Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-03

ac! on the seas - fully attained. we
should no longer contribute directly or indt-
rectly to the maintenance Of the colossal
marine or foreign countries. but provide an
efficient and complete marine Of our own.
Now that the American navy Is assuming q
position commensurate with our Importance
as a nation, a policy | am glad to observe
the Republican platform strongly endorses.
we must supplement It with a merchant
marine that will give US the advantages In
both our coastwise and foreign trade that
we ought naturally and properly to enjoy.
* should be at once a matter OF public
policy and national pride 10 repossess this
immense and prosperous trade.
Civil Service Reform.
The pledge of the Republican national COM
vention that our civil service laws shall
"be sustained and thoroughly and honestly
enforced, and extended wherever practi-
cable Is In keeping with the position OF
the party for the past twenty-four years,
and will be faithfully observed. Our oppo-
nents decry these reforms. They appear
Wiling TO abandon all the advantages
gained, after so many years OF agitation and
effort. They encourage Il return to methods
or party favoritism which both parties have
often denounced. that experience has con-
demned and that the people have repeatedly
disapproved. The Republican party earn
estly opposed this reactionary and entirely
unjustiiable policy. 1t will take no back
ward step upon this question. 1t will seek
10 ihpIONt, out never degrade the puDhC
service.
1t Demands Especial Attention.
There are other important and timely
declarations in the platform which | cannot
here discuss: / must content myself with
saying that they have my approval. Ii, as
Republicans, we have lately addressed our
attention, with what may seem great stress
and earnestness, TO the new and unexpected
assault upon the financial integrity of the
government. we have done Ii because the
menace is so grave as to demand especial
consideration, and because we are convinced
that III 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
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.
1t Will Maintain Law and Order.
We avoid no issues. We meet the sudden,
dangerous and revolutionary assault upon
law and order. and upon those to whom is
confided by the constitution and laws the
authority To uphold and maintain them,
which our opponents have made, with the
same courage that we have faced every
emergency since our organization as a party
more than forty years ago. Government
by law must first be assured; everything
else can wait. The spirit of lawlessness
must be eXtingulshed by the fires of an
u~nselish and lofty patriotism. Every at
tack upon the public faith and every sug-
gestion OF the reputation of debts, public
or private. must he rebuked by all men who
believe taat honesty Is the best policy, or
who love their country and would preserve
u~nsullied its national honor.
S~ectionaIism Almost Obiiterated
The country Is TO be congratulated upon
the almost total obliteration of the section
al 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 de-
sired by Gen. Grant and many other great
leaders, North and South, has happily come,
and the feeling of distrust and hostility be-
tween the sections is everywhere vanishing,
let us hope never to return. Nothing Is
better calculated TO give strength to the
nation at home, Increase our power and in-
fiuence 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. If called by the SURFACES
of the people TO assume the duties of the
high office of president of the United States
/ shall count il a privilege to aid, even in
the slightest degree, In the promotion OF
the spirit of fraternal regard, which should
animate and govern the citizens of every
section, state or part of the republic. After
the lapse of a century since its utteranoe,
let us, at length and forever hereafter.
heed the admonition of Washington:
'.There should be no North, no South,
no East, no West-but Il common country
1t shall be my constant aim 10 improve
every opportunity to advance the cause OF
good government by promoting that spirit
of forbearance and justice which Is so es-
sential 10 our prosperity and happiness. by
joining most heartily ia all proper efforts
to restore the relations of brother respect
and affection which, in our early history,
characterized the people of all the states.
/ would be glad to contribute towards bind
ing in indivisible union the different divi-
slons of the country, which, indeed, now
''have every 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 "a danger Of becom-
ing separated, because of sectional or party
differences. The war Is long since over;
1--WE are not enemies, but friends" and as
friends we will faithfully and cordially CO.
operate. with the approving smile of Him
who has thus far so signally sustained and
guided us TO preserve i~nviolate our coun-
try's name and honor, its peace and good
order, and its continued ascendancy among
the greatest governments on earth.
William Mckinley.