The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1897-03-10
q better antl d higher oitizenship. A
grave peril To the repu lie would be I,


o better antl d higher oitizenship. A
grave peril to the republic would be q
citizenship too ignorant to unders tand
or too vicious to appreciate tho greal;
value and benelicence Of our, inslitI-sS
tions and laWs-and against all who
como hcre to mako war upon them
our gates must be promptly and tight
~ closed. Nor must we be unmind
! ful of tho need CT i'm sovonout among
our own citizens, but with tho zeal Of
our forelathers encourage the sproad
OF knowledge and free education. Hit
oracy must be banished from the land,
II we shall sttain that high destiny rs
the foremost Of the enlightened ma
tions Of tho world, which under Prov.
idence we ought to achieve.
Reforms in the civilserviap must go
on. But tho changes should bo real
and genuine, not perfunctory, or
prompted by a zeal in behalf of any
party, simply because it happens to DO
in power. AS q member Of Congress
sent law and I shall attempt its en-
forcement in the spiritiu whi,h it was
enacted, Tho purpose in Wow was TO
| best men who would accept appoint.
ment under tho government, retain
ing faithful and devoted public sery-
ants in Office, but shielding mono un-
der the authority Of any rulo Or Gus
tom, who are inefficient, Incompetent
or unworthy. The best interests Of
the country demand this, aud tho peo
pie heartily approve the law where.
ever and whenever it has been thus
administered.
Congress should give prompt atten.
ton to tho restoration Of our Ameri-
can 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 impera-
lively demand its intelligent consider.
alton. The United States has progress.
ed with marvellous rapidity in every
field Of enterprise and ondeavor until
wo have become foremost in nearly
all tho great lines Of inland trade,
commerce and industry.
1t has been tho policy Of the United
States since tho foundation Of tho gov
ernment 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-interter.
ence with the affairs Of foreign gov
ernments, wisely inaugurated by
Washington, Of keeping ourselves
free from entanglement, either as al
lies or foes, content to leave undis.
turbed with them tho settlement Of
their own domestic concerns. II will
DO our aim to pursue firm and dig.
| nilied foreign policy which shall be
just, impartial, ever wstchful Of our
national honor and always insisting
upon the enforcement of the lawful
rights Of American citizens every.
| where. Our diplomacy should seek
nothing moro and accept nothing less
than is due us. We want no wars Of
conquest; we must avoid tho tempta.
ton Of territorial aggression. War
should mover 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 interna-
| tional as we'll as local or individual
| differences. II was recognized as the
! bes! means Of adjustment Of dilferen-
cess between employers and employees
| by the Forty Congress in 1886
and its application was extended to
our diplomatic relations by the unani.
| NOUS concurrence Of tho Senate and
House Of the Fifty. first Congress in
1890. The latter resolution was &C.
copied as the basis of negotiations
with us by the British House of Com.
mons in 1898 and upon our in vitation
| q treaty Of arbitration by the United
States and Great Britain was signed
at Washington 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 recognized as the leading
feature OF our foreign policy through.
out our entire national history tho
adjustment of'difiiculties by judicial
methods rather than by force of arms
--and since it presents TO the world
the glorious example of reason and
peace, not passion and war, controll.
ing the relations between two Of the
greatest nations of the world, an ex-
ample certain to bo followed by others,
| respectfully urge the early action of
the Senate thereon, not merely as q
matter Of policy, but as duty to man
kind. The Importance and moral in
fluence of the ratification Of such
treaty can hardly be overcstimated in
the cause of advancing civilization.
II may we'll engage the best thought
of the statesmen and people of every
country, and cannot but consider it
fortunate That it was reserved to the
United States to have the leadership in
so grand a work.
1t has been tEc uniform practice Of
each President to avoid as far as pos
slble, convening Of Congress in extra.
ordinary session. It is an example
which, under ordinary circumstances
and in the absence of public necessi.
ty, is to be commended. But failure
to convene the representatives of the
people in Congress in extra session
when it involves neglect of public
duty, places the responsibility Of such
neglect upon tho executive himself.
The condition Of the public treasury,
as has been indicated, demands the
immediate consideration Of Congress.
1t alone has the power to provide row.
enues for the government. Not to
convene it under such circumstances
can view in no other sense than the
neglect Of a plain daty. do not sym.
pathize with the sentiment that Con.
gress in session is dangerous to our
general business interests. It's NOM
bers are the agents of the people and
their presence at tho seat of govern.
ment in the execution Of the sovereign
will should not operate as an injury
but benefit. There could DO no let
tor time to put the government upon
a sound financial and economical ba-