Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-08
EXPLANATION.

INFLAMMATION.
Congress has declared the right OF ex
patristion 10 DO q national and inherent
right Of all people, but while many Other
nations have laws providing what form
alities shall be necessary to work q
change OF allegiance, the United States
has enacted no provisions of law, and
has in no respect marked out how and
when expAtriation may be accomplished
by its citizens. It is but justice to bona
fde citizens that no doubt should exist
on such questions. and that Congress
should determine by the enactment of a
law how expatriation will be accom-
plished aud a change of citizenship be
established. Attention is called to the
necessity Of regulating the status oil
American women who marry foreigners
abroad and Of the children of American
parents who reside abroad.
NATIONAL FINANCES.
The report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury shows the receipts from Gus
toms for the fiscal year, ending June 30,
1874, to have been $l6S, lO3,sSs SO. and
for the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1875,
to have been $751;, l67, 722 IS, a decrease
for the last fiscal year Of 1885, Ill "a;
receipts from internal revenue for the
year ending June 30, 1874, we're $l03,-
400, 1884 80, and for the year ending June
30, 1875, were $llO,OO7, 493 So; increase,
$759, 77O,S6S. The President urges
Congress to insure the consumma-
ton Of the specie resumption act
passed By the last Congress, and
thinks It would be a great blessing of
brought about sooner than January /,
1879, and makes suggestions looking to
that end. AS one Measure he urges the
restoration Of the duty on tea and coffee,
which he says would increase the reve-
uues from imports SIS, 900, 900 without
increasing the price Of those articles to
consumers.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
Several suggestions are made with
reference to army regulations, but none
OF significance.
The condition of the navy is a subject
of satisfaction. The expenses incurred
in the maintenance of an effective naval
force ia all its branches are necessarily
large, but such a force is necessary to
our positions, relations and character,
and affects seriously the weight Of our
principles and policy throughout the
whole sphere Of naval responsibility.
Our navy armed with the destructive
weapons of modern warfare, manned by
our seamen, and in charge Of our in
structed officers, will present a force
powerful for the home purposes Of a re.
sponsible, though powerful nation. No
explanation is offered Of the great activ-
ity at the various navy yards.
OUR INDIAN POLICY.
The method for the treatment Of the
Indians adopted at the beginning of the
Presidents first term has been steadily
pursued, and with satisfactory and en-.
couraging results. 1t has been product
i've Of evident improvement in the con
ditiOn Of that race, and will be continued,
with such notifications as further expe-
rience may indicate to be necessary.
POLYGANY.
That polygamy should exist in u free,
enlightened and Christian country, with
out the power to punish so fragrant a
crime against decency and morality,
seems preposterous. True, there is no
law to sustain this unnatural vice, but
what is needed is a law to punish it as a
crime, and az the same time to fix the
status Of the innocent children, the off
spring Of thissystem, and Of the possibly
innocent plural wives. But as an insti
tuition Of polygamy it should be banished
from the land.
MISCELLANEOUS.