The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-06

my; ana 1t IS equally clear Illdt Ii S"ii0J
among the people is the best guaranty,
| of a contented and strong support OF
free institutions. One mode of the mis-
appropriation of public funds is avoided
when appointments to offices, instead OF
being the reward of partisan activity, are
| awarded to those whose efficiency prom
ises fair return of work for the COM
pensation paid to them. To secure the
| fitness and competency of appointees to
| office, and to remove from political &C
ton the
Demoralizing Madness for SpoiIs,
civil service reform has found place in
our public policy and laws. The bene-
fits already gained through this instru-
mentality, and the further usefulness it
| promises, entitle it to the hearty support
| and announcement of all who desire to
see our public service well performed, or
who hope for the elevation of political
sentiment and the publication OF pollti-
| cal methods.
| The existence of immense aggregations
| of kindred enterprises and combinations
of business interests, formed for the pur-
| pose of limiting productions and nxlng
| prices, is inconsistent with the fair field
| which ought to be open to every indie
pendent activity. Legitimate strife in
| business should not be superseded by an
enforced concession to the demands OF
combinations that have the power to de-
stroy; nor should the people to be served
| lose the benefit of cheapness, which
| usually results from wholesome compe-
tition.
These aggregations and combinations
| frequently constitute conspiracies against
the interests of the people, and in all
| their phases they are unnatural and OPP
posed to our American sense of fairness.
| To the extent that they can be reached
and restrained by Federal powers, the
general government should relieve our
| citizens from their interference and exer-
| tions.
Loyalty to principles upon which our
government rests positively demands
that the equality before the law which it
guarantees to every citizen should be
| justly and in good faith conceded in all
parts of the land. The enjoyment OF
| ship wherever found, and, unimpaired
by race or color, it appeals for recogni-
ton to American manliness and fairness.
| Our relations with the Indians located
within our borders imposed upon us
responsibilities we cannot escape. HUI
| mainly and consistency require us to
| treat them with forbearance. and in our
dealings with them to honestly and con-
siderately regard their rights and in
| terest. Every effort should be made to
| lead them through the paths of civiliza-
| ton and education to self-supporting
| and independent citizenship. In the
| meantime, as the nations wards, they
should be promptly defended against
the cupidity of designing men and
shielded from every influence or tempta-
| ton that retards their advancement.
| The people of the United States have de-
creed that on this day the control OF
their government in their legislative and
executive branches shall be given to a po-
litical party pledged in the most positive
terms to the accomplishment of tariff re-
form. They have thus determined in
favor of a more just and equitable system
| of federal taxation. The agents they
have chosen to carry out their purposes
are bound by their promises, not less
than by the command of their masters,
to devote themselves unremitingly to
this service. While there should be no
surrender OF principle, our task must be
undertaken wisely and without vindic-
tiveness, Our mission is not punish
ment, but the rectification of wrongs. Ii,
| in lifting burdens from the daily life of
our people, we reduce the inordinate and
unequal advantages too long enjoyed,
this is but a necessary incident of our re-
| turn to right and justice. Ii we exact
from unwilling minds acduiescence in
the theory of an honest distribution of
| the fund of governmental beneficence
| treasured up for all, we but insist on a
principle which underlies our free insti.
| buttons. When we tear aside the delu-
sions and misconce ptions which have
/ blinded our countrymen to their cOndi-
ton under vicious tariff laws, we but
show them how far they have been leo
away from the paths of contentment and
| prosperity. When we proclaim that the
necessity for revenue to support govern
ment furnishes the
Only Justification for Taxing the People
we announce truth so plain that its de-
NAL would seem to indicate the extent to
which judgment may be influenced by
| familiarity with perversions OF the taxing
power; and when we seek to reins tate
| the self-confidence and business enter
| prise of our citizens by discreditlng an
| abject dependence upon governmental
favor, we strive to stimulate those ele'
ments of American character which sup
|
Anxiety for the redemption of the
pledges which my party has made, and
| solicitude for the complete justification
of the trust the people have reposed in
us, constrain me to remind those with
whom am to cooperate that we can sue
coed in doing the work which has been
especially set before us only by the most
sincere, harmonious and disinterested
effort. Even if insuperable obstacles
and opposition prevent the consumma-
ton Of our task, we shall hardly be ex'
cused and if failure can be traced to our
fault or neglect, we may be sure the peeo-
pie will hold us to swift and exacting
accountability.
The oath I now take to preserve, pro
tect and defend the constitution of the
United States, not only impressively
defines the great responsibilities assume,
but suggests obedience to constitutional
commands as the rule by which my off
cial conduct must be guided. / shall to
the best of my ability and within my
sphere of duty preserve the constitution
by Loyalty pro Getting every grant Of
federal power it contains, by defending
| oil ire restraints when attacked bV inn