The southern argus., 1891-12-17

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pensions, when allowed, dated from N.
time OF fling the claim. and most ~
these claims had been pendinc fcr
years The first payments nnder tn.
1 law of Juno 1890. are relatively small
and, As the per cent of these cases II,
creases and that of the old cases Al.
minishes the annual aggregate OF Rr<t
payments il largely reduced. Whila
| these disbursements TO the disabled
soldiers of the great civil war are larro
they do not realize the exaggerated -.
| Inmates OF those who oppose this bene,
| fcient legislation. The secretary ~
| the interior shows with graf fnliness
/ the care that is taken to exclude fran6.
ulent claims and also the gratifyinv
fact that the persons to whom these
pensions are going are men who zen.
dered, not slight, but substantial war
service.
THE report OF the railroad commis.
sioner is commented upon, and copsid.
cradle space is devoted 10 the matter n
public lands. Polygamy is denounced
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
If the establishment OF the denar,.
ment OF agriculture rs regarded hv anr
I one as a mere concession 10 tho ma.
I lightened demands of worthy class II
people. that impression has been mo-,
etfcctually removed by the great j.
suits already attained. Its home inan.
ence has been very great in disseminat-
\ ing agricultural and horticultural n.
4 formations; in stimulating and direct.
I ing further diversification Of crons.
\ in detecting and eradicating diseases ~
domestic animals; and more than all. In
I the close and informal contact which /.
\ has established and maintains with tho
stock raisers OF the whold country.
/ For ten years protests and petitions
upon this subject from the packers and
4 stockraisers of the United States hayr
been directed against these restrictions
which so seriously limited our markets
and curtailcd the profits OF the farm. II
/ is source of general congratulations
that success has at last been attained
/ for the effects Of an enlarged foreign
market for these meats will be felt, no,
only BY the farmer, but in our pu hic
| finances and in every branch OF trade
1t Is particularly fortunate that the in
creased demand for food products re-.
snitlne from the removal OF the restric,-
/ lions of our meats and from the reel.
| proclal trade arrangements TO which |
4 nave referred should have come at n
tlmo when the agricultural surplus il
so large. Without the help thus de-
rived lower prices would have pro
vailed. The secretary OF agriculture
estimates that the restrictions npon the
Importation OF our pork products into
Europe lost us n market for so. 0.UOu.OO0
worth of these products annually
The grain crop of this year was tho
largest in our history, 30 per cent great
ca than last year, and yet tho market
that has been opened and the larger de-
mand resulting from short crops in Eu-
rope have sustained prices 10 su,'han
extent that the enormous surplus OF
meat and brcadsturs will I've marketed
at good prices, bringing relief and pros
pcrity to an industry that was much de-
pressed. 1t is not inappropriate. |
think, hero TO suggest that our satisfac-
tion i'll the contemplation OF this mar
vclnus addition 10 the national wealth
Is unclouded by any suspicion OF the cur
rency hy which it is measured and In
which the farmer is paid for the pro
duct of his fields.
The president here endorses the
work OF the civil service commission,
and urges legislation for the protection
of the lives of railroad employees, and
then takes up the proposed change in
the manner OF electing the president
This change he vigorously opposes on
the ground that 1t would put the three
departments of the government at the
mercy Of corrupt political methods.
He declares the proposed change TO be
Il menace TO the stability OF the govern.
ment. He advises the appointment Of
II comm sson 10 consider the matter Of
tho evils connected with tho election
s.stem.
10 the consideration Of these very
grave questions invite not only tho
attention o, congress. but that of all
patriotic citizens We must not enter
tain the delusion that our people have
ceased To regard free ballot and equal
representation as the price OF their al.
cgiance TO laws and TO civil magis-
tratcs.
| have been greatly reioiced TO notice
nsany evidences Of tho increased uniti-
cation OF our people and Of a revived M
tiOnal spirit The vista that now opens
TO us il wider and more glorious
than ever before. Qualification
and amazement struggle for supre-
macy as we contemplate the population,
wealth and moral strength OF our coun-
try. A trust, momentous in its inAu-
ence upon the world is for a brief time
committed to us and we must moi he
faithless TO its first condition-thc de-
fence OF the free and equal influence of
tho people in choice OF public officers
and in control of public affairs.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion. Dec. 1891.