Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-03-21

lie oflsAs having any duty connected Herewith,
viii q Expected to enforce the Civil Service Law
fully without evasion Beyond this obvious
dutTA@&yyto do something more 20 advance the
roformNAsFie civil service. The ideal or even my
own idessSs1 shall probably not attain. Retrospect
viii be safer basis of Judgment than promises.
We shall not, however, am sure, be able to put
our civil service upon non-partisan basis until we
have secured incumoency that fair-minded mep
of the opposition will approve for impartality and
integrity. As the number OF such in the civil list
increases removals from Office viii diminish.
THE SURPLUS.
While treasury surplus Is not the greatest
evil, IL is serious evil. Our revenue should
be ample TO meet the ordinary annual demands
upon our treasury with sufficient margin for
those extraordinary but scarcely less impers.
tive demands which arise now and then. Elk
I pendlture should always be made with econo.
my and only upon public necessity. Waste
fitness, pronigacy or favoritsm in public expend.
lures is criminal But there is nothing in the con.
dton of our country or of our people to suggest
that anything presently necessary 70 the public
prosperity, security, honor should be uuduly
! postponed 1t will be tho duty OF Congress wisely
to forecast and estimate these extraordinary de-
inands, and having added them to our ordinary ex
penditures: to so adjust our revenue laws that no
| considerable annual surplus viii remain. We will
fortunately be able to apply to the redemption of
the puplic debt any small and unforeseen excess of
revenue. This is better than to reduce our income
! below our necessary expenditures with the result.
| ing choice between another change of revenue
laws and an increase of the public debt 1t Is quite
1 possible am to effect the necessary reduction
/ IN our revenues without breaking down protco-
| tive tariff or seriously injurug any domestic In
] dustry
The construction of a sufficient number OF mod
/ ern warships and of their necessary armament
I should progress AS rapidly as is consistent, with
care and perfection IN plans and workmanship.
The spirit, courage and skill of orr naval officers
I and seamen have many times in our history given
1 70 weak ships aud inefficient gnus rating greatly
beyond that OF the naval list ThAt they will again
| do so upon occasion | do not doubt ; but they
ought not by generalization neglect to be left to
me RISKS and exigencies of an unequal combat.
! should eDcDlrntrA \ ah, M Mt afA rnar
! eau steamship lines. The exchanges of commerce
! demand stated, reliable and rapid means of com.
muucation, aud until these are provided the devel.
/ us is impossible.
Our pension law should give more adequate and
/ discriminating relief to the Union soldiers and
/ sailors. and to their widows aud orphans. Such
occasions as this should remind us that we owe
| everything 10 their vaior and sacrifice.
THE NEW STATES.
| At is subject of congratuation that there is a
near prospect of admission into the Union of the
/ Dakotas and Montana and Washington Territories
This act of Justice has been unreasoaably DELAYED
IN the case OF some of them. The people who
nave settled these Territories intelligent enter
prlsing and patriotic. and the accession of these
new states VIII add strength to the Nation. 1t is
due to the settlers 10 the Territories who have
awaited themselves of the invitations OF our land
RYE 70 t make home, upon the pa bile domain that
honest entries confirmed by patent
ELECTORAL REFORM
1t is very gratifying observe the general interest
now being manifested in the reform of orr election
laws. Those who have been for years calling atten-
ton to the pressing necessity of throwing about the
ballot box and about the eector, further safe
guards, III order that our elections might not only
be tree and pure, but might clearly appear to be So
VIII welcome the accession OF any 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 jur-
lsdctioa, but has accepted and adopted the election
laws OF the several States, provided penalties for
their violation and method of supervisor Only
the nefficiency of the State laws or an unfair or
partisan administration of them could suggest
departure from this policy It was clearly how
ever in the contemplation of the trainers of the Con-
stltntlon that such an eXgency might arise, and
provision was wisely made for it. No power vested
in Congress or in the Executive to secure or per-
petnate 1t should remain 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 majority of the
qualified electors residing within it. The results Of
such elections are not local, and the insstence Of
electors residing in other districts that they shall be
pure and free does not SAVIOR at all of imperti
nence II in any of the States the public security is
thought to be threatened by ignorance among the
electors, the obvious remedy is education. The sym
pathy and help OF our people will not be withheld
from any community struggling with special enlbar
easements or difficulties connected with the suffrage
If the remedies proposed proceed upon lawful lines
and are promoted by inst and honorable methods.
How shall those who practise election frauds recover
that respect for the sanctity of the ballot which is
the first condition and obligation of good citizenship?
The man who has come to regard the ballot-box as
Juggler's hat has renowned his allegiance Let us
exat 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 frater-
nifty and justice; party success that is achieved
by Unfair methods or by practices that partake OF
revolution is hurtful and evanescent. even from a
party standpoint. We should hold our different
opinions in mutual respect, and having submitted
them to the arbtrament of the ballot should ACCEPT
an adverse Judgment with the same respect that we
would have demanded OF our opponents If the deci-
sion 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 upou aud SO full of
generous suggestion to enterprise and labor God
has placed upon our head dadem, and has laid at
our feet power and wealth beyond definition or cal
culation. But we must not forget that we take
these gifts upon the condition that justice and mer
cy shall hold the relns Of power, and that the up
ward avenues OF hope shall be free to all the people.
do not mistrust the future Dangers have been
In frequent ambush along path, but we have
uncovered and vauquished them all. Passion has
MS new demonstration that the great body OF
people are stable, patriotic iaw-abding. No politi-
cal party long pursue advantage at the expense
Of public honor, or by rude and indecent methods
without protest aud fatal dlsatection in its own
body. The peaceful agencies of commerce are
more fully revealing the necessary unity Of all our
communities and the increasing intercourse of our
people Is promoting mutual respecls We shall find
unali0yed pleasure in the revelation which next
census will make of the swift development of the
great resources of some OF the States Each State
will bring its generous contribution to the great
aggregate of the nations increase And. when the
harvest from the fields the cattle from the hills and
the ores of the earth shall have been weighed.
counted, and valued we will turn from them all to
crown with highest honor the State that has the
most promoted education virtue, justice, and pa
triotism among the people.