Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-11

tional life has ever arisen that has not
been met with wisdom and courage by
the American people, with those friend
~ to their best interests and the high
est destiny, and to the honor of the
American name"
After denouncing exhibitions Of lynch
law, the president said: The declara-
ton OF the party now restord to power
has been in the past that of opposition
/ 70 all combinations of capital organized
in trusts or otherwise to control arbi-
trarily the condition of trade among
our citizens and it has supported such
legislation as will prevent the execution
of all schemes to Cypress the people by
undue charges on their supplies or by
upjust rates for the transportation of
/ their products to market This purpose
will be steadily pursued by an enforce
ment Of the laws now in existence and
the recommendation and support of
such new statutes as may be necessary
to carry them into effect
'Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion Of a safer, better
and higher citizenship. A grave peril
to the republic would be a citizenship
OC ignorant to understand or too vicious
to appreciate the great value and bene-
fit Of our constitution and laws. and
against all who come here to make war
against them our gates must be prompt
ly and tightly closed.
Reform in civil service must go on,
but the change should be real and
genuine, not perfunctory or prompted
by zeal in behalf of any party simply
| because it happens to be in power As
a member of congress, I voted and
spoke in favor of the present law, and
[ shall attempt it's enforcement in the
spirit in which it was enacted. The
purpose in view was to secure a most
efficient service of the best men who
would accept appointment under the
government and the retaining Of faith
full and devoted public servants in Of
fee, but shielding none under the auth
GRITTY of any rule or custom who are in
efficient, incompetent or unworthy. The
best interests of the country demand
this and the people heartily approve of
the law wherever and whenever it has
been thus administered.
Congress should give prompt atten-
ton to the restoration of our American
merchant marine. To my mind few more
important subjects so imperatively de-
mend its intelligent consideration. Com
mendable progress has been made in late
I years in upbuilding the American navy,
but we must supplement these efforts by
providing merchant marine amply suffi-
Gent for cur own carrying trade to for
eign countries.
1T has been the policy Of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
eminent to cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all nations Of the world,
and this accOrds with my conception Of
our duty now. We have cherished a
policy Of non-interference with affairs
OF foreign governments, wisely inaugur-
ated by Washington, keeping ourselves
free from ENHANCEMENT either as allies
or foes, content to leave undisturbed
with them the settlement Of their own
domestic concerns. 1t will be our aim
TO pursue firm and dignified foreign
policy which shall be just and impair
tial. Ever watchful Of our national
honor, and always insisting upon the
enforcement Of lawful rights of Ameri-
| can citizens everywhere, our diplomacy
should seek nothing more nor accept
nothing less than is due us. We want
no wars of conquest. We must avoid
temptation of territorial aggression.
War should net er be entered upon I'M
til every agency of peace has
failed. Peace is preferable to war
in almost every contingency. Ar
bitration is the true method Of settle
ment of international as well as local
or individual difference. 1t was rec0g-
nized as the best means of adjustment
Of differences between the employer
and employees by the forty-ninth con
gress in 1886, and its application was
extended to our diplomatic relations
| by unanimous colcurre1 Ce Of the sen
ate and house Of the fjfty-frst congress
in 1895. The latter by resolution. was
accepted as the basis OF negotiations
with the United States by the British
! house of commons in 1893, and upon
our invitation treaty of arbitration
I between the United States and Great
Britain was signed at Washington and
transmitted to the senate for it's rfti
fication in July last. Since this treaty
is clearly the result Of Cur own initi3-
tive, since it has been recognized as a
leading feature of our foreign policy
throughout our entire national history
the adjustment of our difficulties by
judicial methods rather than by force
of arms-and since it presents to the
world glorious example of reason and
peace, not passion and war, controlling
relations between two of the greatest
nations of the world, and the example
will certainly be followed by others.
l respectfully urge the early action OF
the senate thereon, not merely as a
matter of policy, but as a duty to
mankind. The Importance and NOR
al influence Of the ratification Of such
treaty can hardly be overestimated in
the cause Of advancing civilization"
In closing President Mckinley said,
speaking of the tariff: "This I con-
slider a great essential to the rightful
and lasting settlement of the question.
In view Of these considerations, l shall!
deem it my duty as president to con- !
vene congress in extraordinary session
Monday, March Is, 1897
FIFTY-CENT GAS.