Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05

However troublesome the s'"aNo' 'S
appear. Congress VIII NOT ! al" gu ,,.,,
Son,d lackinr In disposition or ability
,o relieve IL as far as legislation can 40
eo Tho restoration Of confidence ana the
revival of business, which men OF All
narties so much desire depend more
largely upon the prompt eherse'o' anu
Intelligent action OF Congress tnah upoh
any other single agency anecunB .ho
situation. It is inspiring. TOO, 10 reinehipei
that no great emergency IN the lVe Yeas
OF our eventful naton's Ire mas ever
arisen that has not been met WIN
wisdom and courage py tne A,ne
lean people. with hdenV W te
best interests and highest ueseny
and 10 the honor of the Ameri-
can name These years OF glorious
history have exalted mankind, ana au-
vanced the cause Of freedom throughout
the world. and immeasurably sTehgth-
ened the precious free Institutions Wnlcn
we enjoy. The people love and VIII sus-
tain these institutions.
FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES.
The great essential 10 our happiness
and prosperity is that we adhere TO the
principles upon which the government
was established, and insist upon their
faithful observance. Equality OF rlghts
must prevail, and our laws be always
and everywhere respected ana oheyeu,
We may have failed in the discharge Oh
our full duty as citizens OF the great
republic, but 70 Is consoling and encour-
aging to realize that free speech
free press free thought. free schools
the free and unmolested rights OF re-
ugious liberty. and worship, and Tree
and fair elections. are dearer ana more
universally enjoyed to-day than ever be-
fore. These guarantees must be sa-
credly preserved and wisely strength
ened. The constituted authorities must
be cheerfully and vigorously upheld;
lynchings must not be tolerated In
great and civilized country ike the
United States. Courts-not mobs-musI
execute the penalties of the law. Inc
preservation Of public order, the right OF
discussion. the integrity of courts ana
the orderly administration OF justice
must continue forever the rock of safety
upon which our government securely
rests.
cone of the lessons taught by the late
election. which all can rejoice In, IL tnat
the citizens OF the United States are both
lavy-respecting and law-abiding people,
not easily swerved from the path OF pa
triotism and honor. This is In entire
accord with the genius OF our lnstltu-
lions. and but emphasizes the advantages
of intoxicating even greater love LOT
law and order I'm the future. Immunity
should be granted to none who Violate
the laws, whether individuals, corpora
TONS or communities; and, as the Con-
sttution imposes upon the President the
dutv of both its own execution and tnat
of the statutes enacted In pursuance OF
IFS provisions, l shall endeavor careIully
~ carry them into effect. The declara-
Non Of the party now restored to power
has been in the past that OF opposition
70 all combinations Of capital, organized
I'm trusts. or elsewhere, TO control ar
bitrarilv the condition OF trade among
our citizens and it has supported sucn
LEGISLATION as will prevent the execution
~ ali schemes to Cypress the people by
undue charges on their supplies. or by
unjust rates for the transportation OF
tbeir PRODUCTS to market This purpose
will be steadily pursued, both by the en-
forcement Of the laws now In existence
md the recommendation and support
of such new statutes as may be neces-
sary TO carry it into erect.
"Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved 10 the
constant promotion Of safer. better,
and n higher citizenship. a grave peril
10 the republic would be citizenship too
ignorant to understand or too vicious TO
onnreciate. the great value and beneh-
cence of our institutions and laws, and
against all who come here to make war
unon them our gates must be promptly
and tightly closed. Nor must we be un-
,,indfuI of the need of improvement
among our own citizens; but, with the
zeal OF our forefathers encourage the
snread Of knowledge and free education.
Illiteracy must be banished from the
1ond If we shall attain that high des-
Of the pnlfpbfpneN
nations of the world, which under ProV-
dence. we ought TO achieve.
CIVIL-SERVICE REFORM.
"peforms in the civil service must go
nm But the changes should be real and
,anuine not perfunctory, or prompted
bv zeal i'm behalf of any party. simply
because II happens TO be in power. As
~ roarnber of Congress, ] voted and spoke
In favor of the present law; and i shall
attenpt its enforcement in the spirit in
which il was enacted. The purpose in
view was to secure the most efficient
services Of the best men who would ac-
cent appointment under the government,
retaining faithful and devoted public SER
wants in Office, but shielding none
under the authority Of any rule or Gus
tom. who are inefficient, incompetent or
unworthy. The best interests of the
country demand this, and the people
heartily approve the law, wherever and
whenever IL has been thus administered.
CONGRESS should give prompt atten-
tion 10 the restoration Of our American
merchant marine, once the pride Of the
seas in all the great ocean highways OF
commerce. TO my mind, few more import
ant subjects so imperatively demand its
intelligent consideration. The United
states has progressed with marvellous
Of ont md
endeavor. until we have become foremost
in nearly all great lines Of inland trade,
commerce. and industry; yet, while TINS
is true our American merchant marine
has been steadily declining, until 1t Is
now lower. both in the percentage or
tonnage and the number OF vessels EN-
ployed, than II was prior TO the civil wal
Commendable progress has been made or
late years I'm the upbuilding OF the Amer
lean navy; but we must supplement these
efforts by providing, as proper cohsort
for it. a merchant marine amply suhclehe
for our own carrying trade to Foreign
countries. The question is one that APP
meals both to our business necessities
and the patriotic aspirations Oh great
people.
at has been the policy of the United
States. since the foundation Of the gov
eminent. to cultivate relations Of peace
and amity with all the nations of the
world. and this accords with my con-
ception of our duty now. We have cher
ished the policy of non-interference with
the affairs of foreign governments, wisely
inaugurated by Washington. keeping
ourselves free from enlargement either
as allies or foes. content to leave UNI
disturbed with them the settlement of
their own domestic concerns, it will be
our aim to pursue a firm and digniiied
foreign policy which shall be just. i'm
partial. ever watchful Of our national
honor. and always insisting upon the
enforcement Of the lawful rights OF
American citizens everywhere. We want