4
Of powers not granted, but both
will be highly blamable il all the
powers granted are not wisely but
| firmly used to correct these evils. The
power to take the whole direction and
control OF the election of members OF
the house of representatives is clearly
given to the general good. A partial
and qualified supervision Of these
elections is now provided for by law,
and in my opinion this law may be so
strengthened and extended as to Sc
cure on the whole better results than
can be attained by a law taking all
the processes of such election into fed
eral control. The colored man should
be protected in all of his relations
to the federal government whether az
litigent, juror OF witness IN our
courts. As an elecsor for members OF
congress, or as peaceful traveller
upon our interstate railways, there
is nothing more humiliatiDg to the
national pride and nothing more
hurtful to the national pride aud
nothing more hurtful to the national
prosperity than the inferlority
of our merchant marine compared
with that of other nations whose gen
eral resources, wealth and sea coast
lines do not suggest any reason for
their supremacy on the sea. 1t was
not always so and our people agreed,
I think, that it shall not continue to
be so.
That the flags of England. France,
Germany, Spain and Italy are engaged
in foreign commerce, and have
since been and now are lib
orally aided by grants of public
money in one form or another is gen.
orally known. That the American
lines of steamships have been aban.
doned by US to an unequal contest
with the aided lines of OTHER nations
until they have been Withdrawn, or
in the few cases where they are still
maintained are subject to serious
disadvantages, lisa matter OF common
knowledge.
OCEAN NAIL SERVICE.
recommend that such appropria-
tions be made for ocean mall service
on American steamships between our
ports and those Of Central and South
America, China, Japan and the i'm
portant islands in both OF the great
oceans as will be literally remunera-
tive for the service rendered and as
will encourage the establishment, and
in some fair degree equalize the
chances OF American steamship lines
in the competition which they must
meet. That the American states
lying south of the United States will
cordially co operate in establishing
and maintaining such lines OF steam
ships to their principal ports, DO
not doubt. We should also make pro-
vision for naval reserve to consist
of such merchant ships of American
construction and of a specified ton
mage and speed as the owners will
consent to place at the use
of the government in case
of need as armed cruisers
between the ports of other countries
and our own, and the adoption OF
large and swift American merchant
steamships to naval uses in time OF
war, are public purposes OF the high
est concern.
The legislation which l have sug-
gested, it is sincerely believed, will
promote the peace and honor to our
country and the prosperity and secu-
rity of the people. Invoke the dill
gent ard serious attention OF con-
gress to the consideration OF these
and such other measures as may be
presented having the same great end
in view.
[Signed BENZ. HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Washington, ID.
c., December 81, 1889.