The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08

ened and Christian country, without pow er to
punish so fragrant a crime against
deGency and morality Seems, preposterous
true there is no law to sustain this unnatu-
u as crime, and at the same time to fix the
status OF the innocent children, the offspring
.of this system. aud OF the possibility of limo.
cent plural wives. But as an institution. DO
lysamy should I've bani>hed from the lana.
- ..J,,..+. CHINESE WOMEN. IT,,
=. While this is being done invite tie atten
ZION OF Congress to another though perhaps no
less an evil--the importation Of Chinese wo-
men, but few OF whom are brought to orr
shores to pursue honorable or useful occupa.
tons.
WESTERN PUBLIC LANDS,
Observations while visiting the Territories
OF Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado during last
autumn convinced me that the existing laws
Regulating the disposition of public lands,
laws themselves are very detective
and should be carefully amended and at an
early day. In a territory where cultivation of
the soil can ouly I've followed where irrigation
IS practicable, the lands can only be used as
pasturage, and this only where stock can
reach water to quench thirst Itcannot be gov
erned ny the same laws as to entries OF lands,
every acre of which is an independent State by
Itself. The lands must he held in larger
quantities TO justify the expense
expenses Of conducting water upon it to make
fruitful or to justify utilizing it as pasturage
Inc timber in most of the territories is prin-
c'pally confined to ,nou ntain regions which
are held for entry in small quantities only and
as mineral lands. The timber is the property
OF the United States, for disposal Of
which there is now no adequate law The set
tler must become a consumer of this timber
whether he lives upon the plains or engages in
s w;orklng mines. Hence every man h comes
e1ther trespasser himself Or knowingly pa
iron of the tress assers. NY oppor-
tunities for observing were not
suhclent to justify me in recommending
specific legislation on these subjects, but l do
recommend that joint committee of the two
Houses OF Congress, sufficiently large to be d.
Vided INTO sub-connittees, he organized to
VISIT all the NIT ing States and Territories dur
tee Shall report to Congress at the next session
such laws or anne ndments to laws as it may
deem necessary to secure the test interests Of
the government aud the people of those Ter
rltorles who are doing so Iouch for their devel-
opment. am sure the citizens occupying the
Ierrltones de. cribed do not wish to be tres
passers. nor will they be if legal ways are pro-
vided for them to become owners of these act
ual necessities of tI,eir position.
RECOMMENDATIONS RECAPITULATED
As'thls will be the last annual message
which shall have the honor of transmitting
~ congress-, before my successor is chosen.
Will repeat or recapitulate the questions which
| 0eem OF vital Importance, to he leeislated
upon and settled at this session.
FIRST, that the States shall be required to
afford. opportunity of good common school ed
ucatlon to every child within their limits.
second, no Sectarian teneS shall ever he
taught in any school supported in whole or in
part by State Or nation, or by the proceeds of
any tax levied upon any community.
Make education compulsory, so far as to de-
prlve all persons who cannot laea and write
from becoming voter: after the year 1890, dis
franchising none, however, on ground of illit-
eracy, who may be voters at the time this
amendment takes effect
Third, declare church and state forever Sep
arate and distinct, but each free within their
proper spheres; and that all church property
shall bear its own proportion of taxation
Fourth, drive out licensed immortality, such
as pnlygamy and the importation of women
for illegitimate purposes.
10 recur again to the centennial year. it
would seem as though now as we are about to
begin the second century ef our national exis-
tence would be most fitting time tor these re-
forms.
Fifth, Enact such laws as will insure q
speedy return to sound currency, such as
will command the respect of the world
Believing that these views will commend
themselves to the great majority Of right think
Ing and patriotic citizens Of the United States,
submit the rest to Congress.
(signed,1 U. S. GRANT.