Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-06-20

dustry in this country. It is also a
serious danger to our trade for its
sudden withdrawal in event of Europ-
can war, would seriously cripple our
expanding foreign commerce. Ma
tional defense and naval efficiency Of
this country, moreover. supply COM
pelling reason for legislation which
will enable us to recover our former
place among the trade carrying fleets
of the world.
The nation owes debt Of profound
gratitude to the soldiers and sailors
who fought its battles and It is the
governments duty to- provide for the
survivors and for the> widows and
orphans of those who have fallen in
their country's wars. Pension laws.
founded on this just sentiment, ,>should
be liberal and should be literally adj
ministered and preference should be
given. wherever practicable, with res
pect to employment to public SER
vice to soldiers and sailors and to
their widows and orphans.
We commend the policy Of the rep
ublican party in maintaining the eff
cheney OF the civil service. The ad-
ministration has acted wisely in its
effort to secure for the public service
in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and
Philippines only those whose fitness
has been determined by training and
experience. We believe that employ
ment in public service, in these terri
tories should be confined as far as
practicable, to their inhabitants. 1t
was the plain purpose of the fifteenth
amendment to the constitution to pre-
vent discrimination ON account of race
or color in regulating the franchise.
Devices of state governments, whether
by statutory or constitutional enact
ment, to avoid the purpose of this
amendment, are revolutionary and
should be condemned.
Public movements, looking to per-
manent improvement of roads and
highways of the country meet with our
cordial approval and we recommend
this subject to the earnest considera-
tion of the people and the legislature
of the several states. We favor the
extension of the rural free delivery
service wherever its extension may be.
justified.
In further pursuance of the con-
stant policy of the republican party
to provide free homes on public do
main, we recommend adequate ma
tional legislation to reclaim the arid
lands of the United States, reservingl
the control and distribution of water,
for irrigation, to the respective states
aAd territories. We favor home rule
for, and an early admission to state
hood of-the Territories of New Mexico.
Arizona and Oklahoma. The Dingley
act, amended to provide sufficient re-
venue for the conduct of the war, has
so well performed its work that it has
been possible to reduce the war debt
in the sum Of $40,000,000 So ample
are the governments revenues, and
so great is public confidence in the
integrity of its obligations. that its
newly founded 2 per cent bonds sell
at a premium.
The country is now justified in ex-
pecting, and it will be the policy of
the republican party to bring about a
reduction of war taxes.
We favor the construction, owner
ship, control and protection of the
Esthmian canal by the government of
the United States. New markets are
necessary for increasing surplus of our
farm products. -
Every effort should be made to omen
and obtain new markets especially IN
the Orient, and the administration is
warmly to be commended for its sue
cessful effort to commit all trading
and colonizing nations to the policy of
an open door in China, in the inter
est of our expanding commerce and
industries, in charge of a secretary,
with a seat in the cabinets. The
United States consular system should
be recognized, under the supervision
of this new department, upon such
basis Of appointment and tenure as
will render it still more serviceable
to the nations increasing trade.
The American government must pro-
teet the person and property of every
citizen wherever they are wrongfully
violated or placed in peril.
We congratulate the women of
America upon their splendid record of
public service in volunteer aid asso-
citation and as nurses in camp and
hospital during the recent campaigns
of our armies in Eastern and Western
Indias, and we appreciate their faith
full cooperation in all works of edu-
cation and industry.
President Mckinley has conducted
the foreign affairs of the United States
with distinguished credit to the Ameri-
can people. In releasing us from the
vexations of European alliance for the
government of Samoa, his course is
especially commended. BY securing
to our undivided control the most i'm
portant island of the Samoan group
and the best harbor in the Southern
Pacific, every American interest has
been safeguarded. We approve of the
annexation of the Hawaiian Islands tc
the United States. We commend the
part taken by our government in the
peace conference at the Hague. W.
assert our steadfast adherence to the
policy announced in the Monroe doc
trine. The provisions. of the Hague
convention were wisely regarded wher
al Scs u z