The indicator., 1897-03-13

Pile, with fidelity TO their best interests
and highest destiny, and to the honor
of the American name these years OF
glorious history have exalted mankind
and advanced the cause OF freedom
throughout the world and immeasur-
ably strengthened the precious Tree IN
stitutions which we enjoy. The people
love and will sustain these institutions.
The greatest aid to our happiness ana
prosperity is that We adhere to prln-
ciples upon which the government was
established and Insist upon their faith-
full observance. The equality of rights
must prevail and our laws be always
and everywhere respected and obeyed
We may have failed in the discharge or
our full duty as citlzens of the great
republic. but it is consoling and en-
couraging to realize that the free
speech, free press, free thought, Tree
schools, free and unlimited right to re-
lIglous liberty and worship, and free
and fair elections, are dearer and more
universally enjoyed to-day than ever
before. The guarantees must be sac
redly preserved and wisely strength
ened. The constituted authorities must
be cheerfully and vigorously upheld.
Lynchings must not be tolerated, and
In great and civilized country like
the United States. courts, not mobs,
must execute the penalties of the law.
The preservation of public order. the
right of discussion, the integrity. of
the courts and the orderly administra-
tion of justice must continue forever,
the rock of safety upon which our gov
ernment securely rests.
Lessons of the Election.
One of the lessons taught by the cleo
ton, which all can rejoice in, is that
the citizens of the United States are
both law-respecting and law-abidtng
people. not easily swerved from the
path of patriotism and honor. This Is
in entire accord with the genius of our
institutions and but emphasizes the
advantages of intoxicating over a great
love for law and order in the future.
Immunity should be granted to none
who violate the laws, whether individ-
uals, corporations or communities; ana
as the constitution imposes upon the
President the duty of both its own exc
cution and of the statutes enacted in
pursuance of its provisions. l shall en-
deaYor 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-
tion of trade among our Citizens And
it has supported in such legislation, as
well as to prevent the execution of all
schemes to opprcss the people by un-
due charges on their supplies, or by un-
just rates for the transportation of
their products to market. This pur-
pose will be steadily pursued, both by
the enforcement of the law now in eX-
fstence and the recommendation and
support of such new statutes as may be
necessary to carry 1t into effect.
Our naturalization and immigra tion
laws should he further improved to the
constant promotion of safer, better
and higher citizenship. A grave peril
to the republic would be 4 citizenship
too ignorant to understand, or too vic
ious to appreciate the great value and
benefit of our constitution and la ",
war upon them our gates must be
promptly and tightly closed. Nor
must we be unmindful of the need of
Improvement among our own citizens,
but with the zeal of our forefathers en-
courage the spread of knowledge and
free education. Illiteracy must be ban-
ished from the land if we shall attain
that high destiny, rs the foremost of
the enlightened nations Of the world,
which under Providence, we ought to
achieve.
Civil Service Reform.
Reforms in the civil service must 20
on but the change 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 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
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 merchant
marine, once the pride of the seas in
all the great ocean highways of COM
merce. To my mind few more impor-
tant subjects so impcratively demand
its Intelligent consideration The Unit
ed States has progressed with marvel
Gus rapidity III every field of enterprise
and endeavor until we have become
foremost in nearly all the great lines
of inland trade, commerce and indus
try. Yet while this is true, our Amer
lean merchant marine has been steadi-
ly declining until it is now lower both
in the percentage and tonnage and the
number of vessels employed, than 1t
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 proper con
sort for it 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 aspira
tions of a great people.
His Foreign Policy.
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
cepton of our duty now. We have
cherished the policy of non-interfer-
ence with the affairs of foreign govern
ments, wisely inaugurated by Wash.
ington, keeping ourselves from entan-
clement either as allies or foes con
tent to leave undisturbed with them
the settlement of their own domestic
concerns. 1t will be our aim to pursue
firm and dignfed foreign policy.
which will be just, impartial, ever
ways insisting upon the enforcement
of the lawful rights of American citi.