Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1904-10-06

whether they wiph an honest and fhoT-
ough investigation. a Democratic Coz
gfess ana executive will assure H.
We are justly proud of the officers and
men 81 our army and navy. Both, how
ever. nav, have Suffered from the persistent
nuence. Promotions and appointments
nave been frequently based on fnyoritism
instead OF merit. Trials and court mar
tials have been set aside under circum-
stances Indicating political interference.
These and other abuses should be COR
Pensions for our Soldiers and Sailors.
The National Democracy fayors liberal
pensions 20 the surviving soldiers and
sailors, and their dependents, on the
ment. II pledges by its platform ade-
quate legislation 90 that end. But II
denies the right Of the executive TO usurp
the power OF Congress to legislate ON
that subject Such usurpation was at
tempted by Pension order No. as, and
effect has been given TO It by Congress
that dared not resent the usurpation. IL
Is said that this order was made I'm the
performance OF a duty imposed upon the
provision making the imposition is not
pointed out. The act to which the order
refers, which Is the one relating to ptn-
sions 60 Civil War veterans, docs not
authorize pensions on the ground OF age.
II does grant pensions to those 'sunor-
ing from any mental or physical disa.
billty or disabilities, Of permanent
character, not the result OF their own
vicious habits, which so incapacitates
them from the performance OF manual
labor as to render them unable TO earn
a support" This specified requirement
Of incapacity Is in effect set aside by 90
der No. rs as to all persons over sixty
two
The war closed nearly forty years ago.
In the meantime many OF our soldiers
and sailors long survived the age OF six
ty-twO. and passed away without receiv-
ing any pension. Skilful pension attor-
neys hunting through the statute failed
TO IND there provision giving pen
sion TO all who had reached siNty-two.
Many prominent veterans urged the JUS
uce of congressional action giving q ser
vice pension TO all veterans. Bills to
And not until March OF this year did
any one ever claim to have made the
discovery that the president had power
to treat the statute as II II read that
when a claimant had passed the age. OF
siXty-two years he Is necessarily disabled
one-half in ability to perform manual
labor and therefore entitled to pension.
II elected / win revoke that order. Rut
l go further and say that that being
done, j will contribute my effort toward
the enactment Of a law to be passed by
both houses OF Congress and approved by
the executive that will give an age PEN
sion without reference to disability TO
the surviving heroes OF the civil war; and
under the provisions OF which a pension
may be accepted with dignity because
OF the consciousness that It comes as
just due from the people through their
chosen representatives, and not as iargess
distributed by the chief executive.
Foreign Relations.
The foreign relations Of the govern
ment have in late years assumed special
Importance. Prior to the acquisition OF
the Philippines, We were practically IN
vulnerable against attacks by foreign
states. Those tropical possessions, how
ever. seven thousand miles FROM our
shores, have changed all this and have
in effect put us under bonds to keep the
peace. The new conditions call for a
management of foreign affairs the more
ciTcumspect in that the recent American
invasion OF foreign markets in all parts
OF the world has excited the serious APP
prehension of all the great industrial peo-
pics. 1t Is essential therefore, more than
ever, to adhere strictly to the traditional
policy Of the country as formulated by
its first president and never in my 1udg-
ment wisely departed from-to invite
friendly relations with all nations while
avoiding entangling alliances with any.
Reform In Governmental Expenditures.
Twenty eight years have passed since
the Democratic party Of the state OF New
mended to the National Democracy the
nomination Of Samuel J; Tilden as its
candidate for the presidency, and de-
clared II to be their settled conviction
that a return to the constitutional prin-
ciples, frugal expense and administrative
purity of the founders of the Republic
is the first and most imperiOus duty of
the times-the commanding issue now
before the people of the Union" This
strong expression was called forth by
the national expenditures for the year
1875, which amounted to $274 ,OOO, OO0-a
situation which. in the opinion of ma
jority- of our people, justified an impela-
tive demand for reform in the admins
tration of public affairs As the eN-
penditure of the last fiscal year amount
ed to the enormous total OF S5S2OOO.OOO
it,is evident that a thorough Investigation
Of the public service ana the immediate
abandonment of useless and eNtravagant
than they were then. This astounding
Increase Is out Of all proportion to the
increase of our population, and finds no
excuse from whatever aspect we view
the situation The national Democratic
platform declares that large reductions
can easily be made in the annual eX-
penditures of the government without i'm
the public service" Can there be any
doubt of the accuracy Of this statement?
In this connections 1t is interesting TO
note the recent administrative orders
forbidding government officers from maxi
ing public any statement of estimates on
which future appropriations are TO be
II a man Of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating eN-
Denses OF his business such a tremCn-
dOus percentage Of increase, would he
not promptly set on foot an inquiry for
the cause OF the waste, and take imme-
date measures to stop it, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis
honest and convicted, and widespread
impression exists that thorough investt-
cation may discover other cases OF NAL
feasance? When the chief executive re
ported to Congress that, Through frauds,
forgeries and peTiuries, and by sname-
less briberies the laws relating to the
proper conduct OF the public service in
general, and to the due administration OF
the postoffice department have been no
g seIiousiS po1ular demand for a rield'
sweeping investigation by Congress, in
addition to that undertaken by the eX-
ecutive himself. Such an investigation
the Republican majority In Congress
would not permit although the minority
insisted that the interests Of good gCv-
eminent demanded II. And the minor
ity was right. 1ne liberality, patriot
ism and national pride of the people
should not be made an excuse for waste
OF the public funds. Official extravaganza
Is official crime.
Reform in expenditures must be had
in both the civil, military and naval es-
adjustments in order that the national
expenditures may be brought to a basis
OF peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes OF war.
Conclusion.
1 have put aside a congenial work. to
which had expected to devote my life,
in order TO assume, as best can, the re-
sponsibilities your convention put upon
me.
/ solocit the cordial cooperation and
generous assistance Of every man who
haf q nf and