Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-01-21
electOr employed at day wages is thus pract1.

elector employed at day wages is thus pract1
cally debarred from the privilege of exercising
the elective franchise, except through the
charity OF his employer or at the cost OF
pecunlary penalty equaling his wages for the
| whole or pOrtlJn OF dav. This is a gross
and manifest injustice. In the exercise of the
right OF suffrage no unnecessary discrimina
| ton or restraint should be tolerated. at the
ballot-box all men are equal, and it is my de-
llberate conviction that public expense is in.
creased, the opportunity lor fraud favored
and full and far EXPRESSION of public opin.
ION restrained, in the more populous districts
by The brevity OF time now allotted for depos-
ltlng votes and recording the names of cleo
tors. ... = D
| EDUCATION.
l congratulate you upon the progress of oul
educational institutions, public and private
1t Is conceded that upon the wide and
thorough diffusion of knowledge depends, in
a great degree, the happiness of our people
and the preservation of our liberal system OF
government. TO this end. both the nation
and the state have made provisions for gener.
GUS aid from the public property, and / be
speak cOncientiOus guardianship of the trust
committed to yeur hands. Whether the re-
suits rlghtfully to be expected from the ex-
tensive resources at the command of the State
have been fully attained, is legitimate sub
comparison of the facilities afforded for in
struction in this aud neghboring States, and
OF the cost at which those facilities were Sc
cured, would doubtless prove profitable and
tend TO induce still greater progress and econ
omv. 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 be proud, but it is yet far from being
perfect and comes far short Of what it may be
made. The common schools are doingsan in
dlspensable work. The Normal School, now
orga' lied, are accomplishing all that is at
present required OF them, and doing it eff
GENTLY. The State University is rapidly
growing IN popular favor and is taking ra nix
among the first educational institutions of
the country. While all this is true, it is vet
clear that there is want of perfect gradation
from the common schools to the University
which last should stand as the +" crowning
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 is
forcing itself upon the attention of the PEG.
pie of the State, and is well worthy of your
earnest attention. - ~ -s-. ..,...s-,
shall be happy to concur in any appropri-
ate legislation tending to more perfectly unity
the public school system of the State.
80 | CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. ~+ -
In 1876 one hundred years will have elapsed
since the Declaration of American Independ.
ence. Congress, by an act approved March g.
1871, made provision for duly celebrating the
Tooth Anniversary, by holding, in the city
of Philadelphia, an - international Exhibition
of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the
Soil and Mlne," in which will be represented
-" the natural resources of the country and
their development, and its progress in those
arts watch benefit mankind IN comparison
with those of older ma IONS" The act provid-
ed for the. appointment by the President, in
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 on the 4th OF March,
1872, and has held several meetings and made
considerable progress with the work commit
ted to its charge. 1t has decided that the EX-
position shall continue for six months, COM
menclng on the 18th day Of April, and ending
on the 10Th 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 a proclamation announcing this
national celebration, and commanding it to
the people OF this country and to those of all
nations. Several RESPONSES from foreign ma
tons have already been received, signlfying
their intention to be represented. 1t seems ft-
ting that such celebration of this important
event should be held. and it is hoped it W Il
be carried out In manner worthy OF great
and enlightened nation. a- d.. R. ...-....
Wisconsin should not be less interested in
his matter than her sister States. She has
vast resources that should be represented,
The Centennial Commission nas 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
oft 1oC fai
sponsble for the Exhibition made under It's
directions. It will have to care for the inter-
ests of its own State, and of it's citiz0ns in all
matters relating to the Exposition. Such
Board of Managers would seem we'll calculat-
ed to effect the object in view aud the SUBJ
ject OF providing Tor Its appointment is re-
spectfully submitted to the careful considera-
ton of the Legislature.
sEE-H FREE PASSES.
recommend the enactment of law for
bidding the acceptance or use OF free
passes, or any other gift, immuni-
ty or compensation, by any state Off
Ger. from any railroad or other public
state. With the abolition of free passes and
weekly adjournments from Friday to Monday
night, may not the average session be short
ened fully thirty days p?
CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
I commend to your continued sympathy and
care those unfortunate persons whom the
custom of civilized nations and the dictates
of humanity have made public charge. The
general duty OF the state in this respect Is
clear and well-defined, under existing laws.
The provision already made and the capital
already invested in this direction are Of mu-
nifcent proportions, and afford creditable
proof of the noble impulses of our people.
The sum dlsbursed for these purposes during
the pact year, including an item of S45 $50 Al
for the State Prison, exceeded half a million
dollars, or nearly one-half the total receipts
into the general fund, and considerable bal
ance of past appropriations yet re-
main unexpended. A material modif-
cation of the amount of these
expenditures, hereafter, probably will be
found consistent with bountiful
charity. The adaptation of means to
ends IN this departments demands more
than ordinary prudence and caution. The
good accomplished is to be meas
ured by the actual blessings conferred, rather
than by the size of the buildings erected, or
by the magnitude OF the appropriations paid
from the treasury. Any dereliction Of duty
in this department is not merely an offense
against the public, but robbery of the poor
and helpless, for which there can be no justi-
A 49, l,o