The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-10
THE MESSAGE.
The Presidents Annual
Address to the
People.
The Cuban Question Thor
oughly Discussed and
Considered.
Our Foreign Relations Pro-
nounced in a Satisfac-
tory Condition.
yeA. S,no,s ana House 81 Representatives.

gcle S,na.s and House ~ Representatives.;
In submitting my seventh annual message 10
Conrrtss in this centennial year OF our national
existence as FREQ and independent people, 1t az
fords me great pleasure to recur TO the advance
ment that has been made from the time OF the colo
MES ouo hundred years ago. We were then peo-
pie numbering only 5000 900; now we number more
than 40 OOO, 900 Then the industries were confined
almost exclusively to the tillage Of the soil
manufactures absorb much of the labor OF the
country Our liberties remain unimpared The
bondsmen have been freed from slavery. We have
become possessed of the respect if not the friend
ship, OF all civilized nations. Our progress has
been great i'll all the arts in science, in agriculture,
commerce, navigation, mining, mechanics, law,
medicine. etc, and in general education the prog
Tess is likewise encouraging Our thirteen States
have become thirty-eight, including Colorado which
has taken initiatory steps to become a State, and
eight Territories including the Indian Territory and
Alaska, and excluding Colorado, making a terri
tory extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
On the South, we have extended to the Gulf of
Mexico, and in the West from the Mississippi to the
Pacific One hundred years ago the cotton gin, the
steamship, the railroad, the telegraph the reaping,
sewing and modern printing machines and numer-
Gus other inventions OF scarcely less value to our
business and happiness, were entirely unknown.
In l776 manufactures scarcely existed, even in
name, in all this vast territory in 1870 more than
two millions of persons were employed in manufac-
tories producing more than 81, 00000,GOO of pro-
duce in amount, annually; nearly equal to our ma
tional debt. From nearly the whole OF the popula
ton Of l716 being engaged in the one occupation OF
agriculture, in 1870, so numerous and diversified
than six millions out of forty millions, were
gagged. The extraordinary effect produced in our
country by resort to such occupations, has built
market for the products of the fertile lands distant
from the seaboard and the markets of the world
The American system of working various and ex-
tensive manufactures, next to the farm and the
pasture, and adding connecting railroads and
steamboats,, has produced i'll our distant country
result no! equaled by the intelligent parts of other
nations. The ingenuity and skill of American
mechanics have been demonstrated at home and
abroad in manner most dattering TO their pride.
But for tho extraordinary genius and ability Of
mechanics, the achievements OF our agriculturists,
manufacturers and transporters throughout the
country would have been impossible OF attain
nent
The progress OF the miner has also been great.
OF coal our production was small; now many mil
lions of tons mined annually. so with iron
which formed scarcely an appreciable part of our
products half a century ago. we now produce more
'Ean the world consumed at the beginning of our
national existence. Lead, zinc and copper, from
being articles of imports, we may expect to be
large exporters of, in the near future The devel-
opmont OF gold and silver mines throughout States
and Territories has not only been remarkable, but
has had large influence upon the business of all
commercial nations.
Our merchants in the last hundred years have
lad success, and have established reputation
FOR enterprise, sagacity, progress aud integrity
unsurpassed by the people Of older nationalit.es
Ibis good Iiame IL not confined TO their homes, but
goes out upon every sea- and into every port where
e5mmerce enters. With equal pride
1ont 10 progress in all OF the learned profess
sinIs.
40 we are now about to commence our second
centennial commencing our manhood az a nation,
Il well TO look back upon the past and study what
will be bost to preserve and advance our future
greatness.
From the fall of Adam for his transgression TO the
present day no nation has been free from
Ihrtate'.ed danger to its prosperity and happiness
We s'.ould look TO the dangers threatening and
req ady them 30 far as lies in our power. We are
r public wherein one man IL as good as another
OcfCre the Law.
