The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-12-15
The Norristown Gazette.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

1hEOlDENI i y MEJR1xAOA1s
FREE 1RD UNsECTARLdE EDt
CATION = THE TAX11TON Ol
CHUReH PROPERTY RECON
MENDED - THE s0UB1N QUES
TTON ADELICA TEEYLsHdNDLED
BUT nor DLSPOSED- or TIL
QUESTION or NATT0N4E n
NANCES TOUCHED 0H3LTHE N-4
VYNA iSATLSFA CTORJs e EOHDE
TTON-GENERAL I7EFOR5ES SUG
GESTED FOR THE CENTENNIAL
YEAR - M G
WASHINGTON, D. c. Dec. z, 1876.
The message opens
In subnittihg my seventh annual
message to Congress, in the centen.
NAL year Of our nationa! existence
US a free and independent people, il
affords me great pleasure to recurt to
the advancement tlratA has beeD made
from the time of the colonies, one
h&ndred years ago. We we're then
R-peopie nunibering only three mill
lions ); now we number more than
forty millions, Then, industries
were confined almost exclusively to
the tilIaSc of the soil; now manu-
factnres absorb much of the labor
of the country. Our liberties re-
main unimpaired, the bondsmen have
been freed from slavery, aud we
have become possessed of the re-
~pect, if not the friendship, Of all
civilized nations. Graphic and well
worded details follow.
PUBIC SCHOOLS.
The President earnestly recon-
mends that n constitutional amend
ment be Submitted to the Legisla-
lures making it the duty Of each
State to establish and forever main
tain free public schools. adequate to
the education of all children i'm the
elementary branches within their re-
spective limits, irrespective of sex,
color, birthplace, or religion, forbid
diDgthe teaching in said schools OF
Fetigious. atheistic or pagan tenets,
and prohibiting the granting Of any
school funds or school taxes, or any
part thereof, either by legislative.
municipal, or other authority, for the
benefit or in aid, directly or Indirect
ly, of any religious sect or denomina-
ton, Or in aid or for the benefit of
any other object of any nature or
kind whatever.
T4XTYG CHURCH PROPERTY:
He ailudes to the Importance of
correcting the evil Of vast amounts
Of untold church property and esfi-
mates that by 1890, if unchecked,
this property willrrcach sum ex-
ceeding three thousand million dol
lars. lie would suggest the taxation
of all property equally excepting, on
ly the last resting place of the dead.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Relations with most foreign pow
ers continue on a satisfactory and
friendly footing. The President is
happy to announce the passage of
All act by the general Cortes of Por.
tugal aboIishing slavery in the Col
onies. The past year has furnished
no evidence of an approaching ter
minationoft the rttinous conflict which
has been raging for seven years in
Cuba. The same disregard of the
Jaws of civilized warfare aud the just
demands of hum&nity which have
heretofore called forth expressions
of condemnation from the nations of
ChFistendom. have continued TO
bIacllen the sad scene, DesOlation,
ruin and pillage are prevailing the
rich fields Of one of the most fertile
and productive regions of the earth.
and the ineendiary's torch firing
plantations and valuable factories
and buildings, is the agent marking
the alternate advance and retreat Of
the contending parties, The Presi-
dent narrates the damage to the in
terests of all the commercial nations,
especially these United States and
and the insecurity OF property owned
hy citizens Of the United States in
Cuba. lie lad hoped Spain would
he enabled to establish peace in her
COLONY. Because of this hope and
from an extreme reluctance to inter
fere in the affairs of another and q
friendly nation, he has patiently and
anxiously awaited the progress Of
events. T'he armed bands Of either
side now occupy the grounds as in
the past. .-Hi5st ## "a
ssFFhe. President maks a long argu-
ment and concludes:
CUBAN LNDEPENDENCE.
A recognition OF The independence
of Cuba being in my opinion imprac-
ticahle aud Findefensible, the ques-
tion which next presents itself is
that of the recognition of belliger-
ent rights In the parties to the con-
test. After further argument the
President concludes: The recogni-
tion Of independence or of belliger-
ency being tlus in my Judgment
eGHally inadmissable, it remains to
consider what course shall be adopt
ed should the conflict not soon he
brought TO an end by acts of the
parties themselves, and should the
evils which result therefrom affect
ing NIL nations and particularly the
United States, continue. In such
event. I am of The opinion that other
nations will be compelled to assume
the responsibility which devolves up
on them and to- seriously consider
the only remaining measures pOssi-
ble, mediation and intervention. Af-
ter further statement, he says: At
the same time while thus impressed,
Edo not at this time recommend the
aflOp-ion OF any measure OF inter-
vention. lie adds Persuaded how
ever. that a proper regard for the
interests of.tIie United States and of
its citizens entitIe it to relief from