Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-12-06

who are still in the army would seem
10 require that in the matter OF retire.
met sthey be given by law the same
privileges accorded to their comrades
in the navy.
Every effort should be made TO bring
the army to constantly increasing
state of efficiency.
Action should be taken in reference
10 the militia and to the raising OF vol
unteer forces. Our militia law is obso-
lete and worthless. The organization
and armament of the National Guard
OF the several states. which are treated
as militia in the appropriations by the
congress, should be made identical with
those provided for the regular forces
Our Veterans
NO other citizens deserve so we'll OF
the republic as the veterans the sur
vivors OF those who saved the Union
| They did the one deed which if left
undone would have meant that all else
in our history went for nothing. Blu.
for their steadfast proves in the great
est crisis OF our history, all our annals
would be meaningless, and our great
experiment in popular freedom and
Moreover, they not only left us united
nation, but they left us also as a heri-
tage the memory of the mighty deeds
by which the nation was kept united
We are now indeed one nation, one in
fact as we'll as in name; we are united
IN our devotion to the flag which is
the symbol of national greatness and
unity; and the very completeness Of
our union enables us ALL in every part
of the country. to glory in the valor
shown alike by the sons of the north
and the sons of th4south in the times
| that tried mems souls
Civil Service.
The merit system of making appoint
NETS is in its essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
ITSELF.
Wherever the conditions have permit
ted the application of the merit sys-
tenn in its fullest and widest sense, the
gain to the government has been i'm
mense. The navy-yards and postal
service illustrate, probably better than
any other branches of the government,
the great gain in economy, efficiency
and honesty due to the enforcement Of
this principle.
| recommend the passage of a law
which will extend the classified service
to the District of Columbia, or will at
least enable the president thus to ex-
tend it. In my judgment all laws pro-
viding for the temporary employment
of clerks should hereafter contain a
provision that they be selected under
the civil service law.
The merit system is simply one meth
cd of securing honest and efficient ad-
mnistration of the government; and in
the long run the sole justification Of
any type OF government lies in its prov
ing itself bot hhonest and efficient.
Consular Service.
The consular service is now organ
lied under the provisions of law pass
ed in 1856, which is entirely inadequate
to existing conditions.
Regarding the Indian.
In my judgment the time has arrived
when we should definitely make up our
minds to recognize the Indian as an
| individual and not as member of a
tribe. The general allotment act is a
mighty pulverizing engine to break up
the tribal mass. 1t acts directly upon
the family and the individual. Under
is provisions some $4,000 Indians have
already become citizens of the United
States. The Indian should be treated
as an individual-like the white man.
During the change of treatment inevi-
table hardships will occur; every effort
should be made to minimize these hard.
ships; but We should not because Of
| 49, I, oh hn oh
| There should be continuous reduc-
! ton in the number of agencies.
Expeditions.
| bespeak the most cordial support
| from the congress and the people for
the St Louis exposition TO commemor-
ate the one hundredth anniversary OF
the Louisiana purchase. This pur-
chase was the greatest instance OF ex-
panson in our history.
The people of Charleston, with great
energy and civic spirit, are carrying on
an exposition which will continue
| throughout most of the present session
of the congress | heartily commend
this exposition to the good will OF the
people 1t deserves all the encourage
ment that can be given 1t.
The Pan-American Exposition at
Buffalo has just closed Both from the
industrial and the artistic standpoint
this exposition has been in high de-
gree credible and useful not merely TO
Buffalo but to the United States.
The advancement of the highest In
terests of national science and learning
and the custody OF objects OF art and
OF the valuable results of scientific ex-
petitions conducted by the United
States have been committed to the