Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-03-10

Business conditions are not the most
promising. It will take time to restore the
prosperity of former years. If we cannot
promptly attain it we can resolutely turn
our faces in that direction and aid its re-
turn by friendly legislation. However
troublesome the situation may appear, Con.
gresS will not, am sure, be found lacking
In disposition or ability to relieve It. as far
as legislation can do so The restoration Of
confidence and the revival of business
which men of all parties so much desire, de-
pend more largely upon the prompt, en-
ergetic and intelligent action of Congress
than upon any other single agency to affect
the situation.
UNFOLDING Every Right.
1--WE may have failed in the discharge Of
our full duty as citizens of the great repub-
lto, but 1t Is consoling and encouraging to
realize that the free speech, free press free
thought free schools. free and unlimited
right of religious liberty and worship ana
free and fair elections are dearer and more
universally enjoyed to-day than ever before
The guarantees must be Sacredly preserved
and wisely strengthened. The constituted
authority must be cheerfully and vigorously
upheld Lynchings must not be tolerated
and, In a great and civilized country like
the United STAGES, courts not mobs, must
execute the penalties of the law The pres
ervation of public order, the right of dis
cusston, the integrity of courts and the or
derly administration of Justice must con-
our government securely rests
Against Trusts-ImmiRration
1.-The declaration OF the party now re-
stored to power has been in the past that Of
opposition to all combinations of capital or.
gained in trusts, or otherwise, to control
arbitrarily the condition of trade among
our citizens. and it has supported in such
legislation as well to prevent the execution
OF all schemes to Cypress the people, by un-
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 it into effect.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of a safer a better and
higher citizenship Nor must we be un-
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. uliteracy 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 perfunctory, nor prompted by zeal in
behalf OF any party simply because 1t 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
in all the great ocean highways of COM
merCe. To my mind few more important
subjects so imperatively demand its intel
ligcnt consideration Commendable prog
ress has been made of late We ars in the mp
| building of the American navy, but we must
| supplement these efforts by providing as
proper consort for it a merchant m arine
amply sufncient for our own carrying trade
| to foreign countries The question Is one
| that appeals both to our business necessi-
| ties and the patriotic aspirations ot gre at
people,
The Foreign Policy Outlined.
1T 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 ENHANCEMENT either as allies or foes,
content to leave undisturbed with hem the
| settlement of their own domestic concerns
| 1t will be our aim to pursue firm and dig
| nifed foreign policy, which shall be just,
| impartial, ever watchful of national honor
4
| OF the lawful rights of American citizens
| everywhere. Our diplomacy should seek
| nothing more and accept nothing less than
| Is due us. We want no wars of conquesty
| we must avoid the tempest of territorial az.
| gression. War should never be entered up
on until every agency of peace has failed;
| peace is preferable to war in almost every
| contingency
Of the arbitra alton treaty with Great Brit
| ain, the President says: Il 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 hardly be oyerestimated in tho
! cause of advancing civilization. It may
well engage the best thought of the states
men and people of every country, and I
| cannot but consider it fortunate that it was
reserved to the United States to have the
leadership in SO grand a work.
An Extra Session Necessary.
TT has been the uniform practice of each
President to avoid, as far as possible, the
converting of Congress in extraordinary seS-
sion 1t Is an example which. under ordin-
airy circumstances and in the absence of a
public necessity, is to be commended. But
failure to convene the representatives OF
the people in extra session when 1t involve 8
neglect of public DIZZY places the RESPONSE
bllity of such neglect upon the executive
himself The condition of the public treas
| ory, as has been indicated, demands the
immediate consideration of Congress- II
alone oas the power to provide revenues
Tor the government. Not to convene 1t I'M
DER sucA circumstances can view in ua
otner sense than the neglect of plain duty,
100 not sympathize with the sentiment thai
Congress IN session is dangerous to orr qen.
ersi business interests. Its members ara
tue agenu oil the people, and their presence
at the seat of government in execution of
the sovereign will should not operate as an
injury. but benefit
mere could be no better time to put the
soseInment upon sound financial and eco
nomic basis than now The peonle have
onIy recently voted that this should be
done, and nothing is more binding unon the
a9ents or their will than the obi ga ton of
Immediate action. 1t has ALWAYS seemed to
ne endt the poStponement of the meeting of
congress until more than year after If has
Deen CHOSEN deprives Congress too often of
nS .nsplt auon OF the popular will and the
country OF the corresponding benefits
Congress to Meet March Is.
Tits evident, therefore, that to p,stnon.
acuon In the presence of so great neces.
uty would be unwfse on the part of the ev-
ecutive because unjust to the Interests Of
the people. Our actions now will he freer
rom mere partisan consideration than IL
the question of tariff revision was most
Poned until the regular session of CONGRESS
we are nearly two years from a Congress-
lonai election. and politics cannot so great.
y distract as as If such contest was fmme.
olately pending We can approach the
problem calmly and patriotically without
rearing It's ehect upon an early Gle. ton
Our fellow citizens who NAV disagree with
us upon the character of this legislation