The Republican journal., 1897-03-11

very heavy and we'll nigh constant for severa1
years. 'oA 'o'oia
In the revision of the tariff, especial atten.
i eioa snoula De given to the re-enactmen mt
anu extension OF the reciprocity principle OF
the law of 1890, under which 40 preat a sti,o
ulus was given to our foreign trade in new
and advantageous markets for our surnIns
agrlcultural and manufactured products
Inc brlef trial given this legislation amplv
]ustlfes farther experiment and Additional
dls cretlonary power in the making of com.
merclal treaties, the end in view ALWAYS to he
the opening OF new markets for the products
OF our country, by granting concessions to
the products of other lands that we need and
cannot produce ourselves, and which do not
involve any loss of labor to our own peonle
but tend to increase their employment
The depression of the past four wears has
fallen with especial severity upon the great
body of toilers of the country and upon none
more than the holders of small farms Az.
rlcuiture mas langulshed and labor suffered.
The revival OF manufacturing will be a re-
lief to both. No portion of our population is
more devoted to the institutions of A free
government nor more loyal in their support
while none bears more cheerfully or fully
its proper share in the maintenance of gov
ernnent, or IS better entitled to its wise and
liberal care and protection. Legislation
helpful to producers is beneficial to all The
depressed condition of industries on the
farm and IN the mine and factory Has lessen
ed the ability of the people to meet the de-
mands upon them, and they rightfully ex-
pect that not only system of revenue shall
be established that will secure the largest H.
come with the least burden, but that everv
means will be taken to decrease, rather than
increase, our public expenditures. Busi-
ness conditions not the most promising
1t will take time to restore the prosperity
of former years. If we cannot promptly at
tain it, We can resolutely turn our faces in
hat ii ia rat1 bv fria 3lx,
legislation.
However troublesome the situation may
appear, Congress will not, l am sure, be
found lacking in disposition of ability to re-
leve it as far as legislation can do so. The
restoration of confidence and the revival of
business, which men of all parties so much
desire, depend more largely upon the
prompt, energetic and intelligent action of
Congress than upon any other single agency
affecting the situation.
1t is inspiring, too, to remember that no
great emergency ip the one hundred and
eight years of our eventful national life has
ever arrived that has not been met with
wisdom and courage by the American peo-
pie, with fidelity to their best interests and
highest destiny and to the honor of the
American name. These years of glorious
history have exalted mankind and advanced
the cause OF freedom throughout the world
and immeasuraby strengthened the precious
free institutions which we enjoy. The peo-
pie love and will sustain those in stitutions
The great essential to our happiness and
prosperity is that we adhere to the princi-
Piles upon which the government was estab-
ished, and insist upon their faithful observ-
ance. Equality of right must prevail and
our laws be always and everywhere respect
ed and obeyed. We may have failed in the
discharge of our full duty as citizens of a
great republic, but it is consoling and en-
couraging to realize that free speech, a free
| %l1 ]
molested right of religious liberty and wor-
ship, and free and fair elections are dearer
and more universally enjoyed to-day than
ever before. These guarantees must be sa T.
redly preserved and wisely strengthened
The constituted authorities must be cheerful l.
ly and vigorously upheld. Lynching must
not be tolerated in a great and civilized
country like the United States courts, not
mobs must execute the penalty of the law.
The preservation of public order, the right
of discussion, the integrity Of our courts, and
the orderly administration of justice must
continue forever the rock of safety upon
which our government surely rests.
( One of the lessons taught by the late election
which all can concur in, is that the citizens
of the United States are both law-reS pecting
and law-abiding people not easily swerved
from the path of patriotism and of honor
This is in entire accord with the genius of our
institutions, and but mphtslzes the wisdom
of incuIcatlng even a greater love for law
and order in the future. Immunity should
be granted TO none who violate the law,
whether individuals, corporations, or com
munlties, and as the Constitution imposes
upon the President the duties of both its own
execution and of the statutes enacted IN
pursuance of its provisions, shall endeavor
carefully to carry them into effect.
The declaration of the party now restored
to power has been in the past that of "oppo-
siton to all combinations of capital organ
Il
rily 5he trade among our citizens and it has
supported "such legislation as will prevent
the execution of all schemes to oppress the
people by undue charges on their supplies
or by unjust rates for the transportation of
their products to market This purpose
will be steadily pursued, both by the en-
forcement of laws now in existence and the
recommendation and support of such new
statutes as may be necessary to carry it into
effect.
Our naturalization and immigration laws
should be further improved to the constant
promotion of safer, better and a higher
citizenship. grave peril to the republic
would be citizenship too ignorant to un-
derstand or too vicious to appreciate the
great value and benefits of our institutions
and laws, and against all who come here to
make war upon them our gates must be
promptly and tightly closed.
Nor must we be unmindful of the need of
improvement among our own citizens, but
with the zeal of our forefathers encourage
the spread of knowledge and free institu-
tions. Illiteracy must be banished from the
land, if we shall attain that high destiny as
the foremost of the enlightened nations of
the world which, under Providence, we
ought to achieve.
Reforms in the civil service must go on,
but the changes should be real and genuine,
not perfunctory, or prompted by zeal in
behalf of any party simply because it hap
pens to be in power. AS a member of Con
gress 1 voted and spoke in favor of the pres
ent law and l shall attempt its enforcement
in the spirit in which it was enacted. The
purpose in view was to secure the most
efficient service of the best men who would
accept appointment under the government;
retaining faithful and devoted public SER
wants in Office, but shielding none under the
authority of any rule or custom, who are
inefficient, incompetent or unworthy. The
best interests of the country demand this
and the people heartily approve the law
wherever and whenever it is thus admins
tered.
Congress should give prompt attention to
the restoration of our American merchant
marine, once the pride of the seas in all of
the great ocean highways of commerce. To
my mind, few more important sub jects so
imperatively demand its intelligent consid-
GRAFTON. The United States has progressed
with marvellous rapidity in every field of
enterprise and endeavor, until we have be-
come foremost in nearly all the great lines
of inland trade commerce and industry. Yet,
la this ia trup pban #