The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-09
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. Fl
rone Senate and Ho,s. ef Representatives. !:

Nm submitting my seventh annual message to
Congress in this centennial year OF ou- national
qxis4ence as free and Independent people, 1t az.
fords me great pleasure to recur TO the advance.
nent that has been made from the time Of the colo
mics, one hundred years ago; we were tnen pee.
than 40 600. Then the industries were confined
almost exclusively to the tillage Of the soil now
manufactures absorb much of the labor of the
country. Our liberties remain uninpaired. 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 iii all the arts, in science in agriculture
commerce, navigation, mining, mechanics, law,
medicine. etc., and in general education the prog
ress is likewise encouraging. Our thirteen States
have become thirty-eght, including Colorado, which
has taken initiatory steps to become State, and
eight Territories including the Indian Territory and
alaska and excluding Colorado making 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 reaplng
sewing and modern printing machines, and numer-
GUS Otherinventlens OF scarcely less value to our
business and happiness, were entirely unknown
In 1776 manufactures scarcely existed, even In
name, IL all this vast territory in 1870 more than
two millions of persons employed in manufac-
tories producing than 81, 100 100000 of pro-
duce in amount, annually; nearly equal to our ma
4ional debt. From nearly the whole OF the poplla-
ton of 1916 being engaged in the occupation of
agriculture, in 1870 numerous and diversified
had become the occupation of our people, that less
than six millions out of forty millions,
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-
fensive manufactures, next to the farm and the
pasture, and adding connecting railroads and
steamboats,, has produced in our distantvcountry
result not equsled by the intelligent parts of other
natlons: Inc INGENUITY ana skl1 OF american
abroad in a manner most hattering to their pride.
But for the extraordinary genius and ability of our
mechanics, the achievements of agriculturists
manufacturers and transporters throughout the
country would have. been impossible of attain
ment.
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 century ago, we now produce more
than 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 future. The devel-
opment 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
had success, and have established reputation
for enterprise, sagacity, progress and integrity
unsurpassed by the people of older nationalites
This good name is not confined to their homes, but
goes ont upon every sea- and INTO every port where
Commerce enters With equal pride we can
point to progress in all Of the learned profess
EIaLS-
As we are now about to commence our second
E centennial commencing our manhood as nation,
It well to look back upon the past and study what
Will be best 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
threatened danger to its prosperity and happiness.
We should look to the dangers threatening us and
remedy them so far as lies in our power. We are
Republic, wherein one man is as good as another
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. large
association of ignorant men cannot for any consld-
cradle period oppose successful resistance to tyr
amy and oppression from the educated few, but
will Inevitably sink into acouescence to the win of
intelligence, whether directed by the demagogue
or the priestcraft. Hence the education Of the
masses becomes of The first necessity for the pre-
seryation 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. AL other
forms of government approach 1t just in proper
ton to the general diffusion of education and inde-
pendence of thought and action. AS the primary
stem therefore to our advancement in all that has
marked our progress in the past century suggest
for your consideration, and most earnestly
recommend it, that constitutional amendment be
submitted to the Legislatures of the several States,
for ratification making it the duty Of each OF the
several States to establsn ana forever malntal an
free public schools, adequate to the education OF all
the children in the rudimertary branches within
their respective limits irrespective of SEX color,
birth place. or religion, forbdding the teaching in
said schools of religious, aheistc, pagan ideas,
and prohibiting the granting of any school funds or
school taxes, or any part thereof, either by leg.
any other object of any nature or kind what.
ever in connection with this important question.
would also call your attention to the importance
g correcting an evil that if permitted to continue,
will probably lead to great trouble In our LAND
before the close Of the nineteenth century. 1t ie
the accumulation OF vast amounts OF untaxS0
church property.
In 1850, 1 believe, the church property of the
United States which paid no tax, municipal, or
State amounted to about S, coo, 600. In 1850 the
amount had doubled; in 1875 it is about $1,OOO,-
100000; by 1900, without check, it is safe to say
this property will reach sum exceeding 80 oOOOVO-
600. So vast receiving all the protection and
benefits of Government, without bearing It's
proportion Of the burdens and expenses
of the same, will not be looked
upon acquiescently by those who have paid taxes.
In growing country, where real estate enhances
SO rapidly with time in the United States, there
Is scarcely limit to the wealth that may be Rc-
quired by corporations, religious or otherwise.
If allowed to retain real estate without taxation
the contemplation of SO vast property as is here
traon without constitution 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 edifces.
Our relations With most of the foreign powers
continue a 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 tne
peaceful solution of questions which from time TO
time necessarily arise, leaving few which demand
extended particular notice.
The correspondence of the Department of State
with our diplomatic representatives abroad is trans
mitted herewith. am happy to announce the pas
sage of an act by the General Cortes OF Portugal,
proclaimed since the adjournment of Congress, Tor
the abolition of servitude in the Portuguese colonies
1t is to be hoped that such legislation may be an
other step onward in the great contamination to De
reached when shall be permitted, directly
or indirectly, under any guise, excuse or form o.
law, to hold his fellow-man in bondage; am u
the opinion, too, that it is the duty of the United
States, as contributing toward that end and required
by the spirit OF the age which we live IN to provlus
States shall hold slaves property in any other
country, or be interested therein.
Chill has made reparation in the case of the whale
ship Good Return seized without sufficient cause
upward of forty years ago. Though she had hitherto
denied her accountability the denial was never ac-
quiesced in by this Government and TIE justice OF
the claim has been earnestly contested for thar
it has been gratifying that she should have ac-
knowledged it.
The arbitrator In the case of the United States