Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-13

tapplly Ior both races, they now have
IRON standpoint of ignorance and poverty
WHIT, mn,ya was our shame, not theirs, made re-
mafkabie advances in education and in the
acquisition of property. They have, as 8
people. shown themselves to be friendly anc
faithful towards the white race, unde1
companions of tremendous strength. They
nave their representatives in the national
cemeterles where grateful government has
gathered the ashes of those who died in its
saelense. They have furnished to our regu-
lar army regiments that have won high
praise from their commanding officers for
courage and soldierly qualities, and for
ndelity to the ends sought. In civil life they
are the toilers of their communities, max
ing their full contribution to the widening
streams of prosperity which their communal
Ties are receiving. Their sudden withdrawal
would stop production and bring desolation
to the households generally. They do not
see fit to quit their homes, and their EN-
ployers resent the interference of emigra.
ton agents who seek to stimulate such de-
sire. :" W.
But, Notwithstanding all this, in many
parts OF our country where the colored pop
ulatlon is large the people of that race are
by various devices deprived of any effective
exercises of
THEIR POLITICAL RIGHTS,
and of many of their civil rights. The
wrong does not expend itself upon those
whose votes are suppressed. Every con-
stltuency in the union is wronged. It has
been the hope Of every patriot that sense
work gradual cure for these fragrant
evils. Surely no one supposes that the
present can be accepted as q permanent
condition. If it IS said that these commute
ties must work out the problem for them
selves, we have right to ask
y IL they hey are are at work upon
man to have free ballot? When is he, in
fact, to have those full civil rights which
have SO long been his in law? When is that
equality of influence which our form of
government was intended to secure to the
electors to be restored? This generation
should courageously face these grave ques-
lions and not leave them as heritage OF
proceed with candor calmness and great
patience upon the lines of justice and hui
manity, not of prejudice and cruelty. No
question IN our country can be at rest ex-
cept upon the firm base of
JUSTICE AND OF THE LAW.
I earnestly invoke the attention of con-
gress to the consideration of such measures
within its well defined constitutional powers,
as will secure to all our peoplesa free exercise
of the rights of suffrage and every other
civil right under the constitution and
laws of the United States No
evil, however deplorable, can justify the
tive or of congress, of powers not granted,
but both will be highly blamable if all the
powers granted are not wisely, firmly built
up to correct these evils. The power to take
the whole direction and conduct of the cleo
ton of members of the house of representa-
tives is clearly given to the general govern
ment. 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 secure,
on the whole, better results than can be at
tanned by G law taking all the processes of
such election into federal control. The
colored man should be protected in all OF
his relations to the federal government,
whether as litigant, juror or witness in our
courts, as an election of members of con-
gress or as peaceful trailer of our inter
state railways.
The Merchant Marine.
There is nothing more justly humiliatine
to the national pride, and nothing more
hurtful to the national prosperity than the
inferiority of our merchant marine, CON-
pared with that of other nations whose gen
CltA 1eSOulCCos WctilC1 ttuO S6I CCitSb Ills UC
not suggest any reason for their supremacy
people are agreed. think, that it shall moi
continue to be so. 1t is not possible in this
communication to discuss the causes of the
decay of our shipping interests on the diff
fering methods by which it is proposed to
restore them. The statement of a few we'll au-
thenticated facts and some general sugges-
tions as to legislation is all that is practi-
cable. It is because the steamship lines sail
ing under the flags of England, France,
Germany, Spain and Italy, and engaged in
foreign commerce were promo ted and have
since been and now are literally aided by
grants of public money in one form or an
other. It is as generally known that the
American lines of steamships have beer
abandoned by us to an unequal contest with
the lines. of other nations until they have
been withdrawn, or in the few cases where
they are still maintained, are subject to
SERIOUS DISADVANTAGES.
It is matter of common knowledge. The
present situation is such that the sailing and
merchandise ships finds Liverpool often {
necessary intermediate port between New
York and some of the South American CAPT
tails. The fact that some of the delegates
from South American states te
the conference of American nations
now in session at Washington
reached our shores by reversing that line Of
travel is very conclusive of the need of sucf
a conference, and very suggestive rs to the
first and most necessary step in the direc-
ton of fuller and more beneficial inter-
course with nations that are now our neigh.
bors, upon the lines of latitude but not
upon the lines of established commercial
intercourse.
recommend that such appropriations be
made for ocean mail service in American
steamships between our ports and those OF
Central and South America, China, Japar
and the important islands in both of the
great oceans, as will be literally remunera
tive for the service rendered, as will encour
age the establishment and in some fair de-
gree equalize the chances of American
steamship lines in the competitions which
they must meet. That the American states
lying south of us will cordially CO. operate
in establishing and maintaining such lines
of steamships to their principal ports, I dc
not doubt.
A NAVAL RESERVE.
We should also make provision for c
naval reserve to consist of such merchant
ships, of American construction and of {
specified tonnage and speed, as the owners
will consent to place at the use of the gov
eminent in case of need as ironed cruisers.
England has adopted this policy and as a
result can now upon necessity place upor
her naval list some of the fastest steamship!
in the world. A proper supervision of con
struction of such vessels would make theil
conversion into effective ships of war very
easy. am an advocate of economy IN oul
Of ovror1ikuroc h,1t IL ia a Tnis,1sa nj