The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08
The Turner's Fair,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

In TINS issue OF IHE ARGUS wall be found
an extra containing the seventh annual
message of President Grant.
Mr. Grant closes as follows:
As this will be the last annual message
which | shall haye the honor OF transmit
ting to congress, before my successor is
chosen, will repeat, or recaritulate the
questions which deem of vital Importance
to be legislated upon and settled at this
session:
First. That the states shall be required
to afford the opportunity of a good common
school education to every child within
their limits.
Second. No sectarian tenets shall ever be
taught in any school supported in whole, or
III part, by the state or nation, or by the
proceeds of any tax levied upon any CON-
munity. Make education compulsory so far
as to deprive all persons who cannot read
and write from becoming voters after the
year 1890; DISTINGUISHING none, however,
on the ground OF illiteracy who may be
voters at the time this amendment takes
effect.
Third. Declare church and state forever
separate and distinct but each free
within their own right spheres, and that
all church property shall bear its own pro-
portion Of taxation.
Fourth. Drive out licensed immortality,
such as polygamy and the importation of
women for Legitimate purposes To recur
again to the centennial year, it would
seem as though now, as we are about to
begin the second century of our rational
existence, it would be most fitting time
for these references.
Fifth. Enact such laws as will cause a
quick return to sound currency, such as
will command the respect of the world.
Believing that these views will commend
themselves to u great majority of the right
thinking and patriotic citizens Of the
United States, | submit the rest to con.
gress,
(Sisncd,) U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 7. 1875.
10 these views THE ARGUS comedies
and doubts not that the American people
will generally do the same.
We have long held that some standard
of intelligence should be required to enable
person to votel We would not deprive
any of the right to vote who are now voters
but after given time no person should yot,
who could not read his ballot and who haC
not paid some kind of taft only
road tax. That is the only comprsor;
education We would indorse. As to wha
constitutes "a good common school educa
tion'-the phrase used by Mr.. Grant, W
would not favor compulsory taxation 70
: anything but the common branches of al
: English education.
. The position taken in regard to religion
= instruction in schools and the taxation Q
church property is right. La the body G
his message Mr.. Grant says:
would uecest the taxation of all property eoua
Wy, whether of church corporation exemptin
o Il the last resting place of the dead, and, pc:
sibly, with proper restriction, church edifces.
) There is no more reason why '.churc
ediice', should be exempt from taxatio
than hotel edifce. 1t is unjust to thos
who do net believe in churches or churc
edifces to increase their taxes by exempt
ing any species of church property fror
> taxation, The effect of it is to compe
them to help support religious institution
!. which is contrary to our constitution an
Q the spirit Of our institutions.
Mr.. Grants plea for specie resumptio
K is right, and we hope that the present ses
= sion of congress will not close without som,
e thing further and more definite being don
d to expedite the movement.
il Those who think the third term amb
s tiou of Grant is put at rest by the phras,
,. This will be the last annual message whic
s [ shall have the honor of transmitting
) congress before my successor is chosen,
} are deceiving themselves. MIR. Grant ha
y neither said or done anything to preclud
:. him from accepting third term and bein
IS his own successor, If he can get re-electe(
NOTES Il Ire AND THERE.