Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-09-03

Ma similar examples might be given Of
our increased trade under reciprocity with
other countries but enough has been shown Of
the efficacy CT the leg.slation of 1890 to justify
the speedy restoration of its reciprocity pro-
visions. In my judgment, congress should i'm
mediataly restore the reciprocity section Of
the old law, with such amendments, IL any, as
time and experience sanction as wise and prop
or. The underlying principle Of this legisla-
tion must, however, be strictly observed. 1t il
to afford new markets for our surplus agricul-
tural and manufactured products, without loss
TO the American laborer of a single days work
that he might otherwise procure.
Foreign Immigration.
The declaration Of the platform touching
foreign immigration Is one Of peculiar impor-
tance at this time, while our own laboring
people are in such great distress. ! am in
hearty sympathy with the present legislation
restricting foreign immigration and favor such
extension Of the laws as will secure the United
States from invasion by the debased and GRIM
inal classes of the old world. While we adj
here to the public policy under which our
country has received great bodies of honest,
industrious citizens who have added to the
wealth, progress and power OF the country,
and while we welcome to our shores the well
disposed and Industrious immigrant who con-
tributes by his energy and intelligence to the
cause Of free government, we want no i.nmi-
grants who do not seek our shores to become
citizens. We should permit none to partici-
pate In the advantages Of our civilization who
do not sympathize with our aims and form Of
government. We should receive none who
come to make war upon our institutions and
profit by public disquiet and turmoil. Against
all such our gates must be tightly closed.
The Soldiers and Sailors.
The soldiers and sailors Of the Union should
neither be neglected nor forgotten. The gov
eminent which they served SO we'll must not
make their lives or condition harder by treat
ing them as suppliants for relief in old age
or distress regard with disdain or con-
tempt the earnest interest one comrade natu-
rally manifests in the welfare Of another.
Doubtless there have been pension abuses and
frauds in the numerous claims allowed by the
government, but the policy governing the ad.
ministration of the pension bureau must al
ways be fair and liberal. No deserving appli-
cant should ever suffer because of O wrong
perpetrated by or for another. Our soldiers
and sailors gave the government the best they
had. They freely offered health, strength,
limb and life to save the country in the time
Of its greatest peril, and the government must
honor them in their need as in their service
with the respect and gratitude due to brave,
noble and self sacrificing men who are justly
entitled to generous aid in their increasing
necessities. i
The declaration Of the Republican platform
in favor Of the upbuilding of our merchant
marine has my hearty approval. The policy Of
discriminating duties in favor Of our shipping
which prevailed in the early years Of our his
tory should be again adopted by congress and
vigorously supported until our prestige and
supremacy on the seas are fully attained. We
should no longer contribute directly or indi-
rectly to the maintenance Of the colossal ma
rine Of foreign countries, but provide eff
cient and complete marine Of our own. Now
that the American navy is assuming position
commensurate with our Importance as a
ton, policy am glad to observe the Repub-
| lican platform strongly indorses, we must sup
| plement 1t with merchant marine that will
| give us the advantages in both our coastwise
| and foreign trade that we ought naturally and
! properly to enjoy. 1t should be at once q mat
| ter Of public policy and national pride to re-
| possess this immense and prosperous trade.
| Civil Service Reform.
The pledge Of the Republican national con-
| yention that our civil service laws "shall be
| sustained and thoroughly and honestly en-:
| forced and extended wherever practicable" is
| in keeping with the position Of the party for
the past "a years and will DO faithfully OBJ
served. Our opponents decry these reforms.
They appear willing to abandon all the al.
vantagcs gained after SO many years agitation
| and effort. They encourage q return to meth
| DDS Of party favoritism which both parties
| have often denounced, that experience has
| condemned and that the people have repeat
| eddy disapproved. The Republican party ear
nestly opposes this reactionary and entirely I'M
| justifable policy. 1t will take no backward
step upon this question. 1t will seek to i'm
prove but never degrade the public service.
There are other important and timely dec
larations in the platform which l cannot here
discuss. must content myself with saying
that they have my approval. If as Republic
ans we have lately addressed our attention
with what may seem great stress and earnest
ness to the new and unexpected assault upon
the financial integrity Of the government, we
have done it because the menace is so grave as
to demand especial consideration and because
| We are convinced that if the people are aroused
to the true understanding and meaning of this
silver imitation movement they will avert the
danger. In doing this we feel that we render
the best service possible to the country, and
We appeal to the intelligence, conscience and
patriotism of the people, irrespective of party
or section. for their earnest support.
To Maintain Law and Order.
We avoid no issue. We meet the sudden,
dangerous and revolutionary assault upon law
and order, and upon those to whom Is confidcd
by the constitution and laws the authority to
uphold and maintain them, which our oppo-
nents have made with the same courage that
We have faced every emergency since our Or
ganization as a party, more than 40 years ago.
Government by law must first be assured.
Everything else wait. The spirit of law.
lessness must be eXtinGEishcd by the fires of
an unselish and lofty patriotism. Every at
tack upon the public faith and every sugges-
ton Of the reputation of debts, public pr-
Vate must De reDuked by all men who believe
that honesty is the best policy who love
their country and would preserve unsullied
its national honor.
The country is to DO congratulated upon the
almost total obliteration of the sectional lines
which for many years marked the division of
the United States into slave and free territory
and finally threatened it's partition into two
separate governments by the dread ordeal of
civil war. The era Of reconciliation so long
and earnestly desired by General Grant and
many other great leaders, north and SOUTH
has happily come, and the feeling of distrust
and hostility between the sections is every
where vanishing lot US hope never to return
Nothing is better calculated to give strength
to the nation at home, increase our power and
influence abroad and add to the permanency
and security of our free institutions than the
restoration of cordial relations between the
people of all sections and parts Of our beloved
country II called by the SURFACES Of the poo
pie to assume the duties OF the high office Of
president OF the United States shall count it
a privilege to aid, even in the slightest degree
In tho promotion Of the spirit of fraternal re-
gard which should animate and govern the
citizens OF every section, state or part of the
republic. After the lapse Of century since
Its utterance let us at length and forever here