The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-08

act shall be passed as speedily as pos
sible erecting these islands into a judi
cial district, providing for the appoint
ment of a judge and other proper officers
and methods of procedure in APP
pellate proceedings and that the
government of this newly acquired ter
ritory under the federal constitution,
shall be fully defined and provided for.
OUR DUTY TO PORTO RICO.
Our plain duty is to abolish all GUS
toms tariffs between the U. s. and Porto
Rico and give her products free access
to our markets.
1t is desirable that the government of
the island under the law of belligerent
right, now maintained through the ex-
ecutive department, should be suppressed
ed by an administration entirely civil
in its nature. For thenpresent purposes,
/ recommend that congress pass a law
for the organization of a temporary
government, which shall provide for the
appointment by the president subject
to the confirmation by the senate of
governor and such other officers as
the general administration Of the island
may require, and that for legislative
purposes upon subjects OF local nature
a legislative council, composed partly of
Porto Ricans and partly of citizens of
the U. s.. shall be nominated and
appointed by the president subject to
confirmation by the senate, their acts to
be subject to the approval of the con-
gress or the president prior to going
into effect. In the municipalities and
other local subdivisions recommend
that the principal of local self-govern-
ment be applied at once, so as to enable
the intelligent citizens of the island to
participate in their own government
and to learn by practical experience
the duties and requirements of self
contained and self-governed people. I
have not thought 1t wise to commit the
entire government of the island to
officers selected by the people, because
l doubt whether in habits, training and
experience, they are such as to fit them
to exercise at once so large a degree of
self-government; but it is my judgment
and expectation that they will soon ar
rive at an attainment of experience and
wisdom and self control that will JUS
tify comforting upon them a much
larger participation in the choice of
their insular officers.
The fundamental requirements of
these people, as for all people, is educa-
tion. The free school house is the best
preceptor for citizenship. In the pro-
duction of modern educational methods
care, however, must be exercised that
changes be not made too abruptly and
that the history and racial peculiarities
of the inhabitants shall be given due
weight. Systems of education in these
new possessions founded upon common
sense methods, adapted to existing con-
ditfons and looking to the future moral
and industrial advancement of the peo-
pie, will commend to them in a
peculiarly effective manner the bles-
sings of free government.
The love of law and the sense of
obedience and submission to the law
fully constituted judicial tribunals are
imbedded in the hearts of our people,
and any violations of these sentiments
and disregard of their obligations Justly
arouses public condemnation The
guarantees of life, liberty, and of civil
rights should be faithfully upheld: the
right of trial by jury respected and
defended. The rule Of the courts should
assure the public of the prompt trial
of those charged with criminal offences
and upon conviction the punishment
should be commensurate with the
enormity Of the crime.
These who, in disregard of the law and
the public peace, unwillingly to await
the judgment of court of jury con-
stitute themselves judges and execu- |
TONERS should not escape the severest |
penalties for their crimes.
LYNCHING NOT TO BE ToLE-
RATED.
What said in my inaugural address |
of March 4, 1897, l now repeat:
The constituted authorities must be
carefully and vigorously upheld. |
Lynching must not be tolerated in |
great and civilized country like the
United States. Courts, not mobs,
must execute the penalties of the laws.
The preservation of public order, the
right of discussion, the integrity of |
courts, and the orderly administration
OF justice must continue forever the
rock of safety upon which our govern
ment securely rests"
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The executive order of May g. 1896,
the limits of the classified
service, brought within the operation of
the civil service law, and rules nearly
all or the executive civil service not
previously classified.
hoiiS Va liS were
wholly illogical and unsuited to the
work of the several departments. The
application of the rules to many of the
places so included was found to result
in friction and embarrassment. After
long and very careful consideration, it
became evident to the heads of the de-
responsible for their
that in order to remove these
difficulties and promote an efficient
and harmonious administration, GER
tain amendments were necessary. These
amendments were promulgated by me
In executive order dated May 20, 1899.
The principle purpose of the order was
to accept from competitive examina-
ton certain places involving judiciary
responsibilities of duties of a strictly
confidential, scientific or executive
character which was thought might bet
ter be filled by non-competitive ex-
animation, or in the discretion of the
appointing officer, than by open compe-