Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-05
THE ARQU4 FRIDAY, MARCH 8. lse7.

the integrity OF courts. ANA the orderly
administration Of justice must continue
forever the rock Of safety upon which
our government securely rests.
Lesson Taught by Last Election.
One Of the lessons taught by the late
election. which all can rejoice In. il
that the citizens Of the United States
are both law-respecting and law-abfd-
ing people. not easily swerved from the
path Of patriotism and honor. This Il
In entire accord with the genius q our
institutions. and but emphasizes the
advantages Of intoxicating even q great
er love for law and order in the future
Immunity should be granted to none
who violate the laws. whether individ-
uals. corporations. or communities: and
a. the constitution imposes upon the
president the duty Of both its own exc
cutton ana OF the statutes enacted in
pursuance Of its provisions. shall en-
deavor carefully to carry them into eff
feet. The declaration Of the party now
restored to power has been in the past
that Of Opposition to all combinations
Of capital organized in trusts, or other
wise. to control arbitrarily the condi-
ton Of trade among our citizens" and
1t has supported such legislation as
VIII prevent the execution OF all
schemes to Cypress the people by UNI
just rates for the transportation Of
their products to market" This pur-
pose will be steadily pursued. both by
the enforcement of the laws now in ex-
istence, and the recommendation and
snnDOrf n cr.ch yaoxy to fr1toS NAV he
necessary to carry it into effect.
Illiteracy Must Be Banished.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of safer, a bet
ter and a higher citizenship. A grave
peril to the republic would be a citizen
ship too ignorant to understand, or too
vicious to appreciate, the great value
and benefit of our constitution and
laws-and against all who come here to
make war upon them. our gates must
me promptly and tightly closed.
Nor must we be unmindful of the need
Of improvement among our own citi-
zens, but with the zeal Of our forefath-
ers encourage the spread of knowledge
and free education. Illiteracy must be
banished from the land il we shall at
tain that high destiny as the foremost
of the enlightened nations of the world,
which under Providence, we ought to
achieye.
Reforms in the civil service must go
on, but the change should be real and
genuine. not perfunctory, or prompted
by a zeal in behalf Of any party, sim
ply because it happens to be in power.
As a member of congress 1 voted and
spoke in favor of the present law and
I 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 de-
voted public servants 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 has been
thus administered.
Congress should give prompt atten-
ton to 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 i'm
portant subjects so imperatively de-
United States has progressed with mar
velous rapidly in every field of enter
prise and endeavor until we have be-
come foremost in nearly all the great
lines of inland trade. commerce and in
dustry.
Has Been Steadily Declining.
Yet, while this is true, our American
merchant marine has been steadily de-
clining until it is now lower both in
the percentage of tonnage and the
number of vessels employed, than it
was prior to the civil war. Commend
able progress has been made of late
years in the upbuilding of the American
navy. but We must supplement these
efforts BY providing as a proper con-
sort for it a merchant marine amply
sufficient for our own carrying trade
to foreign countries. The question is
one that appeals both to our business
necessities and the patriotic aspirations
of great people.
1t 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
cherished the policy of non-interference
with the affairs Of foreign governments.
wisely inaugurated by Washington.
keeping ourselves free from entangle-
ment either as allies or foes. content to
leave undisturbed with them the settle
ment Of their own domestic concerns
1t will be our aim to pursue a firm
and dignified foreign policy, which shall
be Just. impartial, ever-watchful OF our
national honor and always insisting
upon the enforcement of the lawful
rights of American citizens every
where. Our diplomacy should seek
nothing more. and accept nothing less
than is due us. We want no wars OF
conquest; we must avoid the tempta.
ton OF territorial aggression.
Peace Preferable to War,
War should never be entered upon
until every agency of peace has failed:
peace is preferable to war in almost
every contingency. Arbitration is the