Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-09-03
MKINLEY'S LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.


work that he might otherwise procura
Foreign Immigration.
The declaration Of the platform touchin,
foreign immigration Is one Of peculiar i'm
portance at this time, when our own laborinp
people are In such great distress. am in
hearty sympathy with the present lecisla.
ton restraining foreign immigration and favor
such extension Of the laws as will secure
based and criminal classes of the old world.
While we adhere to the public policy under
which our country has received great bodies
Of honest, Industrious citizens, who have add.
ed to the wealth, progress and power Of the
and while we welcome to our shores
the well-disposed and industrious immigrant
who contributes by his energy and inteli-
gence to the cause Of free government, we
want no immigrants who do not seek our shores
to become citizens. We should permit none
to participate In the advantages Of our civil
ization who do not sympathize with our
aims and form of government. We She I'D re-
celve none who come to make war upon our
institutions and profit by public disqiiet and
Against all such our gates must be
tightly closed.
Our Soldiers and Sailors.
The soldiers and sailors OF the Union
should neither be neglected nor forgotten.
The Government which they served SO well
must not make their lives or condition hard
er by treating them as suppliants for re-
lief In old age or Distress, nor regard with
disdain or contempt the earnest interest
one comrade naturally mantfeSts in the well
fare Of another. Doubtless there have been
pension abuses and frauds In the numerous
claims allowed by the Government, but the
policy governing the administration of the
Pension Bureau must always be fair and
liberal. No deserving applicant should ever
suffer because OF a wrong peI,etrated by or
the Government the best they had. They
freely offered health, strength. limb and life
to save the country In the time OF Its great.
est peril, and the Government must honor
Thorn in fhoir nCa1 as In their Sprytco with
the respect and gratitude due to brave. noble
and self-sacrificing men who are justly en-.
titled to generous aid In their increasing ne
cessities. u,
Merchant Marine and Navy.
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 history should be again promptly
adopted by Congress and vigorously support.
ed until our prestige and supremacy on the
seas Is fully attained. We should no longer
contribute directly or indirectly to the main.
tcnance OF the colossal marine Of foreign
but provide an efficient and COM
plete marine of our own. Now that the Amer.
lean navy Is assuming a portion commensur-
ate with our Importance as a nation. a policy
l am glad to observe the Republican plat
form strongly indorses. we must supplement
1t with a merchant marine that viii give US
the advantages In both our coastwise and
ii llulS thal we ousIl udlUTllN anu
properly to enjoy. 1t should at once be a
matter Of public policy and national pride to
repossess this immense aud prosperous
trade.
Civil Service Reform.
The pledge of the Republican National Con-
vention that our civil laws .'shall be sus-
tanned and thoroughly and honestly enforced.
and extended wherever practicable" is in
the past twenty-four years. and will be faith
fully observed. Our opponents decry these
reforms. They appear willing to abandon
all the advantages, gained. after SO many
a return to methods Of party favroitism,
which both parties have often denounced,
that experience has condemned, and that the
people have repeatedly disapproved. The
Republican party earnestly opposes this re-
and entirely unjustitiabie policy.
1t will take no backward step upon this
question. 1t will seek to improve, but never
the public service.
Returns to Money Question.
There are other important and timely dec
larations In the platform which l cannot
here discuss. ! must content myself with
that they have my approval. If, as
republicans. we have lately addressed our
with what may seem great stress
and earnestness. to the new and unexpected
assault upon the financial integrity OF the
Government, we have done 1t because the
menace Is so grave as to demand especial
consideration, and because we are convinced
that II the people are aroused to the true
understanding and meaning OF this silver
and imitation movement. they will avert the
danger. In doing this we feel that we rem
der the best service possible to the country,
and we appeal to the intelligence, conscience
and patriotism OF the people. irrespective Of
or section. for their earnest support.
We avoid no issues. We meet, the sudden,
dangerous and revolutionary assault upon
and order. and upon those to whom Is
contided by the Constitution and laws the
authority to uphold and maintain them.
which our OUnOnenfS have made with the
courage that we have faced every
since our organization as a party,
more than forty, years ago. Government by
must first be assured; everything else
can wait. The spirit Of lawlessness must be
extinguished by the fires Of an unselfsh and
patriotism. Every attack upon the
pudiation Of debts, public or private. must
be rebuked by all men who believe that hon
esty is the best policy, or who love their
and would preserve unsullied ito
honor.
Almost O~bliterated.
The country Is to be congratulated upon
the almost total obliteration of the sectional
lines which for many years marked the divi-
sion OF the United States into slave and free
and finally threatened its partt-
dread ordeal Of civil war. The era OF recon.
Citation, 20 long and earnestly desired by
General Grant and other great leaders. North
Il efu d sSa1ni n and nf bastIl, f9m set ,ns the The fse, .es.
IL everywhere vanishing, let US hope
never to return. Nothing Ia better calculated
to give strength to the nation at home, In.
crease our power and influence abroad, and
add TO the Permanency and security Of our
free institutions than the restoration Of cor.
dial relations between the people Of all sec:
and parts ct our beloved country. II
called by the SURFACES Of the people TO as
the duties Of the high Office of Presi-
dent. Of the United States, l shall count 1t
a privilege to aid, even in the slightest de-
gree, IN the promotion Of the spirit Of frater-
nal regard which should animate and govern
the citizens OF every section, State or part OF
the repvOlic. After the lapse of a century
Its u~tterance. let us, ut length, and for
ever hereafter, heed the admonition Of Wash.
lngton, "TheSe should be no North, no
no East. no West-but a common
country" 1t shall be my constant aim to
Improve every opportunity to advance the
cause OF good government by promoting that
spirit OF forbearance and Justice which Is
30 essential to our prosperity and happiness
BY joining most heartily In all proper efforts
to restore the relations OF brotherly respect
and affection which In our early history char.
acterlzed all the people Of all the States. l
would be glad to contribute toward binding
IN lndivisible union the different divisions
OF the country, which, indeed, now shave ev..
cry inducement OF sympathy and interest
to weld them together more strongly than
ever. / would rejoice to see demonstrated
to the world that the North and the South
and the East and the West are not separated.
or in danger Of becoming separated, be-
cause Of sectional or party differences. The