Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-11
Of such new statutes as may be neces-
sary to carry It into effect.
Citiacnship.

Of such new statutes as may be neces-
sary to carry It into effect.
Citiaenshtp.
i Our naturalization and Immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of n safer, better
and q higher citizenship. A grave peril
to the republic would be a citizenship too
ignorant to understand. or too vicious to
appreciate the great values ana benent
LOT 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 DO unmlnu-
full Of the need OF Improvement among
Jour own citizens, but, with the zeal OF our
Iforefathers, encourage the spread or
knowledge and free education llltterGcy
must be banished from the land. II we
shall attain that high destiny as the fore
most of the enlightened nations or the
world. which, under Providence, We ought
to achieve.
Reform IN the civil service must go on
but the change should be real and geEu-
inc. not perfunctory, or prompted by a
zeal in behalf of any party. simply be-
cause 1t happened to be in power. AS
i member OF congress I voted and spoke
In favor Of the present law. and l shntl
attempt its enforcement IN the spirit IN
which it was enacted. Tie purpose IN
view was to secure the most efficient
service of the best men who would ac-
Icept appointment under the government.
retaining faithful and devoted public
servants in Office. but shielding none UNI
der the authority of any rule, or custom.
who are inefficient, or incompetent. or
unworthy. The best interests of the coun-
try demand this, and the people heartily
Iapprove the law wherever and whenever
it has been thus administered.
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 an in
ltelligent consideration. The United
States has progressed with marvellous
rapidity in every field of enterprise and
lendeavor until we have become foremost
in nearly all the great lines of inland
trade, commerce and industry. Yet. while
this is true. our American merchant ma
rine has been steadily declining until it
is now lower, both in the percentage of
tonnage and the number of vessels en-
ployed. than 1t was prior to the Civil
war. Commendabe progress has been
made of late years in the upbuilding of
the American navy. but we must supple
ment these efforts by providing as
proper consort for it Il merchant marine
amply sufficient for our own carrying
trade to foreign countries. The question
is one that appeals both to our business
1
| of a great people.
FayOrs Arbitration.
| 1t has been the policy of the United
States since the foundation of the gov
eminent to cultivate relations of peace
and amity with all the nations of the
| world, and this accords with my concep-
| ton of our duty now. We have cherished
| the policy Of ,non-interference with the
affairs of foreign governments, wisely in
III,
selves free from ENHANCEMENT either as
allies or foes, content to leave undisturbed
with them the settlement of their own do
| nestle concerns. 1t will be our aim to
pursue firm and dignifled foreign policy.
| which shall be just. impartial. ever
watchful of our national honor and al
ways insisting upon the enforcement of
everywhere. Our diplomacy should seek
nothing more and accept nothing less
than is due u.s. We want no wars of
conquest; We must avoid the temptation
of territorial aggression. War should
never be entered upon until every agency
of peace has failed; peace is prefers BILE to
war in almost every contingency. Arbi-
,, tration is the true method of settlement.
1t was recognized as the best means of
!! adjustment of differences between en-
ployers and employee by the Forty-ninth
congress and its application was extended
to our diplomatic relations by the unani-
mouse concurrence Of the senate and
house of the Fifty-first congress. 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 arbitration between
the United States and Great Britain was
signed at Washington and transmitted to
the senate for its ratification in January
last. Since this treaty is clearly the re-
suit Of our own initiative: since it has
been recognized as the leading feature Of
our foreig: policy throughout our entire
national history--the adjustment Of diff
culties by judicial methods rather than by
force of aims-and since it presents to
the world the glorious example of reason
and peace. not passion and war. control
ling the relations between two of the
grea test nations OF the world. an example
, certain to be followed by others, l 1e-
!! speutfulIy urge the early action Of the
senate thereon, not merely as a matter of
policy, but as duty to mankind.
The Importance and moral influence of
the ratification OF such treaty can hard
ly be overestimated in the cause of adj
vancing civilization. 1t may we'll engage
the best thought of the statesmen and
people of every country and l cannot
but consider it fortunate that it was re-
served to the United States to have the
leadership in so grand a work. 1t mas
been the uniform practice of each presi-
dent to avoid, as far as possible. the con-
vening of congress in extraordinary ses-
sion. 1t is an example which. under Or
binary circumstances and in the absence
of a public necessity, is to be commended.
But failure to convene the representa-
tives of the people in congress in extra
session when it involves neglect of pub
| lie duty. places the responsibility of such
| neglect upon the executive himself.
Special Session.
The condition of the public treasury,
a; has been indicated, demands the inn
| mediate consideration of congress. 1t
alone has the power to provide revenues
for the government. Not to convene it
| Under such circumstances 1 can view in
| no ether sense than the neglect of a plain
duty ] DO not ympathize with the se!.-
| tinlent that congress in session is danger
| Gus to oar general business ii terests. Its
| members are the agents Of the people,
| and their prc:,noe at the sent of govern
| ment il! tn. execution of the sovereign
will, should not perate as an injury, but
| a benefit. There could be no better time
| to put the government upon q; sound
| financial and economic basis than now.
The people have only recently voted that
THAT Should be done, and nothing is more
| binding upon the agents of their will
L AL 4 NJ.