The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-12-11

with and controlling the States in their
educational systems, and in reference to
the church property taxation question.
which is also wholly of local concSrn.
From the Nep FORK Herald, Ind.
The message touches upon a great va
riety Of important subjects aud on the
greater part Of them We are bound to say
that il delivers sound, or, at least, defen-
sible views. But there is one capital ex.
ceptiou; one subject on which the recon-
mendations of the President are sheer
folly. II unfortunately happens that the
subject OF which the President is utterly
wrong is the one which he presses with
the most vigor and zeal. On the combin
ed religious and school question, upon
which he lays his chief stress and empha.
sis, he is wild, quixotic and utterly absurd.
This attempt to introduce religion as q
controlling element 10 our national politics,
the zeal with which he filings this fire brand
and tries to kindle theological amin osities
for party effect, is the most rnischievous
and monstrous violation Of fitness and pro-
priety ever perpetrated by President of
tho United States.
The inaammatory question which he
thus thrusts into the political arena is en-
tirely outside Of his constitutional duties,
as hO virtually confesses by urging his re-
concentrations as amendments of the con-
stitution. This is plain acknowledgment
that he is overstepping the limits of the
/ nonstifufinn 90 - otonda 40 ,,,osnnt Il Sc,
a well established principle that the Pres
ident has no official connection with amend
ments to the constitution. The President
ought to act within the constitution, but
not beyond it. When Congress by two
thirds majority of each House proposes
amendments to the constitution their ac-
ton does not require the approval of the
President, .as was judicially decided by the
Supreme Court at an early period in our
history. Amendments OF the constitution
are entirely beyond the sphere of execu-
tive action. II is not denied that the
President can recommend changes in the
constitution if he chooses, but he ought
not to do it except on some urgent and
manifest necessity. But what is the ur-
geucy for such amendments as President
Grant presses with all the feryency of
bigoted zeal in this message2 There is
none whatever. 1t is a bold and bald at
temp to influence religious animosities for
party purposes, than which nothing could
be more inexcusably mischievous, if the
President thinks that Congress will respect
and indorse his views.
From The Nep York Tribune, Ind
The message is chiefly of interest as in
dicating the policy of the party and the
purposes of the President in the campaign
Of 1876. What are they?
The principal points are our Cuban re-
lations, out of which it is surmised we may
be drawn into war which will in many
ways strengthen the administration party
and the President; and the school ques-
ton, which, rlgidly defined, is an anti
Catholic issue, from which the adminstra-
ton party hopes great things, and the head
Of the administration, unless all signs fail,
much greater. These are new issues both,
and both Fictitious.
With regard to the school question
and this is after all the feature Of the mes
sage. 1t opens and closes with it. 1t
anticipates ex-Speaker Blaine's proposed
constitutional amendment, and dwells upon
the need of amendments to the constitu-
ton providing that the States shall be re-
quired to afford common school educa-
ton to every child within their limits, and
that church and State shall be declared
forever separate and distinct. Nothing
has occurred, except as mischieyous and
self-seeking demagogues have raised the
questions for their own purposes, within
the last year to bring such issues promi-
nently into politics. President Grant, We
may be assured, does not bring them up
now before an opposition Congress with
any honest purpose Of having them settled.
1t is not uncharitable or unfair to say,
under all the circumstances, that he must
have preached these new issues with the
plain and unmistakable purpose of making
political capital. There is nothing in this
document that would remind any one of
the grave and serious questions that have
been treated so solemnly in his previous
messages-nothing but the currency ques-
ton, and that is touched, not dwelt upon.
The heaviest portions of the message re-
late to new questions, to questions which
have not heretofore been considered, and
which there is now no reason for consid-
ering as urgent, 1t politics-not states
mauship.
From the Nep York Sun, Ind.
Grant takes up educational and eccle-
sastlCal questions, and gives an enlarged
edition Of his Des Moines speech of 0cto-
Der last against the Catholics and the poor
old Pope. This is congenial topic to
him, and affords proof that this thorny
subject will be incorporated into the next
national republican platform, and play a
part in the coming Presidential campaign.
The message will disappoiut public ex-
pectation on the Cuban question. The
President handles it deliberately, but leaves
it exactly where he found it. He init
mates, however, that this is not the last
which Congress may hear from him about
Cuba. Grant is sound on the currency
question.
To replenish the vaults Of the treasury,
which stand very much in need of more
money, Grant recommends, among other
things, resuscitation of the old impost
on tea and coffee. Under the pressure of
stern necessity this may possibly be done,
but the measure will meet with very siren
uous resistance.
From the Philadelphia Times, Ind.
The school and sectarian issues are evil
IDENTITY the political bees that buzz in the
presidential bonnet, aud he strikes out
wildly in his ill-considered assault upon
imaginary foes Of free institutions. In
some of his suggestions he is evidently
forgetful of the inevitable logic of his own
recommendations. Leaving out of con-
sideration the impolicy of attempting an
amendment Of the national constitution
regulating the educational systems of the
several States, his arguments are brought
into strange conflict with each other. He
delivers what he regards as master polit-