San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-03-04


ry ii into effect.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved tC
the constant promotion or a safer, d
better. and a higher citizenship. A
rave peril to the republic would be tC
allow citizenship to those too ignO
rant to understand, or too vicious tC
| appreciate the great value and bene
ficence 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
| encourage the spread of knowledge
and free education. Illiteracy 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.
Reforms in civil service must go on.
But changes should be real not per-
functory, or prompted by zeal i'll be-
half of any party because it happens
TO be in power AS a member of Con-
gress | voted for and spoke in favor
of the present law and | shall attempt
it's enforcement in the spirit in which
ii was enacted. The purpose in view
was to secure the most efficient service
retaining faithful and devoted public
servants but shielding none. The
best interests of the country demand
this and the people heartily approve
the law.
Congress should give prompt atten-
ton to the restoration of our American
merchant marine, once the pride OF
the seas in all the great ocean high
ways of commerce. To my mind few
more important subjects imperatively
demand intelligent consideration. The
United States has progressed with
marvellous rapidity in every field of
enterprise and endeavOr until we have
become foremost in nearly all the
great lines of trade. commerce and in
dustry. Yet, while this is true, our
American merchant marine has been
steadily declining until now it is lower
in the percentage of tonnage and num-
Der of vessels employed than it was
prior to the civil war. COmmendable
progress has been made of late years
in the up-building of the navy, but
we must supplement these efforts by
providing as a proper cOnsOrt for 1t
merchant marine amply sufficient for
our own carrying trade to foreign
countries. The question appeals both
to our business necessities and the
patriotic aspirations of a great peO-
pie.
1t has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the
government TO cultivate peace and
amity with all the nations 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, keeping
ourselves free from entanglementS Ell
Their 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. impartial, ever Watchful of our
national honor. and always insisting.
upon the enforcement of the lawfuF
rights of American citizens every
where Our diplomacy should seek
nothing more and accept nothing less
than is due us. We want no wars of
conquest. we must avoid the tempta
ton of territorial aggressiOn;we should
never try war until every agency of
peace has failed. Peace is preferable
to war in almost every contingency.
Arbitration is the true method of set
Element of internatiOnal,aS we'll as To-
cal or individual differences. 1t was rec
OgniZed as the best means of the ad
justment of differences between en-
plOyer and employees by the 49th Con-
gresS in 1886, and it's application was
extended to our diplomatic relations
by the unanimous concurrence of the
Senate and House of the 51St Congress
in 1890 The latter resolution was ac-
cepted as a basis of negotiations with
the United States by the British house
in 1890 and on our invitation a treaty
of arbitration between the United
States and Great Britain was signed
and transmitted to the Senate for
| ratification last June. Since this trea-
| ~ is clearly the result of our own
| initiative, since it has been recognize
| ed as the leading feature of our for
! eign policy throughout our national
! history. the adjustment of differences
! by judicial methods rather than by
force of arms. and since it presents to
the world the glorious example of rca-
! son and peace not passion and war.
controlling the relations between two
of the greatest nations of the world.
an example certain to he followed by
others. | respectfully urge the early
action of the Senate. not merely as a
matter of policy, but as a duty to
mankind. The importance and moral
influence in the ratification of such a
treaty can hardly be Overestimated in
the cause of advancing civilization.
1t has been the uniform practice of
each president to avoid as far as pos
Sible the converting of Congress in ex,
traOrdinary session. 1t is an example