The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-05


are inefficient, incompetent or unworthy,
The best interests of the country demand
thls ana the people heartily approve the
law Wherever and whenever Ii has been
thus administered
RESTORING AMERICAN MERCHANT
MARINE.
Congress should give PROMPT attention
TO the restoration of our American mer-
chant marine, once the pride of the seas
III al tne great ocean highways of COM
nerce. 10 my mind, few more important
suoects so imperauvely demand it's in
lellgeht consideration. The United
states mas progressed with marvellous
rapidity in every field of enterprise and
endeavor until we have become foremost
III nearly all the great lines of interest
ana trade, commerce and industry. Yet
while this is true our American merchant
marine has been steadily declining until
IL Is now lower both in the percentage of
tonnage and the number of vessels en-
ployed than 1t was prior to the civil war.
Coinmendable progress has been made of
late years in the upbuilding of the Ameri-
can navy, hut we must supplement those
EFFORTS by providing as a proper consort
Tor a merchant marine, amply sufficient
FOR our own carrying trade to foreign
countries. The question is one that ap-
peals both to our business necessities and
the patriotic aspirations of great people.
A FIRM AND DIGNIFIED FOREIGN
POLICY.
1t has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
ernment TO cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all the nations of the
world and this accords with my concep-
tion of our duty now. We have cher
ished the policy of non-interference with
the affaiys of foreign governments WISE
cd
ourselves free from ENHANCEMENT either
as allies or. foes content to leave ,lndis-
turbed with them the settlement of their
own domestic concerns. 1t will be our
aim to pursue a firm and dignified for
eign policy which shall be just, Impair
tial ever watchful of our national honor
and always insisting upon the enforce
ment of the lawful rights of American
citizens everywhere. We want no wars
OF conquest; we must avoid the tempta-
ton of territorial aggression. War should
never be entered upon until every agency
of peace has failed; peace is preferable
TO war in almost every contingency.
THE USE OF ARBITRATION.
Arbitration is the true method of set
tlement in international differences. It
was recognized as the best means of adj
1ustment of differences between employ
ers and employees by the Forty-ninth
congress in 1886, and its application was
extended to our diplomatic relations by
the unanimous concurrence of the senate
and house of the Fifty-frst congress in
1880. The latter resolution was accepted
as the basis of negotiations with us by
the British house of commons in 1893,
and upon our invitation treaty of arbi-
tration between the United States and
Great Britain was signed at Washington
ana transmitted to the senate for it's
ratlhcation in January last. Since this
treaty is clearly, the result of our own
initiative; since it has been recognized
as leading feature of our foreign policy
throughout our entire national history
the adjustment of differences by judicial
methods rather than force of arms-and
since it presents to the world the glor-
GUS example of reason and peace, not
passion and war-controlling the relations
between two of the greatest nations of
the world-an example certain to be fol-
| lowed by others, | respectfully urge the
| hearty action of the senate thereon, not
merely as a matter of policy, but as a
duty to mankind. The Importance and
moral influence of ratification of such a
| treaty can hardly be overestmated in
| the cause of advancing civilization. 1t
| may well engage the best thought of the
statesmen and people of every country,
and / cannot but consider it fortunate
| that 1t was reserved to the United States
| to have the leadership in so grand a work.
EXTRAORDINARY SESSIONS OF
CONGRESS-.
1t has been the uniform practice of
| each president to avoid, as far as pos
| sible, the convenng of congress In extra
| ordinary session. 1t is an example which,
under ordinary circumstances and in the
! absence of public necessity, is to be
| commended. But a failure to convene
| the representatives of the people in con-
| in fro t,,ty
neglect of a public duty, places the re-
| sponsibiity of such neglect upon the
| executive himself The condition of the
| public treasury, as has been indicated,
| demands the immediate consideration of
| congress, 1t alone has the power to pro-
| vide revenues for the government. Not
| to convene it under such circumstances,
| | can view in no other eyes than neglect
of a duty.
| 1t has always seemed to me that post
ponement of the meeting of congress un-
| til more than a year after it had been
| chosen, deprived congress too often of the
| inspiration of the popular will and the
country OF the corresponding benefits 1t
| is evident therefore, that to postpone ac-
| tion in the preference of so great ne
cessity would be unWise on the part Of
| the executive, because unjust to the in
| terests of the people. Our actions now
will be freer from mere partisan consd-
Grafton than if the question of tariff re-
vision was postponed until the regular
| session of congress We are nearly two
years from congressional election, and
| politics cannot so greatly distract us as
| if such contest was immediately pending
We can approach the problem calmly and
patrioticallv without fearing it's effect
llpon an early election. Our fellow citi-
zens who may disagree with us upon the
character of this legislation. prefer to
nave the question settled now
against their prescribed views and per-