The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-03-12

OF all schemes to Cypress the people, by I'M
due charges on their supplies, as by unjust
rates for the transportation of their pro-
ducts to market. This purpose will be
steadily pursued, both by the enforcement
of the laws now in existence and the recon-
mendation and support of such new statutes
as may be necessary to carry 1t into effect
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of d safer better and
higher citizenship Nor must we be I'M
mindful of the need of improve ment among
our own citizens but with the zeal OF our
fOrefathers encourage the spread of knowl-
edge and free education. Iuiteracy must
be banished from the land if we shall attain
that high destiny as the foremost of the en-
hghtened nations of the world which, under
providence, we ought to achieve.
For Civil Service Reform.
Reforms in the civil service must go on,
but the change should be real and genuine,
not pertuuctOry, nor prompted by a zeal in
behalf OF any party simply because it hap
pens to be in power. AS member of Con-
gress voted and spoke in favor of the pres
ent law, and shall attempt its enforcement
in the spirit in which it was enacted.
congress should give prompt attention
to the restoration of our American mer-
chant marine, once the pride of the seas
merce To my mind few more important
subjects so imperatively demand its intel
llgent consideration Commendable prog
resS has been made of late years in the up
building of the American navy, but we must
supplement these efforts by providing as
proper conSort for it a merchant marine
amply sufficient for our own carrying trade
to foreign countries. The question is one
tat appeals both TO our business necessi-
ties and the patriotic aspir atoms % gre at
people.
The Foreign Policy Outlined.
at has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the govern
ment to cultivate relations of peace and
amity with all the nations of the world,
and this accordS with my conception of
our duty now. We have cherished the pol
icy of nOn-interference with the affairs of
foreign governments. wisely inaugurated
by Washington. keeping ourselves free
from enlargement either as allies or foes.
content to leave undisturbed with the T the
settlement of their own domestic concerns.
1t will be our aim to pursue firm and dig
ntiied foreign policy. which shall be just,
imp trtial, ever watchtuI of national honor
and always insisting upon the enforcement
of the lawful rights of American citizens
everywhere. Our diplomacy should seek
nothing more and accept nothing less than
we must avoid the tempest of territorial ag-
erosion War should never be entered up
on until every agency of peace has failed;
peace is preferable TO war in almost every
OF the arbitration treaty with Great Brit
ain. the President says: L respectfully
urge the early action of the Senate there
on. not merely as an act of policy, but as a
duty to mankind. The importance and
moral influence of the ratification OF such a
treaty can nardlv be overestimated in the
cause of advancing civilization It may
well engage the beSs Thought of the states
men and people OF every country. and
Cannot but consider il fortunate that it was
eServed to the United States To have the
in 50 grand work.
An Extra Session Necessary.
1T has been the uniform practice of each
President To avoid Is tar as possible. the
of Congress IN cNtraor binary seS-
sion. IL il an example VIII ch. under ordin-
airy circumstances and in the absence of a
public necessity is 10 be commended But
a failure To convene the representatives of
the people in extra SSion when IL involves
neglect of a public du y places the RESPONSE
bIlitv of such neglect upon the executive
himself. The Cond ton of the pubic treas
ury. has been indicated. demands the
im tn ediate Siderdtiou of Congress. Il
alone has the power 10 provide revenues
tor the government. Not to convene il I'M
der such circumstances can view in no
other SruSr th..n ice neglect of PLAIN duty.
do not SympathiZc with the sentiment that
Congress IN session is dangerous to our gem
rral business interests Its members are
the agents OF The people. and their presence
al the seat Of government in execution of
the sovereign will should not operate as an
IN Iury. but a benefit.
There could be no better time to put the
govern mcnt upon sound financial and eco ,
n"mic basis than now. The people have
o " recently voted that this should c
d0Ee. and nothing is more binding upon the
agents of their will than the obligation of
Immediate action. II has always seemed to
me that the postponemenI OF the meeting of .
Congress until more than year after II has
been chosen deprIveS Congress too often of
the iuSplI alton OF the popular will and the
country OF the corresponding benefits
Congress to Nest March Is
1T is evident. therefore that to postpone
action in the presence of so great ueCeS- /
sity would he unwiSe on the part of the eX-
ecutive because unjust to the interests OF |
the pc plr. Our actions now will be freer
from mere partisan consideration than II
the question of tariff revision was post
poned until the regular session of Congress.
We are nearly two years from a Congress-
- d
~ distract us as il such contest was imme-
diately pending. We can Apr ach the
pr Oblem calmly and periodically without
fearing its effect upon an early elec ton.
Our fellow citizens who may disagree with
Us upon the character OF this leg, station
prefer to have the question settled now,
even against their preConceived viewS-and
perhaps settled so reasonably, as l trust
and beieve IT will be as To- insure great per-
manenCe than TO have further uncertainty
menacing the vast and varied business in
terestS of the United States. Again. what
ever action Congress may take Will he given
n fair opportunity for trial before the peO-
pie are called TO pass judgment upon it. and
this consider great essential to the right
full and lasting settlement of the question.
In view of these cons der1tionS shall deem
IL my duty as President to convene Congress
i'm extraordinary session on Monday. the
18th day of March. 1897,
A New Spirit in the Nation.
In conclusion. 7 congratulate the country
npOn the fraternal spirit of the people and
the manifestation OF good will everywhere
SO apparent The recent election not only
most fortunately demonstrated the Obliter-
alton of geographical or sectional lines. but
to some extent also tho preiuoiCcS which
for years have distracted our COUNCILS
and married our true greatness As ia