The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-08


that divide with Pennsylvania the mineral
treasures of the great southeastern and CEN
trail mountain ranges should have been so
tardy in bringing to the smelling furnace
aud the mill, the coal and iron from their
near opposing hillsides.
The Protective system.
The emancipation proclamation WINS heard
In the depths of the EARTH, as well as in the
sky; men were made free, and material
things became our better servants, The
sectional element has happily been eliminated
from the tariff discussion. We have no
longer states that are necessarily only plant
ing states. None are excluded from achiev-
ing that Investigation Of pursuit among the
people which brings wealth and contentment.
The cotton plantation will not be less valua-
BILE when the product is spun in the country
town by operatives whose necessities call for
diversified crops and create home demand
for garden and agricultural products. Every
new mine, furnace and factory is an extern
sion of the productive capacity Of the state
more real and valuable than added territory.
Shall the prejudice and paralysis of slavery
continue to hang upon the skirts of progressl
How long will those who rejoice that
slavery no longer exists cherish or tolerate
the incapacities 1t puts upon their communi-
ties2 look hopefully to the continuance of
our protective system, and to the consequent
development of manufacturing and mining
enterprises in the states hitherto wholly given
to agriculture, as a potent influence in the
perfect uniication of our people. The men
who have invested their capital in these en-.
terprises, the farmers who have felt the ben
eft of their neighborhood and the men who
work in shop or field, will not fail to find and
defend a community OF interest.
1t is not quite possible that the farmers anC
the promoters Of the great mining and manu-
featuring enterprises, which have recently
been established in the south, may yet find
that the free ballot of the workingman, with
out distinction of race, is needed for their de-
Tense as well as for his own. do not doubt
that il these men in the south who now ac-
cept the tariff views of Clay and the constitu-
tional expositions of Webster would cour-
ageousy avow and defend their real convc-
lions, they would not find it difficult, by
friendly instruction and cooperation to make
the black man their efficient and safe ally,
not only in establishing correct principles in
our national administration, but in preserv
ing for their local communities the benefits
of social order and economical and honest
government At least, until the good offices
of kindness and education have been fairly
tried the contrary conclusion cannot be plaus
IDLY urged.
Sectional Policies.
have altogether rejected the suggestion of
a special executive policy for any section of
our country. 1t is the duty of the executive
to administer and enforce, in the methods
and by the instrumentalities pointed out and
provided by the constitution, all the laws en-
acted by congress. These laws are general,
and their administration should be uniform
and equal. AS citizen may not elect what
laws he will obey, neither may the executive
elect which he will enforce. The duty to
obey and to execute embraces the const,tu-
ton in it's entirety and the whole code of
laws enacted under it. The evil example of
permitting individuals, corporations or COM
munities to nullfy the laws because they
cross some selfish or local interests or preju-
dices is full Of DANGER not only to the nation
at large, but much more to those who use
this pernicious expedient to escape their just
obligations, or to obtain an unjust advantage
over Others They will presently themselves
be compelled to appeal to the law for pro-
lection, and those who would use the law as
defense must not deny that use of it to
others. If our great corporations would
more scrupulously observe their legal obliga-
tions and duties, they would have less cause
to complain of the unlawful limitations of
their rights, OF of violent interference with
their operations.
The community that by concert, open or
secret among its citizens, denies to portion
of its members their plain rights under the
law, has severed the only safe bond Of social
order and prosperity. The evil works from
bad center, both ways. 1t demoraizes those
who practice it, and destroys the Gath OF
those who suffer by it in the efficiency of the
law as safe protector. The man in whose
breast that faith has been darkened is natur-
ally the object of dangerous and uncanny
sugges ions. Those who use unlawful
methods, if moved by no higher motive than
the selfshness that prompts them, may we'll
stop and inquire what is to he the end of this.
An unlawful expedient cannot become per-
manent condition Of government. Ii the ed
ucated and influential classes in community
either practice or connive at the systematic
violation of the laws that seem to them to
cross their convenience, what can they ex-
pect when the lesson that convenience OF
supposed class interest is sufficient cause
for lawlessness has been well learned by the
ignorant classess A community where law
is the rule of conduct and where courts not
mobs, execute its penalties is the only attract
i've field for business investments and honest
| labor.
American Citizenship.
| Our naturalization laws should be 50
amended as to make the inquiry into tie
character and good disposition of persol 5
applying for citizenship more careful and
searching. Our existing laws have been, III
their administration, an unimpressive and
often an unintelligible form. We accept the
man as citizen without any knowledge of
his fitness, and he assumes the duties o.
citizenship without any knowledge as to
what they are. The privileges of American
citizenship are so great and its duties So
grave that we may well insist upon a good
knowledge Of every person applying for
citizenship, and good knowledge by him OF
our institutions. We should not cease to be
hosptable to immigration, but. we should
cease to be careless as to the character of it.
There are men of all races, even the best,
whose coming is necessarily burden upon
our public revenues, or threat to social
order These should be identified and ex-
| cluded
Our Foreign Policy.