The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-03-05

1t is inspiring, too, to remember that no
great emergency in the l0S years of our
eventful national life has ever arisen that
has not been met with wisdom and cour
age by the American people with fidelity
= their best interests and highest destiny,
and to the honor of the American name.
These years of glorious history have ex-
alted mankind and
Advanced the Cause of Freedom
throughout the world and immea surably
strengthened the precious free institutions
which we enjoy. The people love and
will sustain these institutions. The great
essential to our happiness and prosperity
is that we adhere to the principles upon
which the government was established
and insist upon their faithful observance
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 it is consoling
and encouraging to realize that free
speech, free press. free thought, free
schools, the free and unmolested right of
religious liberty and worship and free and
fair elections are dearer and more univer
sally enjoyed today than ever before.
One of the lessons taught by the late
elcCtloIl, WllCu al Sdh ICJolCC al, ID tIaV
| the citizens of the United States are both
law respecting and law abiding people, not
easily swerved from the path of patriotism
| and honor This is in entire accord with
| the genius of our institutions, but empha-
| sizes the advantages of inculcating even a
| greater love for law and order in the flu.
| ture.
Lynchings Should Cease.
These guarantees must be sacredly pro-
| served and wisely strengthened. The con.
stituted authorit ,cs must be cheerfully
and vigorously upheld. Lynchings must
not be tolerated in a great and civilized
country like the United States. Courts
| not moOs-must execute the penalties OF
the law. The preservation of public or
der, the right of discussion, the integrity
of courts and the orderly administration
of justice must continue forever the rock
of safety upon which our government sc
curely rests.
| No Guilty Man Should Escape.
| Immunity should be granted to none
| who violate the laws, whether individu.
| ais, corporations or communities. And
as the Constitution imposes upon the
president the duty of lis own execution
and that of the statutes enacted in pursu
ance of its provisions, l shall endeavor
carefully to carry them into effect. The
| declaration of the party now restored to
power has been in the past that of "oppo.
| sition to all combinations of capital, or
ganized in trusts or otherwise, to control
| arbitrarily the conditions of trade among
our citizens and it has supported such
legislation as will prevent the execution
Of all schemes to oppress the people by un-
due charges upon their supplies or by un-
just rates for the transportation of their
products to market" This purpose will
be steadily pursued, both by the enforce
nent of the laws already in existence and
the recommendation and support Of such
| new statutes as may be necessary TO carry
| 1t into effect.
| Immigration and Natural zation.
Our naturalization and imm grafton
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of a safer, Il better
and higher citizenship. A grave peril to
the republic would be a citizenship too
| ignorant to understand, or too vicious To
appreciate the great value and benefit 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 he unmind.
full OF improvement among our own citi-
Zens, but with the zeal of our forefathers,
encourage the spread of knowledge and
free education. lllitcracy must be ban
ished from the land if we shall attain
that high destiny as the foremost of the
enlightened nations of the world, which
under Providence we ought to achieve
Civil Service Reform.
Reform in the civil service must go on
lint = h,,, hn,, >.l, II Eor
inc, not perfunctory, or prompted by a
zeal in behalf of any party, simply be
cause it happens to be in power AS a
member Of congress / voted and spoke in
favor of the present law and shall at
tempt its enforcement in the spirit in
which it was enacted The purpose in
view was to secure the most efficient ser
vice of the best men who would accept ap
pOintment under the government retain
J ing faithful and devoted public servants
} in Office, but shielding none under the
authority of any rule or custom who are
Inefficient or incompetent, or unworthy
The best interests of the country demand
J this and the people heartily approve the
} law wherever and whenever it has beer
thus administered.
The Merchant Marine.
SohSICSS sAoulu give pTOilpC dtIcutloL
to the restoration of our American mcr-
chant marine, once the pride of the sea.
in all the great ocean highways of com
merce. To my mind, few more important
subjects so imperatively demand its intel
lgent consideration. The United State.
has progressed with marvellous rapidity il
every field of enterprise and endeavor un
til we have become foremost in nearly al
the great lines Of inland trade, commerc,
and industry. Yet, while this is true, oul
American merchant marine has beer
steadily declining until it is now lower
both In percentage of tonnage and number
of vessels employed, than it was prio
to the Civil War. Commendable progress.
has been made of late years in the up
building Of an American navy, but W,
must supplement these efforts by provid
ing as proper consort for it a merchan
marine amply sufficient for our own car
rying trade to foreign countries. The q,1cs
ton is one that appeals both to our bust
ness necessities and the patriotic aspira
+ tions of great people.
, Foreign Policy Outlined.