The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Grant sent his seventh annual
Message to Congress on Tuesday last. For
the following summary of the document
we are indebted to the Baltimore american:
President Grants message of this year is
the longest he has ever transmitted to Con-
gress, although it is brief in comparison
with the ponderous productions of Mr..
Johnson. The first moiety of it is devoted
to sweeping review of the material inter
ests of the nation during the century of in
dependence now nearly completed. Right
at the outset the President touches upon an
allied group Of questions that great many
people are thinking of as very nearly relat-
ed to the sources of national prosperity
and the perpetuty of Republican institu-
tions-the diffusion of free education, the
guarding of the public schools from sccta-
rianisn, and the taxation of church pro-
perty. While politicians whose interests
run in the opposite direction will say that
President Grant is, in this portion of his
message, bidding for a denomination on
class policy, the majority of the American
people will recognize that he has uttered
words OF wisdom at time when they are
greatly needed. He nrges the value of edu.
cation, and recommends a constitutional
amendment making it the duty of all the
States "to establish and forever maintain
free public schools adequate to the educa-
ton of all the children in the rudimentary
their respective limits,
irrespective of color; sex, birthplace or re-
igion-forbidding the teaching in said
schools of religious, atheistic or pagan
tenets, and prohibiting the granting of any
school funds or school taxes, or any part
thereof, either by Legislative, municipal or
of ,nro ha in ,iI
directly or indirectly, of any religious sect
or denomination, or aid, or for the benefit
of any other object of any nature or kind
whatever" The adoption of such an
would simply make written
law of what has long been fundamental
principle of our institutions-the entire in
dependence of the State in the public school |
system-and remove from politics what |
to be a troublesome and vexatious |
issue, already agitated in certain quarters. |
From this point the message passes on to |
another cognate with it, and the Presidents |
views in regard to it are that church pro
perty should be made to Gca: it> Share of |
taxation, exempting only cemeterie, .:t,i |
church editices, the latter under restrictions, |
the nature of which he does not indicate.
Touching our foreign relations the Presi-
dent announces that they are satisfactory |
with all the nations Of the world, Spain |
excepted, and he proceeds to devote a con-
portion of his message to the |
Cuban question. He criticses the inhuman
conduct of the war on the island, the fail
ure Of the Spanish Government to suppress
the ipsurrection now seven years old, and
the increasing duty of the nations affected,
Of which the United States is the chief, to
make some movement in the direction of
So far as the recognition of
The independence of Cuba is concerned the
President is decidedly opposed to it, for the
reason that the insurgents have not as yet
set up and maintained such well estab-
lshed Government as may properly be
ranked as emitting it to place among the
Powers of the world. But while he de-
precates any interference in either way
mentioned, he strongly urges that some
sort Of mediation by the United States
alone, or in conjunction with other nations,
IS inevitable, because Spain can neither
conquer the insurgents nor the latter gain
entire possession of Cuba. There are ne
yotiations now in progress between the
Madrid Government and Minister Cushing,
which, while primarily looking only to Sc
curing the rights of citizens of this coun-
.ry involved in the Cuban difficulty, may
cad to mediation, as the President init
mates somewhat mysteriously. If that re-
suit is not reached through present negotia-
ions he promises to again communicate
with Congress on the subject. The whole
one of the message in connection with
Spanish affairs is very different to what the
alarming rumors of the past month have
given reason to expect.
Recommendations of the Secretary of
War concerning the minutse of army ad
among which are included
permanent organization of the Signal Ser
vice and careful fostering of the torpedo
system, are endorsed by the President, and
lie summarizes the condition of the navy
Is being excellent so far as it's strength
permits. Fifteen single-turreted monitors
Ire ready for sea, and the five double tur-
-eted vessels of the same class are being
put in condition. We have forty wooden
cruisers ready for work, the whole effective
leet numbering more than fifty vessels.
As the President remarks, our navy does
lot make much of a show in comparison
with those of other nations, but he further
comments that "nether our continental
situation nor our foreign policy requires
hat we should have the naval force of the
European Powers.
The Centennial receives favorable men,
ION, and suggestion that the exhibition
PROJECT merits an appropriation from Con-
,ress.
The troubles on the Rio Grande are no.
iced and commended to the attention of
Congress, the military force at the disposal
IF the Government being inadequate to
check the incursions of Mexican raiders
nto Texas.
The President asks Congress to take no.
ice of the manner in which our naturaliza-
ion laws are awaited of by foreigners who
11,,-
lralized, then return home, and by plead
ng American citizenship avoid all duties
% their native country, and escape all
iuties to their adopted country by their
'esidence abroad, thus making fraudulent
use of the privileges of American citizen
ship. Such cases are of very common oc-
,urrence, and reflect very severely upon
his Government, while it has no practical
Die remedy to apply. Congress should de
ermine by law how repatriation may be
accomplished and change of citizenship be
SO that cases of infringement
IAN be punished, and the Government be
enabled to properly deal with them.
The message contains no uncertain utter
.nce on the financial question. Specie re-
sumption at the earliest day possible, the
adoption Of such legislation as will aid the
,ct of the last Congress providing for specie
payments in 1879, and setting an earlier
late if possible, are the burden of this por-
ion of the document. "Nothing," says
The President, "seems to me more certain
than that full, healthy and permanent re-
action cannot take place in favor Of the in
lustries and financial welfare of the coun-
Try, until we return to measure of values
throughout the civilized world"
While the President is not confident of his
own wisdom in laying down policy to
reach such an end, he makes few sugges
lions that seem to him sound and practica
Die. He would have a repeal of SO much
IF the Legal Tender act as makes the
yreenbacks receivable for debt, fixing
late to which the people might work up
his idea being that the 1st of January,
1877, would be good time for this demon
etizing Ct .Aa legal-.enders. Then he
would have these notes redeemed at the
rate of two. millions monthly in a bond
running long number of years and bear
ng interest at the rate of 3G5 per cent.
Then the Secretary of the Treasury should
be authorized to curtail expenses or increase