The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-11

and the orderly administration of
justice must continue forever the
rock of safety upon which our govern
ment 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
aw-abiding, not easily swerved from
the path of patriotism and honor
This is in entire accord with the
genius of our institutions, and but
emphasizes the advantages of incul-
eating even a greater love for law and
order in the future. Immunity should
be granted to none who violate the
laws, whether individual, corpora
tions OF communities; and as the con-
stitution imposes upon the President
the duty of both its own execution,
and of the statutes enacted in pursu-
ance of its 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 oppression to all combina-
tions of capital organized in trusts, or
otherwise, to control arbitrarily the
conditions of trade among our citi-
zens,o and it has supported "such
legislation as will prevent the eXecu-
ton of all schemes to Cypress the peo-
pie by undue charges on their sup
plies, or by unjust laws for the trans
pOrtation of their products to mar
ket." This purpose will be steadily
pursued, both by the enforcement of
the laws now in existence and the
recommendation and support of such
new statutes as may be necessary to
carry it into effect.
Our naturalization and immigra-
ton laws should further be improved
to the constant promotion of a surer, a
better and a higher citizenship A
grave peril to the republic would be
a citizenship too ignorant to under
stand, or too vicious to appreciate
the great value and beneticence of
our constitutions and laws-and
against all who come here to make
war upon them our gates must be
promptly and tightly closed. Nor
must we be unmindful of the need of
improvements among our own citizens
but with the zeal of our forfathers
encourage the spread Of knowledge
and free education. IlliJeracy must
be banished from the land, if we shall
attain that high destiny as the fore
most of the enlightened nations of the
world, which under Providence, we
ought to achieve.
Reform in the civil service must go
on. But the changes should be real
and genuine, not perfunctOry, or
prompted by a zeal in behalf of any
party, simply because it happens to
be in power. As a member of Con
gress, ! voted and spoke in favor of
| the present law, and shall attempt
its enforcement in the spirit in which
it was enacted. The purpose in
view was to secure the most efficient
service of the best men who would
accept appointment under the gov
eminent, retaining faithful and de
voted public servants in office, but
shielding none, under the authority
of any rule or custom, who are ineffi-
| cient, incompetent or unworthy. The
| best interests of the country demand
this, and the people heartily approve
| the law wherever and whenever il
has been administered.
Congress should give prompt at
| tentiOn TO the restoration of OuI
American merchant marine, once the
pride of the seas in all the great ocean
| highways of commerce. To my minC
few more important subjects so i'm
peratively demand its intelligent con
sideratiOn. The United States has
| progressed with marvellous rapidity
in every field of enterprise and en-
| deavOr until we have become formOst
in nearly all the great lines of inland
trade, commerce and industry. Yet
while this is true, our American ner
| chant marine has been steady de
Ginning until it is now lower both il
! percentage of tonnage and the mum
Der of vessels employed, than III wa'
prior to the civil war Commendablt
| progress has been made of late years
in the upbuilding of the American
navy, but we must supplement these
efforts by providing as a propel
cOnsOrt for it a merchant marine am
| ply sufficient for our own carrying
trade to foreign countries. The cues
ton is one that appeals both TO oul
/ business necessities and the patriot;
aspirations of great people.
1t has been the policy of the United
| States since the foundations of the
| government, to cultivate relations O
| peaceGnd amity with all the nations
of the world and this accords will
my conception OF our duty now. We
have cherished the policy Of non-in
reference with the affairs of foreign
governments, wisely inaugurated by
| Washington, keeping ourselves free
from ENHANCEMENT either as allies o.
foes, content to leave undisturbeC
with them the settlement of thei1
own domestic concerns. 1t will b,
our aim to pursue firm and dignifie(
foreign policy. which shall be Just
impartial ever watchful of our ma
tiOnal honor, and always insisting
upon the enforcement of the Lawful
rights OF American citizens every
where. Our diplomacy should seel
nothing more, and accept nothing
less, than is due us. We want M
wars of conquest; we must avoiC
temptation Of territorial aggression
War should never be entered upor
until every agency of peace has failed
peace is preferable to war in almosr
every contingency.
Arbitration is the true method O
settlement of international, as vel
as local or individual difference. Il
was recognized as the best means o.
| adjustment of differences between
employers and employees by the Forty
ninth Congress, in 1886, and its appli
cation was extended to our diplo
matte relations by the unanimous