The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-05


ilized country like the United States;
courts, not nobs. must execute the PEN
alties Of the law. The preservation OF
public order. the right of discussions the
integrity OF our courts and the orderly
administration OF justice must continue
forever the rock Of safety upon which our
government securely rests.
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-abiding people,
not easily swerved from the path OF pa
triotism and honor. This is I'm entire ac-
cord with the genus Of our institutions.
and but emphasizes the advantages of
intoxicating even a greater love for law
and order in the future. Immunity
should be granted to none who violate
the law, whether individuals. corpora
tions or communities; and. as the con-
stltution imposes upon the president the
duties of both it's 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 Opposition to
all combinations of capital organized In
trusts, or otherwise to control. arbi-
trarily, the condition Of 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 pur-
pose will be steadily pursued. both by
tDo enforcement of the laws now In ex-
istence and the recommendation and
support of such new statutes as may be
necessary to carry II into effect.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved. to the
constant promotion of a safer, a better
and higher citizenship. A grave peril
to the republic would be a citizenship
too ignorant to understand or too vicious
to appreciate the great value and be ne
fcence 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 improve
nent among our own citizens, but, with
the zeal of our forefathers encourage
the spread of knowledge and free edu-
cation. Illitcracy must be banished from
the land. If we shall attain that high des-
tiny as the foremost of the enlightened
nations Of the world, which, under
Providence, we ought to achieve.
Reforms I'm 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 ii happens to be in power. AS
a member Of congress, voted and spoke
in favor OF the present law, and shall
attempt II 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 ac-
ccpt appointment under the government,
retaining faithful and devoted public
servants in office, but shielding none un-
der the authority of any rule or custom
who are inefficient, incompetent or un-
worthy. The best interests of the coun-
try demand this, and the people heartily
approve the law wherever and when
ever IT has been thus administered.
Congress should give prompt attention
to the restoration Of our American mer-
chant marine, once the pride Of the seas
In all the great ocean highways of COM
merce. To my mind, few more import
ant subjects so imperatively demand its
intelligent consideration. The United
States has progressed with marvellous
rapidity in every field Of enterprise and
endeavor. until we have become fore
most in nearly all the great lines of in
land trade, commerce and industry
Yet, while this is true, our American
merchant marine has been steadily de-
clining, until il is now lower, both in
the percentage Of tonnage and the num-
ber Of vessels employed, than 1t was
prior to the civil war. Commendable
progress has been made of late years in
the upbuilding of the American navy,
but we must supplement these efforts
by providing, as proper consort for It,
a merchant marine amply sufficient for
our own carrying trade to foreign coun-
tries. The question is one that appeals
both to our business necessities and
the patriotic aspirations Of great peo-
pie.
1t has been the policy of the United
States, since the foundation of the gov
crnment, 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-interferncc
with the affairs of foreign governments.
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 dig
nified foreign policy, which shall be Just,
impartial, ever watchful of our national
honor and always insisting upon the en-
forcement of the lawful rights Of Ameri-
can citizens everywhere. Our diploma
cy should seek nothing more. and accept
nothing less, than Is due us. We want
no wars OF conquest; we must avoid the
temptation of territorial aggression.
War should never be entered Apon until
every agency Of peace has failed; peace
Is preferable to war in almost every con-
tingency. Arbitration Is the true meth
cd of settlement of international as well
rs local or individual difference. II was
recognized as the best means of ad-
justment of differences between employ
ers and employees by the Forty-ninth
congress. in 1886, and its application
was extended to our diplomatic relations
by the unanimous concurrence OF the
senate and hpuge M fbp Epfty cnu-