The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-09

ever the rock of safety upon which our
government securely rests.
One of the lessons taught by the late
election, which all can rejoice III, is that
the citizens of the United States are both
Iaw-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 1nsttutlonS'
but emphasizes the advantage OF lncui-
eating even a greater love of law ana
order in the future. Immunity should be
granted to none VINO violate the laws,
whether individuals, corporations or COM
munities; and as the constitution imposes
upon the president the duty of both It's
own execution and that of the statutes
enacted in pursuance OF its provisions,
shall endeavor carefully to carry them
into effect.
The declaration of the party now re-
stored to power has been in the past that
of Opposition to all combinations OIL cap
ital organized in trusts, or otherwise 10
control arbitrarily the condition OF traue
among our citiz9ns," and it has supported
'such legislation as will prevent the exc
cution of all schemes to Cypress the
people by undue charges on tnelF supPlIeS'
or by unjust rates for the transporta-
tion of their prodlct5 to market. rms
purpose will be steadily pursued, ooth py
the enforcement of the laws now IN exist S-l'..
of such new statutes as may be neces-
Bary to carry it into effect.
Citizenship.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of safer, 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 values and benefit
of our constitutions and laWs-and against
all who come here to make war upon
them, our gates must be promptly and
%,~I,41x nJA wv "a
full of the need of Improvement among
our own citizens, but, with the zeal OF our
forefatherS, encourage the spread OF
knowledge and free education. lll1teracy
must be banished from the land, if we
shall attain that high destiny as the fore
most of the enlightened nations of the
world which, under Providence, we ought
to achieve.
Reform in the civil service must go on,
but the change should be real and genu-
inc, not perfUnctcry, or prompted by
zeal in behalf Of any party simply be-
cause it happened to be in power AS
member of congress I voted and spoke
in favor of the present law, and l snail
attempt it's 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 ao-
cept appointment under the government
retaining faithful and devoted public
servants in office, but shielding none, I'M
der the authority of any rule, or custom,
who are inefficient, or incompetent, or
unworthy. The best interests of the coun-
try demand this, and the people heartily
approve the law Wherever and whenever
it has been thus administered
Congress should give prompt attention
to the restoration of our American rler-
chant marine, once the pride of the seas
in all the great ocean highways of COM
merce. To my mind few more important
subjects so imperatively demand an in
telligent consideration. The United
States has progressed with marvellous
rapidity in every falC 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 ma
rine has been steadily declining until it
is now lower, both in the percentage of
tonnage and the number of vessels en-
ployed, than it was prior to the Civil
war. Commemorate progress has been
made of late years in the upbuilding of
the American navy, but we must supple
mer1t these efforts by providing as a
proper consort for it a 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 aspirations
of a great people.
FavOrs Arbitration.
It has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
eminent to cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all the nations of the
world, and this accords with my concep-
ton of our duty now. We have cherished
the policy of non-interference with the
affairs of foreign governments, wisely in
augurated by Washington, keeping our
selves free from ENHANCEMENT either as
allies or foes, content to leave undiSturbed
with them the settlement of their own do
nestle concerns. It viii -be our aim TO
pursue q firm and dignifod foreign policy,
which shall be just impartial, ever
Watchful of our national honor and al
ways insisting np6n the enforcement of
the lawful rights of American citizens
everywhere. Our diplomacy 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 upon until every agency
of peace has failed; peace is preferable to
war in almost every contingency Arbi-
tration is the true method of settlement.
It was recognized as the best means of
adjustment of differences between en-
ployers and employe by the Forty ninth
congress and it's application was extended
to our diplomatic relations by the unani-
mouse concurrence of the senate and
house of the Fifty-first congress. The
latter resolution was accepted as the basis
of negotiations with us by the British
house of commons in 1898, and upon our
invitation a treaty of arbitration between
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 re-
suit of own initiative; since it has
been recognized as the leading feature of
our foreign policy throughout our entire
national history-the adjustment of diff
ctllties 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, control