The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-04


awe Itsl shall neither fail to respect the flag
of any friendlya n on or the jus rights
of its citizens, nor to exact the like treat
ment for our own. The offices of an in
telligent diplomacy or of friendly arbitra-
ton in proper cases should be adequate to
the peaceful adjustment Of all inter
national difficulties.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
"The duty devolved by law upon the
President to public officers has become
yery burdensoTne and its wise and efficient
discharge full of difficulty. l have q right,
| think, to insist that those who yoiun-
teer or are invited to give advice as to ap-
pointnents shall exercise consideration
and fidelity
Honorable party service will certainly
not be esteemed by me a disqualification
for public office, but it will in no case be
allowed to serve as u shield for official
negligence, incoppetency or delinquency.
1t is entirely cfeditable to seek puplic
office by proper methods and with
proper motives. But | shall need,
and the heads of departments vii,
need time for inquiry and delberat1onl
Persistent importantly will not, therefore.
be the support of an application for office,
Heads of departments, bureaus and al;
other public officers having any duty conl
nected Herewith will be expected to en-
force the Civil Service law fully and with
out evasion.
THE sURPb5s.
While a treasury surplus is not the
greatest evil, it Is a serious evil. 1t Will
be the duty of Congress wisely to forecast
and estimate the extraordinary demands
and having added them to our ordinary
expenditures, to adjust revenue laws that
no considerable annual surplus will re-
main. We will fortunately be able to ap-
ply to the redemption of the public debt
any small and unforeseen excess of reve-
nue. 1t is quite possible, am sure, TO
effect the necessary reduction in our reve-
nues without breaking down our protec-
i've tariff or seriously injuring any domes-
ic industry.
THE NAVY.
The construction of sufficient number
of modern warships and their necessary
ornament 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
seamen have many times In our history
given to weak ships and inefficient guns
rating greetly beyond that of the naval
list. That they viii again do SO upon oc-
casion 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 encourage the establishment
of American steamship lines.
PENSION LAWS.
"Our pension laws should give more
adequate and discriminating relief to the
Union soldiers and sailors, and to their
widows and orphans. Such occasions as
this should remind us that we owe every
thing to their valor and sacr1f1ce.
ELECTION LAWS.
1t is very gatifying to observe the gen
eral interest now being manifested in the
reform of our election laws. The National
Congress has not as yet taken control of
elections in that case over which the con-
stitution gives its jurisdiction, but has ac-
cepted and drafted the election laws OF the
several States, provided penalties for their
violation, and a method OF supervision.
Only the inefficiency of the State
laws OF AN unfair or partisan admins
tration of them could suggest departure
from this policy. The freedom of the bal
lot is condition of our national life, and
no power vested in Congress or in the
Executive to secure or perpetuate it
results of such elections are not local,
and the insistence of electors re-
siding in other districts, that they
shall be pure and free, does not SAVIOR
at all of impertinence. II, in any
of the States, the public security is thought
TO be threatened py lgnordnCe ei11oAs uIo
electors, the obvious remedy is education.
THE coUNTRY's FUTURE.
"God has placed upon our head dia
dem, and has laid at our feet power and
wealth beyond definition or calculation.
But we must not forget that we take
these gifts upon the condition that justice
and mercy shall hold the reins of power,
and that the upward avenues of hope shall
be free to all the people.
II do not mistrust the future. Dangers
have been in frequent ambush along our
path. but we have uncovered and van
quished them all.
President Harrison concluded his inau-
gural address amid the widest enthusi-
asm, and at half past one O'clock the
procession moved from the Capitol in a
driving rain, up Pennsylvania avenue.