Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-09-29

possible free trade.
The administration and management of
our government depend on popular will
Federal power is the instrument of that
| wtll-uot its master. Therefore the at
| tempts of tho opponents of Democracy to
interfere with and control the suffrage of
the state, through federal agencies devel-
ops design, which no explanation can
mitigate, to reverse the fundamental and
safe relations between the people and their
government. Such an attempt can not
fail to be regarded by thoughtful men as
| proofs OF bold determination to secure the
/ ascendency of discredited party in reek-
less disregard of free expression of the
popular will. To resist such scheme is
an impulse of Democracy. At all times
and in all places we trust the people As
against disposition to force the way to
federal power, we present to them
as our claim to their confidence and sup
port, a steady championship of their rights
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 peoples
currency, national or state-whether gold
silver, or paper-it should be 80 regulated
and guarded by governmental action, or by
wise and careful laws, that no one can be
deluded as to the certainty and stability
| of its value. Every dollar put into the
hand 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 cur
| rency.
In dealing with this subject no selfish
scheme should be allowed tS intervene and
no doubtful experiment Should be at
tempted. The wants Of our people, arising
from the deficiency or imperfect distribu-
tlon OF money circulation, ought to be
fully and honestly recognized and efficiently
remedied. 1t should, however, be constant
~ remembered, that the inconvenience or
loss that might arise from such situation
can be much easier borne than the univer-
sal distress that must follow decrease in
the currency.
Public officers are the agents of the peo-
pie. 1t is therefore their duty to secure for
those whom they represent the best and
most e1nclent performance of public work
This plainly can be best accomplished by
regarding ascertained fitness in the selec
tion OF government employees. These con-
siderations alone are sufficient justification
Tor an honest adherence to the letter and
spirit OF civil service reform. There are,
however, other features Of this plan which
abundantly commend It, Through its op-
Grafton worthier merit in every station and
condition of American life is recognized in
the. distribution of public employment,
While its application tends to raise the
standard of political activity from spoils-
hunting and unthinking party afIiliation
70 tne advocacy OF party principles by
reason and argument.
The American people are generous and
grateful; they have impressed these char
acteristics upon their government, There
fore all patriotic and Just citizens must
commend liberal consideration for our
worthy veterans soldiers and for the fam
lilies of those who died. No complaint
should be made of the amount of public
money, paid to those actually disabled or
made dependent by army service But our
pension roll should be roll ofhonor, un-
contaminated by i'll desert and unvitiated
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. 1t is also due to those who
in years to come should be allowed to hear,
reverently and lovingly, the story of Ameri-
can patriotism and fortitude, illustrated by
our pension roll. The preferences accorded
to veteran soldier in public employment
should oe secured to them honestly and
without evasion, and when capable and
worthy, their claim to the helpful regard
and gratitude of their countrymen should
be ungrudgingly acknowledged.
The assurance to the people OF the ut
most individual liberty consistent with
peace and good order is cardinal princi-
pie of our government. This gives no
sanction to veXatious sumptuary laws
which unnecessarily interfere with such
habits and customs of our people as are
not offensive to just moral sense and are
not inconsistent with good citizenship and
the public welfare. The same principle re-
quires that the line between the subjects
which are properly within governmental
control and those which are more f1ttingly
left to parental regulation should be care
fully kept in view. An enforced education,
wisely deemed proper preparation for
citizenship, should not involve the impair
ment OF wholesale parental authority nor
do violence to the household conscience
Paternalism in government finds no ap-
proval in the creed of Democracy. 1t is a
symptom of misrule, whether it is mani
tested in unauthorized gifts or by unwar-
ranted control ofpersonaI and family affair
Our people, sill cherishing the feeling
of human fellowship which belonged to our
beginning as nation, require their gov
eminent to express for them their sympa-
thy with all those who are oppressed under
any rule less free than ours.
A generous hospitality, which is one of
the most prominent of our national char
acteristics, prompts us to welcome the
worthy and industrious of all lands to
homes and citizenship among u.s. This
hospitable sentiment is not violated, how
ever, by careful and reasonable regulations
for the protection of public health, nor does
it justify the reception of immigrants who
have no appreciation Of our institutions
and whose presence among us is a menace
to peace and good order
The Importance of the Nicaragua ship
canal as means of promoting commerce
between our states and with foreign couu-
tries, and also as contribution by Ameri-
cans to the enterprises which advance the
interests of civilization, should commend
the project to government approval and
endorsement.
Our countrymen not only expect from
those who represent them in public places
a sedulous care for the things which are
directly and palpably related to their
material interests, but they also fully ap-
preciate the value of cultivating our ma
tional pride and maintaining our national
honor. Both their material interests and
their national pride and honor are involved
in the success of the Columbian exposi-
ton; and they will not be inclined to con-
done any neglect of effort on the part of
their government to insure in the grandeur
of this event a fitting exhibit of American
growth and greatness, and splendid
demonstration of American patriotism.
In an imperfect and incomplete letter
have thus endeavored to state some of the
things which accord with the views and
intentions of the party to which have
given my lifelong allegiance My attempt
has not been to Instruct my countrymen
nor my party, but to remind both that
Democratic doctrine lies near the princi-
pies of our government and tends to pro-
mote the peoples good am willing to
be accused of addressing my countrymen
upon trite topics and in homely fashion,
for l believe that important truths are
found on the surface of thought, and that
they should be stated in direct and simple
terms Though much is left unwritten,
my record as o public servant leaves no
excuse for misunderstanding my belief
and position on the questions which are
now presented to the voters of the land for
their decision.
Called for the third time to represent the