Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-05
THE NEW ADMINISTRATIO

on their faithful observance. The equality
of rights must prevail and our laws be al
ways and everywhere respected and obey
ed. We may have failed in the discharge of
our full duty as citizens Of the great repuo-
lic.b but it is consoling and encouraging to re-
alize that free speech, free press. free
thought. free schools. free and unlimited
right to religious liberty and worship, and
free and fair elections are dearer and more
universally enjoyed to-day than ever be-
fore. The guarantees must be sacredly
preserved and wisely strengthened. The
constituted authorities must be cheerfully
and vigorously upheld. Lynchings must
not be tolerated. In a 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 courts
and the orderly administration of justice
must continue forever the rock of safety
upon which our government securely rests.
LAWS Must BE Enforced.
Zone of the lessons taught by the late
election, which all can rejoice in, Is that
the citizens of the United States are both
law respecting and law abiding people, not
easily swerved from the path of patriotism
and honor. This is in entire accord with
the genius of our institutions. and but en-
phasizes the advantages of intoxicating ever
a great love for law and order in the fut-
ure. Immunity should be granted to none
who violate the laws, whether individuals
corporations communities; and as the
constitution imposes upon the president the
duty of both its own execution and of the
statutes enacted in pursuance of its pro-
visions. shall endeavor carefully to carry
them into effect. The declaration of the
party now restored to power has been in
behalf of the opposition to all combina-
tions of capital organized in trusts, or
otherwise. to control arbitrarily the condi-
ton of trade among our citizens And 1t
has supported such legislation as would
tend to 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 prod
ucts to market. This purpose will be stead
lily pursued, both by the enforcement of
the laws now In existence and the recon-
mendation and support of such new stat
utes as may be necessary to carry it into
effect.
Our Immigration Laws.
"Our naturalization and immigration laws
should be further improved, to the con-
slant promotion of a safer. better and a
higher citizenship. A grave peril to the
republic would be citizenship too igno-
rant to understand, or too vicious to appre-
| ciate. the great value and benefit of our
constitution 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 Improvement among our own citizens
but with the zeal of our forefathers encour-
age the spread of knowledge and free edu-
cation. 1literacy must be banished from
the land If we shall attain that high des-
tiny as the foremost of the enlightened ma
tions of the world. which, under Provi-
dence, we ought to achieve.
Civil Service Reform.
Reforms in the civil service must 60
| on. but the change should be real and
| genuine. not perfunctory, or prompted by
a zeal in behalf of any party, simply be-
cause it happens to be in power. As a
| member of congress. I voted and spoke in
favor of the present law. and I shall at
tempt 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 ap-
pointment under the government, retain
| ing 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 interests of the country demand this
and the people heartily approve the law
wherever and whenever 1t has been thus
administered.
Our Merchant Marine.
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