The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-17
heavy and we'll nigh constant for several

was given to our foreign trade In new and
| advantageous markets for our surplus agri-
| cultural and manufactured products. The
brief trial given this legislation amply justi-
| fles further experiment and additional dis
cretionary power In the making Of CONNER
cial treaties, the end in view always to be
| The opening up Of new markets for the prod
ucts OF our country by granting concessions
to the products Of other lands that we need
and cannot produce ourselves, and which do
not involve any loss OF labor to our own
people, but tend to increase their employ
| ment
The depression of the past four years has
fallen with especial severity upon the great
body OF toilers OF the country, and upon none
more than the holders Of small farms. Aeri-
culture has languished and labor suffered.
The revival Of manu-; u;acturlng will be re-
lief to both. No portion Of our population
Is more devoted to the institutions of free
government, nor more loyal in their support,
while none bears more cheerfully or fully lis
proper shar in the maintenance of the gov
ernment, or Is better entitled to its wise and
liberal care and protection. Legislation
helpful to producers Is beneficial to all.
The depressed condition of industry on tho
farm and In the mine and factory. has
lessened the ability Of the people to meet the
demands upon them, and they rightiully ex-
psct that not only system Of revenue shall
be established that will secure the largest in
come with the least burden, but that every
means will be taken to decrease, rather than
increase, our public expenditures.
Courts Must Rule.
The great essential to our happiness and
prosperity Is that we adhere TO The principles
upon which the Government was established
and insist upon their faithful observance.
Equality OF rights must prevail and our laws
be always and everywhere respected and
obeyed. We may have failed In tho discharge
Of our full duty as citizens Of the great Re-
public, but 1t Is consoling and encouraging to
thought, free schools, the free and un-
molested right Of religious liberty and
worship and free and fair elections are
dearer and more universally enjoyed to-day
than ever before.
These guarantees must be sacredly pre-
served and wisely strengthened. The con-
stituted authorities must be cheerfully and
vigorously upheld. Lynchings must not be
tolerated In great and civilized country
like the United States; courts-not mobs-
must execute the penalties OF the law. The
cussion. the integrity Of our courts and the
orderly administration Of justice must con-
tinue forever the rock Of safety upon which
our Government securely rests.
Against Trusts.
The declaration Of the party now restored
to power has been In the past that of "oppo-
sition to all combinations OF capital organ
lied In trusts, or otherwise, to control arbi-
trarily the condition Of trade among our
citizens" and 1t has supported "such legisla-
tion 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 purpose will De steadily pursued, both
by the enforcement Of the laws now in exist
ence, and the recommendation and suppor:
O such new statutes as may be necessary to
carry 1t into effect.
Better Standard of Citizenship.
Our naturalization and immigration laws
should be further improved to the constant
promotion OF safer, a better and higher
citizenship. A grave peril to the Republic
would be citizenship too ignorant to under
stand, or too vicious to appreciate the great
value and benefcence 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 unmind-
full Of the need of improvement among our
own citizens, but with the zeal Of our fore.
fathers encourage the spread Of knowledge
and free education. Illtteracy must be ban
ished from the land, IL we shall attain that
high destiny as the foremost Of the enliSht-
ened nations of the world which, under
Providence, we ought to achieve.
Civil Service Reform.
Reforms in the civil service must go on,
But the changes should be real and genuine.
not perfunctory or prompted by a zeal In be-
nalf of any party, simply because 1t happens
to be in power. ..
As a member OF Congress I voted and
spoke in favor Of the present law, and
shall attempt Its enforcement in the spirit in
which it was ena tied. 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 devoted public servants in office, but
shielding none, under the authority OF any
rule or custom, who are inefficient, lncom-
petent 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.
Revive Merchant Marine.
Congress should give prompt attention to
the restoration OF our American merchant
marine, once the pride OF the seas in all the
great ocean highways OF commerce. To my
mind, few more important subjects 80 i'm
perativey demand its Intelligent considera-
tion. The United States has progressed with
marvellous rapidity in every field of enter
prise and endeavor until We have become
foremost 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 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:
CommendaDle progress has been made OF
late years In the upbuilding OF the American
Navy, but we must supplement these efforts
by providing as a proper consort 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 q great people.
Urges Arbitration Treaty.
It will be our aim to pursue firm and
dignifed foreign policy, which sLall be Just,
impartial, ever watchful of our National
honor and always insisting upon the enforce
ment OF the lawful rights Of American citi-
zens 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 aggres-
sion. War should never be entered upon un-
til every agency of peace has failed; peace Is
preferable to war in almost every contin-
gency.
Arbitration is the true method Of settle
ment OF international as we'll as local or in.
divldual differences. It was recognized as
the best means of adjustment OF differences
between employers and employees by the
Forty-ninth Congress In 1885, and Its appll-
cation was extended to our diplomatic rela-
tions by the unanimous concurrence OF tue
Senate and House Of the Fifty-frst Congress
In 1890. The latter resolution was accepted
as the basis Of negotiations with us by the
British House Of Commons in 1898, and upon
our Invitation treaty of arbitration be
tween the United States and Great Britain
~. r;onad or W.chinpton and transmitted