The Bourbon news., 1897-03-05

Nor must we be unmindsul OF the need OF
the improvemen among our own citizens
but with the zeal of our forefathers encour-
age the spread OF knowledge and free educa-
tion. 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 inthe 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 happens to be
in power. AS member of congress voted
and spoke in favor of the present law and
shall attempt its enforcement in the spirit
in which it was enacted The pur-
pose in view was to secure the most
efficient service OF the best men
who would accept appointment under the gov
ernment. retaining faithful and devoted pub
lie servants in office. but shielding none, un-
der 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 wher-
ever and whenever it has been thus admins
tered.
Congress should give prompt attention 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 important subjects so imper-
atively demand its intelligent consideration
The United States has progressed with mar
velous rapidity in every field Of enterprise,
and endeavor We have become foremost in
nearly all the great lines of inland trade, COM
merce and industry. Y while this is true, our
American merchant marine has been steadily
declining until it is now lower both in percent
age of tonnage and the number of vessels
employed, than it was prior to the
civil war Commendable progress had been
made of late years in the upbuilding of the
American navy. but we must supplement
these efforts by providing proper consort for
it merchant marine amply sufficient for our
own carrying trade to foreign countries The
question is one that appeals both TO our busi-
ness necessities and the patriotic asperations
of u great people.
1t has been the policy of the United States
since the foundation of the government TO
cultivate relations of peace and amity with
all the nations of the world, and this accords
with my conception of our duty now. We
have cherished the policy of non-interference
with the affairs of foreign governments, wise =
| ly inaugurated by Washington. keeping our
selves free from ENHANCEMENT either as allies
| or foes. content to leave undisturbed with
them the settlement of their own domestic
concerns If Will be our i'm to pursue firm
| and dignified foreign policy, which shall be
| just, i'm partial, ever-watchful of our national
honor and always insisting upon the enforce
| ment of the lawful rights of Americans every
where We want no wars of conquest; we
HluSI dVOlu Ine temptation Oh lerfllOElal
| aggression. war should never be
entered upon until every agency of
| peace has failed: peace is preferable
| to war in almost every contingency. Arbitra-
| tion is the true method of settlement of in
| ternati onal as well as local individual diff
| ferences. 1t was recognized as the best means
OF adjustment of differences between employ
| ers and employees by the Forty ninth
! congress in 1886 and its applica-
| ton was extended to our diplo-
| matte relations by the unanimous concur
| renee of the senate and house OF the Fifty
| first congress in 1890. The latter resolution
| was accepted as the basis of negotiation with
| US by the British house of commons in 1895
| and upon our invitation a treaty of arbitration
| between the United States and Great Britain
| was signed at Washington and trans
! niJted to the senate for its ratification in
| January last. Since this treaty is clearly the
| result of our own initiative; since it has been
| recognized as the leading feature of our for
| eign policy throughout our entire national
| history-the adjustment of difficulties by jul
dicial rather than by force of arms-and since
| it presents to the world the glorious example
| of reason and peace, not passion and war,
| controlling the relations between two
| of the greatest nations of the world
/ an example certain to be followed BY
others. respectfully urge the early action ol
| the senate thereon not merely as matter Of
1 policy. but as duty to mankind. The i'm
| portance and moral influence of the ratlfica-
| tion of such treaty hardly be over -esti-
| mated in the cause of advancing civilization
| 1t may well engage the best thought fol
| statesmen and people OF every country. and
can not but consider it fortunate that it was
reserved to the United States 10 have the
leadership in so grand a work
| 1t has been the uniform practice to avoid
| as far as possible the convenins
| of the congress in extraordinary
session. 1t is an ex ample which under or di
nary circumstances and in the absence of
| public necessity is to be commended But
| failure to convene the representatives of the
| people in congress in extra session when il
| involves neglect of q public duty, places The
res possibility upon the executive himself
| The conditi on OF the public treasury, as ha:
| been indicated. demands the immediate con
| siderati on of congress 1t alone ha:
| the power to provide revenues fo
| the congress, not to convene it under sucl
circumstances l can view in no other sense
than the neglect of plain duty. 1 do no
| sympathize wilh the sentiment that congress:
| in session is dangerous to our great busines:
| interests Its members are the agents of the
people and their presence at the seat ol
| government at the execution o
the sovereign will should not operate
as an injury. but as benefit There
could be no better time to put the government
! upon a sound financial and economic basi:
than now. The people have only recently
voted that this should be nothing is more
binding upon the agents Of their will than th'
| obligation OF immed late action 1t has al
ways seemed to me that the post pone
meut OF the meeting of congress until more
than a year after it has been chosen de
prived congress too often of the inspir
alton OF the popular will and the country o.
the corresponding benefits. 1t is eviden