River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-23

he elective franchise, except through the |
'harity Of his employer or at the cost OF a |
'ecuniary penalty equaling his wages for the /
Whole or portion Of a day.. This is gross
nd manifest injustice. In the exercise OF the
light OF suffrage no unnecessary discrimiua-
ion or restraint should be tolerated. At the
oallot-boX all men arc equal, and II is my de.
iberato conviction that public expense n in-
creased, the opportunity Tor fraud favored,
and full and fair EXPRESSION OF public opin-
ion restrained, in the moro populous districts,
by The brevity OF time now allotted for depos
ting votes and recording the names OF eec.
tors.
EDUCATION
] congratulate you upon the progress Of our
educational institutions, public aud private.
IN is conceded that upon the wide aud
diffusion OF knowledge depends, in
q great degree, the happiness of our people
and tho preservation ofour liberal system u
government. To this end. both the nation
and the state have made provisions for gener.
GUS aid from the public property, and / DO.
speak a conscientious guardianship Of the trust
committed to your hands. Whether the re-
suits rightlully 10 be expected from the ex.
teneiye resources at the command Of the state
have been fully attained, is legitimate sub
jet Of inquiry and discussion. A frequent
comparison OF the facilities afforded tor IN.
struction in this aud neighborng States, and
OF the cost at which those facilities were &c.
cured, would doubtless prove profitable and
tend TO induce still greater progress and econ.
omy For nothing else are the people more
willing nor can they better afford to give lib.
orally Of their substance, than for purposes of
education, If they are only assured
that the means contributed will be
wisely and economically used. OF our
public school system in this State we have rea-
son DO proud, but it is yet far from boipr,
perteot and comes far short of what 1t may =,
made. The common schools are doingsan in
dispenss BILE work. The Normal School now
organ ized, are accomplishing all that is az
present required of them, and doing il eff.
GENTLY. The State University Is rapidly
growing IN popular favor and is taking IA nk
among the first educational institutions OF
the country. While all this is true, it is yet
elear that there ~ a want OF perfect graduation
from the common schools to the University
which last should stand "a the "crownlng
head Of the system. Whether the missing
link or links are to be supplied through The
agency Of county academies or OF the Normal
Schools, or Of both, is a question which ls
forcing itself upon the attention Of the PEG.
pie of the state, and is well worthy OF your
earnest attention.
| shall DO happy 10 concur IN any apprODri.
ate legislation tending 10 more perfectly unity
the public school system OF the State.
CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
In 1876. one hundred years will have elapsed
since the Declaration Of American Indercnd,
snce. Congress, by an act approved Narch g
1871, made provision for duly oelebrating the
lO0th anniversary, by holding, 10 the city
Of Philadelphia, an - International Exhibition
Of Arts, Manufactures, aud Products Of the
Sol and Nine in which will be represented
" the natural resources OF the country and
their Development and its progress in hose
arts which benefit mankind, IN corlparison
with those of older N ions - Tho ont
ed for the appointment by the President, 10
each state and territory, OF one Commissioner
and one alternate Commissioner, to carry out
the objects OF this law. This Centennial Com
mission was organized en- the 18th Of March,
1872, and has held several meetings and made
considerable progress with the work commit
ted to its charge. II has decided that the Ex-
position shall continue for six months, COM
menclng on the 10Th day Of April aud ending
on tbs 18th day of October, 1876. The plans
for the buildings have been adopted. On the
4th Of July last the President of the United
States issued proclamation announcing tbis
national celebration, and commencing il to
the people OF this country and 10 those of all
nations. Several responses from foreign ma
tons have already been received, sgnlfying
their intention to be represented. II seems fit
ting that such a celebration OF this important
event should be held, and it is hoped ii n
be carried out IN manner worthy OF a great
and enlightened nation.
Wisconsin should not be less interested in
his matter than her sister States. She has
vast resources that should be represented,
The Centennial Commission has indicated,
through circulars sent to the Executive Office
that the greatest success in this work will be
attained through State Boards of Managers,
appointed by state authority, each to be com.
posed Of men thoroughly familiar with the
capabilities OF the State II represents, and re-
sponsible for the Exhibition made under its
direction. il will nave TO care tor the inter-
asts of its own stat, aud OF its citizDns IN all
matters relating to the Exposition. Such
Board OF Managers would seem well calculat-
ed TO effect the object in view aud the SUBJ
Iect Of providing for It's appointment Is re-
spoctlully submitted TO the careful constdera.
ton Of the Legislature.
FaEE PASSES.
| recommend the enactment u law for.
bidding the acceptance or use Of free
passes, OF any other gift, immupi-
Is OF compensation. by ANY state Off.
Ger, lrom any railroad or ether public
corporation existing under the laws OK tins
state. With the abolition of i,ec passes and
weekly adiOuruments from Friday ~ Monday
night, may not the average session be short.
cncd fully thirty day.
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
commend 10 yonr continued svmlr Inv and
ease those unfortunate persons whom the
custom uf civilized nations aud tho dictates
~ humanity have made public charge. The
general duty ~ The state ~ tins respect As
clear aud woll-dchned, under existing Laws.
The provision already made aud the capital
already invested IN this direction are IT nm.
nlhCcnt proportions, and AFFORD crcdtahlr
proof Of the noble impulses # our people.
The sum dlsbursrd for these purposes during
the rast wear, Including au item - SiJ,j5O a.
for the state Prison, exceeded h1'f n million
loa s. or nearly one-hali tho Total receipts
into the generBl fund, and considerable bal.
lnce Of past appropriations vet To-
nain mexpendod. A material modh-
'atlon ot the amount ~ these
expenditures, hereafter, probably will be-
bound consistent with hounuiul
charity. The adaptation Of means 10
fuds IN tins departments demands more
han ordinary prudence aud caution The
good accomplished Is 10 DO meas
utod hy the actual blessings conferred. rather F
Than by the size of the bulldugs erected, or
BY the magnitude Of the appropriations paid 1
from the treasury. Any dereiction 81 duty
IN tins department is not merely an oneuse
against the public, but robbery of the poor
and helpless for which there can be no iusti
hcaton. A general supervision Of the man
lg,mont ct these institutions Is now mainly
exercised hy a state Board ~ Charities, While
ann coustraiuC o. say that tins agency has
lotwholly met, thus tat, the expectations oirhe
people, am not quite prepaid 90 recommend
ia disCuntiuuauCe. The amount ALREADY M.
49,. 0 "A. O.. a.