The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-12-15

made more so by this act Il is not too
much 10 hope that the government OF
Brazil may hereafter find Il for its :Gter-
est, as we'll as intrinsically right 70 adj
vance towards entire emancipation moro
rapidly than the present acts contem-
plates,
cunA
II is 20 be regretted that the disturbed
condition Of the island OF Cuba continues
60 be y source of annoyance and of anx-
/ icty. The existence of q protraoted strug-
gle in such close proximity 90 our own
territory, without apparent prospect Of
an early termination, cannot ho Other
than an object Of concern 10 u people,
who, while ahstaining from interference
in the affairs Of other powers, naturally
desire to see every country in the undis'
turhcd enjoyment OF peace, liberty and
the blessing OF free Institutions, Our
naval commanders in Cuban waters have
been instructed, in ease il should become
ne ,cSsary, 10 spare no effort to protect
the lives and property of baHa .d,is Amer
iean citizens aud 90 maintain the dignity
&C the flag. IL is hoped that all pend
ing questions with Spain, growing out
II the affairs ina Cuba, may be a,hustel
in the spirit OF peace and cancellation,
which has hitherto guided the two
powers in their treatment Of such ques
tionS,
NATIONAL DEBT.
/ The national debt has been reduced
10 the extent Of eighty-siX millions,
/ tifty-seyen thousand, one hundred and
/ twenty.six dollars and eighty cents dur,
ing the year aud 10y the negotiation
Of national bonds AT lower rate of in
1 tereSt, the interest ON the public debt
has been SO far diminished that now the
sum 10 be raised for the interest account
is nearly seventeen million dollars less
than on the first of March, 1859.
TAKES.
recommend that all taxes from in
ternal sources be abolished, except those
collected for spiritrmus vinus and malt
/ liquors, tobacco in ats yarions forms and
from stamps, In readiusting the tarltl
suggest that careful estimate be made
Of the amount of surplus revenue col
lected under the present laws after pro
yiding the carrcnt expenses of the gov
I ernment, the interest account OF "a sink
ing fund, and that this surplus be re-
dueed in snch manner AS to afford the
greatest relief 10 the greatest number.
GOLD.
Continued fluctuations in the value OF
gold, AS compared with the national cur
rency, has most damaging effect upon
I the increase and development of the
country, in keeping Up price3 of all arti-
eles necessary in every day life. Ii foS-
ters spirit of gambling prejndieial
alike TO national morals and national
7 finances. IL the question can be met as
10 how 10 get a fixed value 10 our eur.
rency, that value constantly and uni
f0rInly approaching par with specie, a
very desirable object viii be gained.
THE KU KLUx
Warning not having been needed. on
| the 7th of Oct. u general proclamation
was issued suspending the privilege Of
the writ Of hdbeas oorpns in nine counties
In Sonth Carolina Direction was given
that, within the counties SO designated,
persons supposed, upon crethtable infor-
I
combinations should be arrested hy the
lmilitary forces of the United States and
delivered 20 the marshal to bc dealt with
according to law. In two Of said coun-
ties-York and Spartanburg ar
rests have been made. At the last ac-
count the number Of persons thus ar
rested was one hundred and sixty-eight.
| Several hundred whose criminAhty was
ascertained 10 be of an inferior degree
were released for the present. These
have generally made confessions Of their
guilt Great caution has been exercised
in making these arrests, and notwith-
standing the large number, il is believed
that no innocent person is now in Gus
I tody. The prisoners will be held for
regular trial in the Judicial tribunals OF
I the United States AS soon as 1t appear.
ell that the authorities Of the United
States were about 10 take vigorous
measures to enforce the law. many per-
sons absconded, and there is good
ground for suppoSing that all Of such
persons have violated the law. 4 full
report of what has been done under this
law will be submitted 10 Congress by the
Attorney General.
UTAH.
In Utah there still remains a remnant
Of barharism repugnant 10 civilization,
10 decency and TO the laws Of the United
States. Territorial officers. however,
have been found who are willing to per
form their duty in a spirit of equity, and
with a due sense Of sustaining the ma
iestY Of the law. Neither polygauIy, nor
any other violation OF existing statutes
viii be permitted within the territory Of
the United States. II is not with the
religion ol the self styled saints that We
are now dealing, but with their practices.
They will be protected in the worship Of
God, according to the dictates of their
conscience /; but they will not be permit
ted 10 violate the laws under the cloak
uf religion. 10 may bo advisable for
Congress to consider what.in the execu-
ton Of the law against polygnmy, is 10
be the status of plural wives and their
offspring. The propriety Of Congress
passing an enabling act authorizing the
territorial Legislature of Utah to lcgiti-
mize all childrea born prior 10 IA time
fixed in the act, might be justified by it's
humanity TO those innocent children.
This is a suggestion only, and not q
recommendation.
DIsABILrTrEs
More than six years having elapsed
since the last hostile gun was fred be-
tween the armies then arrayed against
each other, the one for the perpetuation.
the other for the destruction Of the
Union. 1t may well be considered
whether il is not now time that the dis
abilities imposed by the Fourteenth
amendment should be removed. That
amendment does not exclude the ballot,
but only imposes the disability 10 hold
Office upon certain classes. When the
purity OF the ballot is secure. majoritics
are sure 10 elect officers rejecting the
views Of the majority. do not see the
advantage or propriety OF excluding men
from Office merely because they were,
before the rebellion, of standing and
character sufficient 10 be elected 10 posi-
tions requiring them 10 take oaths 10
support the Constitution, and admitting
to eligibility those entertaining precisely
the same views but of less standing in |
their communities. 1t may be said that |
the former violated AN oath while the |
lattar did mot Tho lotter d;d mot have