The Delaware City news. (Delaware City, Del.) 188?-18??, 1889-03-07

great and its duties so grave that we
may well insist upon good knowledge
Of every person applying for citizen hip,
and good knowledge by him Of our
institutions.
We should not cease to be hospitable
to immigration, but we should cease to
be careless as to the character of 1t.
There are men Of all races, even the
best, whose coming is necessarily o
burden upon our public revenues or a
threat to social order. These should be
identified and excluded.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
We have, happily, maintained a pol
icy Of avoiding all interference with
European affairs. We have been only
interested spectators of their conten-
tions in diplomacy and in war, ready
to use our friendly offices to promote
peace, but never obtruding our advice
and never attempting unfairly to coin
| the distresses Of other powers into COM
morcial advantage TO ourselves. We
have a just right to expect that our
European policy will be the American
policy Of European courts.
1t is SO manlfestly incompatible with
those precautions for our peace and
safety which all the great powers habit
ually observe and enforce in matters
affecting them, that ashorter waterway
between our eastern and western sel-
boards should be dominated by any
European Government, that we may
confidently expect that such a purpose
will not be entertained by any frientsy
power. We shall, in the future, as in
a Hoo TO oil
tain and enlarge our friendly relations
with all the great powers, but they will
not expect us to look kindly upon any
project that woald leave us subject to
the dangers of a hostile observation or
environment. We have not sought to
dominate or to absorb any of our weak
er neighborS, but rather to aid and en-
courage them to establish free and
stable governments, resting upon the
consent OF their own people. We have
clear right to expect, therefore, that
no European government will seek to
establish colonial dependencies upon
the territory of these independent
American States. That, which sense
of justice restralns us from seeking,
they may be reasonably expected will
ingly to forego.
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
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
imperative, demands which arise now
and then. Expenditure should always
In 10 rxrith nd
public necessity. Wastefulness, profit
gacy or favoritism in public expendl-
ture is criminal. But there is nothing
in the condition of our country or of
our people to suggest that anything
presently necessary to the public pros
perity, security or honor, should be un-
duly postponed. 1t will be the duty OF
Congress wisely to forecast and esti-
mate these extraordinary demands, and,
having added them to our ordinary ex-
penditures. to so adjust our revenue
laws that no considerable annual
surplus will remain. We will FORUM
ately be able to apply to the redemp-
tion Of the debt any small and unfors-
| seen excess of revenue. This is better
than to reduce our income below our
necessary expenditures, with the result
ing choice between another change of
our revenue laws and an increase Of the
public debt. 1t is quite possible, l am
sure, to effect the necessary reduction
in our revenues without breaking down
our protective tariff or seriously injur-
ing any domestic industry. The con-
struction of sufficient number of
modern war ships and of their neces-
sary armament Should progress as
rapidly as is consistent with care and
perfection in plans and workmanship.
The spirit, courage and skill of our
naval officers and seainefi' have many
times IN our history given to weak
ships and inefficient guns rat
ing greatly beyond that of the naval
list. That they will again do so upon
occasion 1 do not doubt. But they
ought not, by premeditation or neglect,
to be left to the risks and exigencies of
an unequal combat. We should en-
courage the establishment of American
steamship lines. The exchanges of COM
merce demand stated, reliable and
rapid means of communication, and,
until these are provided, the develop
ment of our trade with the States lying
south Of us is impc IS BILE.
Our Pension laws should give more
adequate and discriminating relief to
the Union soldiers and sailors, and to
their widows and orpans. Such occa-
sions as this should remind us that we
owe everything to their valor and sacri-
fee.
ELECTION REFORMS.
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
the throwing about the ballot box and
about the elector further safeguards in
order that our election might not only
be free and pure, but might clearly ap-
pear to be so, will welcome the access
sion of any one who did not so soon
discover the need of reform. The
National Congress has not as yet taken
control Of elections 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 method of supervision. |
Only the ineflicIency of the State laws,
or an unfair or partisan administration |
OF them, could suggest a departure |
from this policy. It was clearly, how
ever, in the contemplation of the franz
ers of the Constitution that such an
exigency might arise, and provision |
was wisely made for it.
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 |
justice. A party success that b
achieved by unfair methods or by prac
tices that partake of revolution is hurt
full and evanescent. even from a party !
standpoint. We should hold our dle-
fering opinions in mutual respect, ans.
having submitted them to the arbltre-
ment OF the ballot, should accept an
adverse Judgment with the same res.
pect that we should have demanded OF
our opponents If the decision had been
in our favor.
No nftar ,,ao1Io 1oa n