The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-11

visions. | shall endea yOr carefully to carry
them into effect The declaration of the
party now restored TO power has been III
the past that of Opposition to all COM
binations of capital, organized In trust OF
otherwise, to control arbitrarily the con,
dition of trade among on citizens, ana ~
has supported 'such legislation as would
prevent the execution Of all schemes to
Cypress the people by Undue charges on
their supplies or by unjust rates for the
transportation Of their products to mar
ket"
This purpose will he steadily pursued,
both by the enforcement of the laws now
in existence and the recommendation and
support of such new statutes as may be
necessary to carry it INTO effect.
IMMIGRATION.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved TO the
constant promotion of Il safer, better
and higher citizenship. 4 grave peril
to the republic would be citizenship too
ignorant to understand or too vicious to
appreciate the great valle and benihcencc
of our constitution and laws; and against
all who come here to make war upon tnen
our gates must be .; omDtly and tightly
closed Nor must we lac unmindful of the
need of improvement among our own citi-
zens, but with the zeal IF our forefathers
encourage the spread If knowledge ana
free education. Illitcracy must be Danish
ed from the land if we shall attain that
high destiny as the foremost enlightened
nation of the world which under Prov
dence we ought to achieve.
CIVIL SERVICE.
Reforms in civil service must go on. but
the changes must be rcil and genuine, not
perfunctOry and not prompted by zeal
in behalf of any party because it happens
to be in power. As n member of congress
voted for and spOfa in favor of the pres
ent law, and | shall attempt its enforce
ment in the spirit in WITCH it was enacted.
The purpose was to 3. cure the service OF
the best men who would aspire to service
under the government, retain good and
efficient employees. The best interests OF
the country demand ;hls and the people
heartily approve the INV wherever and
whenever it has bceu thus administered.
AMERICAN MARINE.
Congress should give prompt attention
to the restoration of orr American mer-
chant marine, once the pride of the seas
on all of the great ocean highways of COM
merce. To my mind few more important
subjects so imperatively demand its in.
telligent consideration. The United
States has progressed with marvellous IA
pidity in every field of enterprise and en-
deavOr until we have become foremost in
nearly all the great lines Of inland trade.
and industry. Yet while this is
true, our American merchant marine has
been steadily declining until it is now low
er in the percentage of tonnage and the
number of vessels employed than it was
prior to the civil war. COmmendable pro-
gress has been made of late years in the
upbuilding of the American navy, but we
must supplement these efforts by providing
rs a proper consort FOR it merchant nd
rine amply sufficient for our own carry
ng trade to foreign countries. The ques-
ton is one that appeals both to our bust
ness necessities and the patriotic aspra
ions of great people.
ARBITRATION TREATY.
1t has been the policy of the
United States since the foundation |
If the government to cultivate re-
ations of peace and amity with all ma
tons of the world and This accords with |
my conception of our duty now. We have |
cherished the policy of non-interference |
with the affairs of foreign governments |
wisely inaugurated by Washington, keep
ng ourselves free from ENHANCEMENT, eth
n as allies or foes, content to leave undis-
.urbcd with them the settlement of their |
own domestic concerns. 1t will be our
lim to pursue firm and dignified foreign |
policy which shall be just and impartial, |
ever watchful of our rational honor and |
always insisting on the enforcement of |
he lawful rights of American citizens
everywhere, Our diplomacy should seek |
nothing more and accept nothing less
han is due us. We want no wars of con-
quest; we must avoid the temptation OF
territorial acquisition. War should not
be entered upon until every agency of
peace has failed. Peace is preferable to
war i'll almost every contingency. Arbi-
tration is the true method of settlement
IF international as well as local or indi
cidual differences: it was recognized
Is the best means of adjusting differences
between employers and employees by the
Forty-ninth congress in 1856, and its ap-
Dlication was extended to our diplomatic
relations by the unanimous concurrence
Of the senate and house of the Fifty-first
in 1890. Tho latter resolution
was accepted as the basis of negotiations
with the United States by the British
house of commons in 1898 and upon cur
invitation a treaty of arbitration between
the United States and Great Britain was
>lSHtu 1T w uSulllSluU Iuu transmitted 10
the senate for its ratification in January
last Since this trelty is clearly the re-
suit of our own initiative; since it has been
as the leading feature of our
foreign policy throughout our national
adjustment of difficulties by
judicial methods rattle; than by force of
lrms-and since it presents to the world
the glorious example of reason and peace,
not passion or war controlling the rela-
lions between two OF the greatest nations
If the world, an example certainly to be
followed by others, | respectfully urge
The early action of the senate thereon, not
merely as n matter of policy but as duty
TO mankind. The Importance and moral
influence of the ratification of such treaty
can hardly be overestimated in the cause
Of advancing civilization. 1t may well
engage the best thought of the statesmen
and people of every country and | can not
but consider l. fortunate that it was re-
served to the United States to have the
leadership in so grand a work.
SPECIAL SESSION MARCH Il.
1t has been the uniform practice of each
president to avoid as far as possible the
of congress in extraordinary
session. 1t is an example, winch. under
ordinary circumstances and in the absence
Of public necessity. IS 10 be commended.
But failure to convene the representa-
tives of the people in congress in extra
session when it involves neglect of
4 public duty places the responsibility for
The condition of the pablo treasury, as
has been indicated, demands the immed-
ate attention of congress. 1t alone has the
poUpr IN nrOyidn rpynu,aS for thn poynrn