Huntsville gazette., 1892-10-01


advantage under the present tariff laws
We will rely upon the intelligence OF our
fellow countrymen to reject the charge
that the party comprising majority OF
our people is planning the destruction or
injury of American interests. and we
know that they cAnnot be frightened by
the specter of impossible free trade. Ihe
administration and management OF our
government depend upon the popular Will
Federal power is the Instrument OF that
will-not its master.
Therefore the attempt of the opponents
of Democracy to Interfere with and con-
troll the suffrage of states through federal
agencies, develops design which no ex-
planation can mitigate. to reverse funda-
mental and safe relations between the
people rand their government. Such an
attempt cannot fail to be regarded by
thoughtful men as proof OF bold deter
mnation to secure the ascendency o.
discredited party in reckless disregard of
a free expression of the popular will. To
resist such scheme is an Impulse OF the
Democracy. At all times and in all places
we t. ust the people. As against the dis
position to force the way to federal power,
we present to them as our claim TO thelr
conf lence and support, steady champl7
onship of their rights.
The Silver and Gold.
The people are entitled to sound and
honest money, abundantly sufficient in
volume to supply their business needs.
But whatever may be the form of the peo-
pies currency, national or state-whether
gold, silver or paper-lt should be so reg
ulated and guarded by governmental ac-
ton or by wise and careful laws, that no
one can be deluded as to the certainty and
stability of it's value. Every dollar put
into the hands of the people should be of
the same intrinsic value or purchasing
power. With this condition absolutely
guaranteed, both gold and silver can be
safely utilized, upon equal terms in the
adjustment of our currency. In dealing
with this subject no selfish scheme should
be allowed to intervene and no doubtful
experiment should be attempted. The
wants of our people, arising from def
cheney or imperfect distribution of money
circulation, ought to be fully and honestly
recognized and efficiently remedied. 1t
should, however, be constantly remem-
bered that the inconvenience or loss that
might arise from such a situation, can be
much easier borne than the universal dis
tress that must follow discredited cur
rency.
Civil Service Reform.
Public officials are agents of the people.
1t is, therefore, their duty to secure for
those whom they represent the best and
most efficient performance public work.
This plainly can best be accomplished by
regarding ascertained fitness in the selec-
tion Of government employees. These con-
siderations alone are a sufficient justifica
tion for an honest adherence to the letter
and spirit of civil service reform. There
are, however, other features OF this plan
which abundantly commendit. Through
its operation worthy merit in every station
and condition in American life is recog-
nized in the distribution of public employ
ment, while its application tcnls to raise
the standard of political activity from
spoils hunting and unthinking party afiil-
ation to the advocacy of party principles
by reason and argument.
The Pension Roll.
The American people are generous and
grateful, and they have impressed these
charact t4ristics upon their government.
Therefore all patriotic and Just citizens
our worthy veteran soldiers and for the
families of those who have died. No com
plant should be made of the amount of
public money paid to those actually dis
abled or made dependent by reason of
| army service. But our pension roll should
| be roll of honor uncontaninated bv ill
dessert and invitiated by demagogic use
| This is due to those whose worthy names
adorn the roll, and to all our people who
| delight to honor the brave and the true
LIT is also due to those who, in years to
come, should be allowed to hear reverently
and lovingly. the story of American patri-
otism and fortitude, illustrated by our
! pension roll. Preference accorded to vet
eran soldiers in public employment should
| be secured to them honestly and without
evasion, and when capable and worthy
! their claim to the helpful regard and graf
| itude of their countrymen should be un-
grudgingly acknowledged
| Against Sumptuary Laws.
| Assurances to the people of the utmost
! individual liberty consistent with peace
and good order is a cardinal principle of
our government. This gives no sanction
to vexatious sumptuary laws which un-
necessarily interfere with such habits and
customs of our people as are not offensive
to. the just moral sense and not inconsist-
ent with good citizenship and the public
welfare Such a principle requires that
| the line between subjects which are prop
erly within governmental control and
those which are more fittingly left to
parental regulations could be carefully
| kept in view. An enforced education
wisely deemed proper preparation for cit
| izenship, should not involve the impair
ment of wholesome parental authority nor
do violence to the household Of science.
Paternalism in the government finds no
approval in the creed of Democracy. 1t is
| a
tested in authorized gifts or by an unwar-
ranted control of personal and family
affairs Our people, still cherishing the
feeling of human fellowship which be-
| longed to our beginning as q nation, re-
quire their government to express for them
their sympathy with all those who are op-
pressed under any rule less free than ours.
| The generous hospitality, which is one OF
| the most prominent of our national char
acteristics, prompts us to welcome the
| worthy land industrious of all lands, tC
homes and citizenship among us. Th,.
hospitable sentiment is not violated, how
ever, by careful and reasonable regula-
tions for the protection of public health,
nor does it justify the reception of imrai
grants who have no appreciation of our
Institutions and whose presence among us
is menace to good peace and good order
The Importance of the cons .ruction oil
the Nicaragua ship canal, as means of pro
! noting commerce between our states and
with foreign countries, and also contri-
button by Americans to enterprises which
advance the interests of the world of civil
Iization, should commend the project tc
the governments approval and endorse
ment.
Our countrymen not only expect from
those who represent them in public places
a sedulous care for things which are di-
rectly and palpably related to their mate
rial interests, but they also fully appreci-
ate the value of cultisating our national