Under such form of government, it is Of the
greatest importance that all should be possessed
of education and intelligence enough TO cast vote
with right understanding of its meaning. A large
association of Ignorant men cannot for any consid
cradle period oppose successful resistance to tyr
amy and oppression from the educated few, but
will inevitably sink into acquiescence 10 the will of
intelligence, whether directed by the demagogue
or the priestcraft. Hence the education OF the
masses becomes Of the first necessity for the pre-
servation of our institutions. They are worth pre-
serving, because they have secured the greatest
good to the greatest proportion Of the population
Of any form of government yet devised. All other
forms Of government approach 1t Just in proper
tion TO the general diffusion of education and indie
pendence of thought and action. As the primary
step. therefore, 10 our advancement in all that has
marked our progress in the past century, suggest
for your earnest consideration, and most earnestly
recommend II, that a constitutional amendment be
submitted to the Legislatures of the several States,
for ratification, making ii the duty Of each OF the
several States to establish and forever maintain
free public schools adequate to the education OF all
the children in the rudimentary branches within
thoir respective limits, irrespective Of seI color
said schools of religious, athestc or pagan ideas,
and prohibiting the granting Of any school funds or
school taxes, any part thereof, either by leg
isiative, municipal, brothers, for the benefit OF
any other object of any nature or kind what
ever in connection with this important question.
i would also call your attention to the Importance
OF correcting an evil that, II permitted to continue
will probably lead TO great trouble in land
before the close Of the nineteenth century. IL 10
the accumulation OF vast amounts OF untaxsd
church property.
In 1850, believe the church property of the
United States which paid no tax, municipal, or
State, amounted 10 about 3,000,0O0. In 1860 the
amount had doubled; in 1875 IL il about 81, 00O,-
100000; by 1900, without check it is safe TO say
this property will reach sum exceeding 50 OOOOOO,-
900. SO vast sum receiving all the protection and
dement's OF Government, without bearing its
proportion Of the burdens and expenses
OF the same ,v , % b not have esd tsss.
In a growing country, where real estate enhances
20 rapidly with time as in the United states, there
As scarcely limit 10 the wealth that may be ac-
quired by corporations, religious or otherwise.
II allowed 10 retain real estate without taxation
the contemplation of so vast property as is here
alluded to, without taxation, may lead TO seques-
traton without constitutional authority and through
blood. would suggest the taxation of all property
equally, whether church or corporation, exempting
only the last resting place Of the dead and possibly,
with proper restrictions, church edihces.
our relations with most of the foreign powers
continue O satisfactory and friendly footing.
Increased intercourse, the extension OF commerce
and cultivation of mutual interests, have steadily
improved our relations with the large majority Of
the powers Of the world rendering practicable the
peaceful solution Of questions which from time to
time necessarily arise, leaving few which demand
extended or particular notice.
The correspondence of the Department Of State
with our diplomatic representatives abroad Is trans
mitted herewith. am happy 20 announce the as
sage of an act by the General Cortes OF Portugal,
proclaimed since the adjournment Of Congress, for
the abolition Of serytude in the Portuguese colonies
IL IL to lie hoi ed that such legislation may be an
other step onward in the great contamination TO be
reached when no man shall be permitted, directly
or indirectly, under any guise, excuse or form of
iaws 10 hold his fellow-man in bondage. / am Of
we opirion, too, that IL the duty of the United
Ststes as contributing toward that end and required
py the spirit OF the age which we live in TO provide
10y suitable legislation, that citizen Of the United
ntates snail hoid slaves property in any other
country or he Interested therein.
Ohi las made reparation in the case Of the whale
sup pood return, seized without sufficient cause
Upward OF torty years ago Though she had hitherto
ueleo mel accountability, the denial was never ac-
Iulesceu IN D. this Government, aud the Justice of
tnS ciau has been 10 earnestly contested for that
~ hAs oeen gratifying that she should have ac-
knowcdged IL. ~ INV ~
lhe MDluator in the case Of the Tniied Stains
steamers Monti1o. for the seizure and detention ~
Wnlcn the coverpment Of the United states az
NoionD.A was helo accountable, has decided in ia
Hor u the claim. This decision has settled anes