The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-05

eficence 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 i'm
provement among our own citizens, but
with the zeal Of our forefathers encour-
age the spread of knowledge and free
education. Illfteracy must be banished
from the land, II 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, sim
ply because it happens to be In power.
AS a member Of congress / voted and
spoke in favor of the present law, and
l shall attempt its enforcement in the
spirit in which 1t was enacted. The
purpose in view was to secure the
most efficient service of the best mSa
who would accept appointment under
the government, retaining faithful and
devoted public servants in office, but
shielding none under the authority of
any rule or custom who are inefficient,
incompetent or unworthy. The best in
terests of the country demand this, and
the people heartily approve the law
wherever and whenever 1t has been
thus administered.
Congress should give prompt atten-
tion to the restoration OF our American
merchant marine, once the pride OF
the seas in all the great ocean high
ways of commerce. To my mind, few
more important subjects so Imperative
ly demand its intelligent consideration.
The United States has progressed with
marvellous rapidity In every field of
enterprise and endeavor until we have
become foremost in nearly all the great
lines of inland trade, commerce and
industry. Yet, while this is true, our
American merchant marine has been
steadily declining, until 1t Is now lower
both in the percentage of tonnage ana
the number of vessels employed, than
1t was prior to the civil war. Com
mendable progress has been made of
late years in the upbuilding of the
American navy, but we must supple
ment these efforts by providing as a
proper consort for 1t merchant ma
rine amply sufficient for our own car
rying trade to foreign countries. The
question is one that appeals both to our
business necessities and the patriotic
aspirations of a great people.
1t has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
ernment to cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all the nations Of the
world and this accords with my con-
ceptlon of our duty now. We have
alo ha Of nj
ence with the affairs of foreign gov
ernments wisely inaugurated by WASH
ington, keeping ourselves free from en-
tanglement either as allies or foes, con-
tent to leave undisturDed with them
the settlement of their own domestic
concerns. 1t will be our aim to pur-
sue firm and dignifed foreign policy,
which shall be just, impartial, ever
watchful of our national honor and al
ways insisting upon the enforcement
of the lawful rights of American citi-
zens everywhere. Our diplomacy should
seek nothing more, and accept nothing
less than is due us. We want no wars
of coneuests; we must avoid the temp
tation of territorial aggression. 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 true
method of settlement of international
as well as local or individual differ
ence. 1t was recognized as the best
means Of adjustment of differences be-
tween employers and employees by the
Forty-ninth congress in 1885, and its
application was extended to our dip
lomatlc relations by the unanimous
concurrence of the senate and house
of the Fifty-first congress in 1890. The
latter resolution was accepted as the
basis Of negotiations with us by the
British house of commons in 1898, and
upon our invitation treaty of arbitra-
ton between the United States and
Great Britain was signed at Washing
ton and transmitted to the senate for
it's ratification in January last Since
| this treaty is clearly the result of our
own initiative; since it has been recog-
nized as the leading feature of our for
eign policy throughout our entire ma
tional history--the adjustment of diff
ficulties by judicial methods rather
than by force of arms-and since it
presents to the world the glorious ex-
ample of reason and peace, not pas
between two of the greatest nations
of the world, an example certain to be
followed by others. ! respectfully urge
the early action of the Senate thereon,
not merely as a matter of policy, but
as e duty to mankind The Importance
and moral influence of the ratification
of such treaty can hardly be over
estimated In the cause of advancing
civilization. 1t may well engage the
best thought of the statesmen and
people Of every country, and l cannot
but consider 1t fortunate that 1t was
reserved to the United States to have
the leadership in so grand a work.
1t has been the uniform practice of
each president to avoid as far as posi-
BILE the convening of congress in extra
ordinary session. 1t is an example
which, under ordinary circumstances,
and in tine absence Of public neces-
sity is to be commended; but fall
ure to convene the representatives of
the people in congress In extra ses-
sion when 1t involves the neglect of
public duty. places the responsibility
of such neglect upon the executive
himself The condition of the public
treasury. as has been indicated, de-
mands the immediate consideration of
congress. It alone has the power to
provide revenues for tho government.
Not to convene 1t under such circum-
stances, I can view it In no other sense
than the neglect of a plain duty. l
do not sympathize with the sentiment
that congress In session Is dangerous
to our business interests. Its members
are the agents of the people. and their
presence at the seat of government
In the execution of the sovereign will
should not operate as an injury, but
benefit. There could be no better
time to put the government upon
sound financial and economic basis
than now. The people have only re-
Gently voted that this should be done,
and nothing is more binding upon the
agents of their will than the obligation
of immediate action. 1t has always
seep1ed to me that the postponement
Of the meetings of congl%ss until more
than a year after It has been chosen
deprived congress too often of the in
spiration of the popular will, and the
country of the corresponding benefits,
It Is evident, therefore. that to post
pone action In the presence of so great
necessity would be unwise on the
!