Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-07

"A TERRITORY. yTUE f
to the greatest proportion Of the poPs
-ulatlon Of any formof government yet
devised. All other forms Of govern
ment approacli it just in proportion
10 their diffusion of education and in
dependence Of Thought and actior,.--
As the primary. step, therefore, to our
advancemert-i;,-sell ttAat--has- marked
our progress in the past century, |
suggest for your MISUNDERSTANDING
and most earnestly recommend it, that
"a constitutional amendment be, sub.
mitted to, the legislatures of the sew
eral states for ratification, making it
the duty Of each Of the several states
to establishsand forever maintain free
public schools, adequate TO the cduca.
tion of all cllildrenin the rudimentary
branches within their respective linn
its, irrespective of sex, color, birth
place or religion, forbidding the teach.
ing in said schools Of religious, athe-
ist;c- or pagan doctrine, and prohibit
ing the granting of any school funds
or school taxes, or any part thereof,
either by legislative, municipal or
other authority, for tho benefit of any
other schools Of any nature or any
kind whatever.
A large association Of ignorant
men, oppose Il successful resistance TO
tyranny andoppression fromthc cduca-
ted few, but will inevitably sink into
acquiescence to the will Of intelligence,
whether directed by demagogues Or
the priestcraft, hence the cducutionef
the masses becomes of the first neces.
sity for tue preservation 0! our in:
stitutions.
= TAXING CHURCH PROPERTY.
Nh connection with +.his importan;
question, 7 would also call your atten.
ton to- the importance of correcting
anzevil, that if permitted 10 -continne,
will probably lead to great trouble
before the close of the 10Th century.
1t is the accumulation of vast amounts
Of untaxcd church property. In 1850
! believe the church property of the.
United States which pMd no tax, mu-
nicipal or state, amountcdN to about
sS0,000,O00; in 1sGOthc amount had
doubled; in 1875 it is about one thou.
sand millions; by 1900 without check
it is safe TO say this property wlll
reach sum exceeding three thousand
million. So vast {, sum, receiving all
the protection and all the benefits Of
government without bearing its pro.
portion Of the burdens and expenses
of the same, will not be looked upon
acquiescently by those who pay taxes
in growing country where real es..
tate enhances SO rapidly with time as
in the United States. There is scarce.
ly a limit to wealth that may be ac-
quircd by corporations, religious or
otherwise. l 1 allowed to retain real
estate without taxation, the continued
acquisition Of vast property as here
alluded to, without taxation, NAV lead
to sequcstration without constitution
al authority, through blood. would
suggest taxation Of fall property equal
ly, whether church or cooperative, ex-
empting only the last resting place of
the dead, and possibly, with proper
restrictions, church edifices.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with most of the for
eign powers continue on a satisfac-
tory footing. Increased intercourse,
the extinsion of commerce and culti-
walton Of mutual interests, has stead
lily improved our relations with a
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 extending.
The correspondence Of the depart.
ment of State with our diplomatic
representa- tives abroad, is transmitted
herewith. am happy to announce
the passage of an act by the general
cortcz Of Portugal, proclaimed since
the adjournment Of congress, for the
abolition Of @servitude in Portuguese
colonies. 1t is to be hoped that such
legislation will be another step to.
ward the great consi,mmation to be
reached, when no man shall be pc.-
mitted to hold his fellow man in
bondage. ! am assured also, that it
is the duty Of the United States, as
contributing towards that end, and
required by the spirit and aim Of this
government and its institutions.
Chill has made reparation in the case
Of the whale ship Good Return, seiz
ed without sufficient cause, upwards
of forty years ago, though she had
l h;tl,or%o 6an;od hor ooao,,If h{1l},,-