, 1900-06-21

will enable us to o our fOrmc
place among the trade carrying fleets 0
the world.
The nation owe a debt Of prJfOunD
gratitude to the soldiers and sailor
who have fought its battles and it j
the governments duty to provide TO
the survivors and for the widows an
orphans Of those who have fallen in thu
countTy's wars. The pension law.
founded in this just sentimeLt shcuI,
be liber and should bo Literally
administered and preference SHOULD
be given wherever practicable with +"
spect to employment in the public ser.
ivce to soldiers n sailors and to then
widows and orphans.
We commend the policy Of the repub.
lican party in maintaining the etticien.
cy of the civil service. The administra,
ton has acted wisely in its effort t.
secure for public service in Cuba, POr,
t O Rico, Hawaii and the Philippine isl,
auds only those whose fitness has beer
determined by training and experience
We believe that employment in the
public service in these territories
should be confined as far as practicable
to their inhabitants.
1t was the plain purpose Of the Fiji
teenth amendment to the constitution
to prevent determinations on account
of race or color in regulating the elcc-
tive franchise. Devices Of state gov
ernments whether by statutory or con
stitutional enactment to avoid the
purpose Of this amendment are revo-
~lutionary and should be condemned.
Public movements looking to a per-
marent improvement of the roads and
highways Of the country meet with our
cordial approval and we recommend
this subject to the earnest considera-
ton of the people and the legislatures
Of the several states.
We favor the extension Of the rural
free delivery service whenever its eX-
tension may be justified.
In further pursuance Of the constant
policy of the republican party to pro-
vide free homes on the public domain
we recommend adequate national legis-
lation to reclaim the arid lands of the
United States, reserving control of the
distribution of water for irrigation to
the respective states and territories.
We favor home rule for and the early
admission to statehood of the terri
tories of New Mexico, Arizona and Ok
lahoma.
The Dingley act amended to provide
sufficient revenue for the conduct of
the war has so we'll performed its work
that it has been possible to reduce the
war debt in the sum of S40,O 0 900. So
ample are the governments revenues
and so great is the public confidence in
the integrity Of its obligations that its
newly funded 2 per cent bonds sell at
a premium. The country is now jlsti-
fed in expecting and it will be the poll
cy of the republican party to bring
about a reduction of the war taxes.
We favor the construction, owner
ship, control and protection of an 18TH
mian canal by the government of the
United States. New markets are
necessary for the increasing surplus OF
our farm products. Every effort should
be made to open and obtain new mark
| orc aSnaciol1y in tho nrianr onJ tha
administration is warmly to DE COM
mended for its successful effort to COM
nit all trading and colonizing nations
10 the policy of the open door in China.
In the interest Of our expanding COM
merce, we recommend that congress
create a department Of commerce and
industries in the charge of a secretary
with a seat in the cabinet. The United
States consular system should be reor-
ganized under the supervision of this
new department upon such a basis of
appointment and tenure as will render
it still more serviceable to the nations
increasing trade.
The American government must pro.
tect the person and property of every
citizen wherever they are wrongfully
violated or placed in peril.
We congratulate the women Of Amer
lea upon their splendid record of pub
lie service in the Volunteer Air associ-
alton, and as nurses in camp and hos
pital during the recent campaigns of
our armies in the Eastern and Western
Indies, and we appreciate their faithful
cooperation in all works of education
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
veXatious European alliance for the
government of Samoa, his course is es-
pecially to be commended. By securing
to. our undivided control the most i'm
portant island Of the Samoan group,
and the best harbor in the southern