St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-03-05

relieve 1t, as far as legislation can 40 So
The restoration Of confidence and the re-
ylyal Of business, which men Of all parties
80 much desire, depend more
largely upon the prompt, enef-
getic and intelligent action OF
congress than upon any other single
agency affecting the situation.
1t Is inspiring, too, to rem mber thslt
no great emergency in the lOS years or
our eventful national life has even arisen
that has not been met with wisdom ana
courage by the American people, win
fidelity to their best in .erests and nigh
est destiny and to the honor Of the Amer
lean nation. These years Of glorious MS
tory have exalted mankind and ad-
vanced the cause Of freedom throughout
the world, and UNNECESSARILY strength
ened the precious free institutions when
we enjoy The people love and VIII sus-
tain these institutions. The great essen
tial to our happiness and prosperity Is
that we adhere to the principles upon
which the government was established,
and insist upon their faithful observ-
ance. Equality Of rights must prevail,
and our laws be always and everywhere
respected and obeyed. We may have
failed in the discharge Of our full duty
as citizens of the great republic but 1t Is
consoling and encouraging to realize that
free speech, a free press free thought,
free schools the free and umolested right
Of religious liberty and worship and free
and fair elections are dearer and more
universally enjoyed today than ever be-
fore. These guarantees must be sacredly
preserved and wisely strengthened The
constituted authorities must be cheer
fully and vigorously upheld. Lynchings
must not be tolerated in a great and CIV
ilized country like the United States;
courts not mobs, must execute the pen
alties of the law. The preservation of
public order, the right of discussions, the
integrity of our courts and the orderly
administration Of Justice must continue
forever the rock Of safety upon which our
government securely rests.
One of the lessons taught by the late
election. which all can rejoice in Is that
the citizens Of the United States are both
law-respecting and law-abding people,
not easily swerved from the path of pa
triotism and honor. This Is in entire ac-
cord with the genus of our institutions,
and but emphasizes the advantages of
intoxicating even greater love for law
and order in the future Immunity
should be granted to none who violate
the law, whether individuals, corpora
tions or communities; and. as the con-
stitution imposes upon the president the
duties OF both its own execution and Of
the statutes enacted in pursuance of it's
provisions | shall endeavOr carefully to
carry them into effect. The declaration
of the party now restored to power has
been, in the past, that of Opposition to
all combinations of capital organized in
trusts, or otherwise to control arbi-
trarily, the condition of trade among our
citizens" and it has supported such
legislation as viii 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 market" This pur-
pose will be steadily pursued, both by
the enforcement of the laws now in ex-
istence and the recommendation 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 tn,
constant promotion of a safer a bette
and higher citizenship. A grave peri
to the republic would be a citizenship
too ignorant to understand or too vicious
to appreciate the great value and bene
flcence of our institutions and laws
and against all who come here to max
war upon them our gates must b
promptly and tightly closed. Nor mus
we DC unmindful of the need of improve
ment among our own citizens, but, wit
the zeal of our forefathers encourag
the spread of knowledge and free edu
cation. Illitcracy must be banished fror
the land, If We shall attain that high des
tiny as the foremost of the enlightene
nations Of the world, which, unde
Providence, we ought to achieve.
Reforms In the civil service must e
on, but the changes should be real an
genuine, not perfunctory or prompte
by zeal in behalf of any party simpl
because it happens to be in power.
a member of congress- I voted and spok
In favor of the present law. and I sha
attempt 1t enforcement in the spirit /
which 1t was enacted The purpose
view was to secure the most efflcier
service of the best men who would &C
ccpt appointment under the government
retaining faithful and devoted publ
servants in office, but shielding none ur
der the authority of any rule or custol
who are inefficient, incompetent or III
worthy. The best interests of the cour
try demand this, and the people hearth
approve the law wherever and wher
ever 1t has been thus administered.
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