The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-08


Of agriculture, the Smithsonian Institute
and the commission of food fish to be con-
tributed under the legislation of the last
session to the International Exhibition, to
be held at Philadelphia during the centen-
NAL year 1876, has been diligent in the dis
charge Of the duties which have deyolved
upon it, and the progress so far made, with
the means at command, give assurance that
the Governmental contribution will be
made one of the marked characteristics of
the exhibition. The board has oh.
served commendable economy in the mat
ter of the erection OF buildings for the gov
exhibit, the expense of which,
it is estimated. will not exceed, say $780,
900. This amount has been withdrawn
under the law from the appropriations Of
five oil the departments, which leaves some
OF these departments without sufficient
means to render their respective practical
exhibits complete and satisfactory. The
exhibition being an international one and
the government being voluntary contrib
utor, it is my opinion that its contribution
should be of a character in quality and ex-
tent to sustain the dignity and credit of SO
distinguished contr butor. The advanta.
geS to the country of a creditable display in
an international point of view are of the
first importance. while an Indifferent or I'M
creditable participation by the government
would be humiliating to the patriotic feel
ings of our people themselves. I commend
the estimates of the board for the necessa-
ry additional appropriations.
The powers OF Europe almost without
exception, many of the South American
states, and even the more distant eastern
powers, have manifested their friendly SEN
timent toward the United States, and the
interest OF the world in our progress, by
taking steps to join with us in celebrating
the centennial OF the nation. and l strongly
recommend that a more national import
ance be given to this exhibition by such
legislation and by such appropriations as
will insure its success. Its value in bring
ing to our shores innumerable useful works
of art and skill, the commingling of the
citizens of foreign countries and our own,
and the interchange of ideas and manufac-
lures, will far exceed any pecuniary outlay
we may make.
VARIOUS REPORTS.
transmit herewith the report of the
Commissioner Of Agriculture, together
with the reports of the Commissioners. the
Board of Audit and the Board of Health
of the District Of Columbia. to all of which
invite your attention. The Bureau of
Agriculture has accomplished much in dis
seminating useful knowledge to the agricui-
turlst and also in introducing new and useful
pruduc ioas 4dspte TO our Iil and climate
aud Is worthy of the continued encourage
mtnt of Inc government.
he report OF the commits 3ioner of E iuca-
ton, which acco npanies the report of the
Secretary of The Interior, shows q gratifying
Progress.
PoLYGAMY.
! nearly every annual MESA that 7
have had the honor of transmitting to Con.
or SIS have called auentiUn to the anoma-
lous, not to S ~ scandaious nditiOn of af.
fairs existing ia the territory of Utah and
have asked for uetinite legi slatlon t" corr ct
IT, Ihat Polysamy should exist in a t ee, en-
l1ghtened and Christian county without
tue power TO punish so f1,granJ a crime
against decency and morality seems preDOs-
ferrous. rue. there Is no law to sustain Ibis
unnatural vice, but what We need is d law to
punish L. as crime ar at the same time to
NJ the status of he innocent children the
onSp ing OF this system. an. of the possibly
lu"ocenJ plural wives. But as an 1nstitu-
I1on Polygamy should be banished from the
Ina, =
ton of Congress to another, though perhaps
no less on evil-tne I'm pOrt1tlon of Chinese
women. but few o whom are BROUGHT to our
shores to pursue honorable or useful occupa.
tons ~
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
observations while visiting the territories
of Wyoming, Utah a ld Colorado during the
lat autumn convinced me that existing
laws regulating the disposition of public
lands, ii nbsr, ETC., and probably the mining
laws themSe ves are very aefectis Q and
snou d be carefully amended and at an early
day. In the territory where the cultivation OF
the Soil can only be 70 lowed where irrigation
is practicable. the lands can only be used as
easturage and this only where STOCK can
reach water TO Qusncn thirst, cannot be gov
eFned by the same laws as to entries. Land
| must be held in Larger quantities to Justify
| tn expense If conducting alter upoa 1t to
| m Ike it fruit III or to justify util zug il as
pa-turage. the timber in most of the terri
tor les Is principally confined To the noun
| tain regions, which are held for entry in
Quantities. aud as mineral lands, the timber
rs he property of the United States, for the
| disposition of which there Is no ad, quate
law. The settler must become IA consumer
1t Ghis tim er whether he lives uLon the
Hence every man becomss either a tres
p4sSer himself or knowlngly a patron of
lrerpasS. My opportunities for observing
we e not suffi i-nt TO Justify me in Iecom-
mendiug specific legisldt on on these SUD-
jec 4, but do recommend that joint COM
mittee OF the two Hous IS OF Congress- Sufh-
cIenLly large to be divided into subc mint
tees, be org AniZed 10 visit all the mining
stetes anu territories uuTir the coming
summer, and that the committee shall re-
pore to Congress- at the next session. such
ne 'eSSary to secure the b. ST lnteleS S of the
z Dvernment and tie people of these terri
I0l les who are doing so much for their de-
velapment L am sure tae citizens OccuF "
in6 the territori> described do not ish 10
be trespasSeT nor wilt they be If legal ways
are provided for IL EN- to become owners OF
, these actual necessities o. theis position.
CONCLUSION.
| AS this will be the last annual MESA g
which | shall have TT honor of transmit
tlUg to congress before my successor i
chosen l viii repeat or recapiu ale the ques
! tious which deem ofvital importance which
sh"ald be legisIated upon and settled at thi
SEES sion:
l. That the states shall be required to at
fort the opportunity of a good common
sci Dol edUcati III for every child within thet
g limits.
No sectarian tenet should ever be laugh
in any school Su ported in whole or in par
= by The state or nation OF by tie proceeds O
any * levied upon anv cummunitv. Max
education ompulsory so far 10 deprive al
persons who cannot read aud wIite from
, becoming voters after the year $780, diSfian
ch sing none, however, on grounds OF illit
e.acy who Inay De voters at the time thi
2 amendment takes effecj.
, 3. Eeclare The church and state forever sep
arr te anu distin 4, bat each free within thei
ri, hts and spheres, and that all church prop
erty shall bear | s own proportion of taxa
ton.
Drive cut licensed immortality. such al
PoIygamv end the importation of womeI
t for illegitimate purposes To recur again q
6 tine Centennial yea 1t would Sc EN- as taougf
now, as we are about t" begin the SECOND