Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-12-10
Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, d T. The message
cp Ms: IL submitting my seventh an
nual message TO @ ,ngress in tue Cen
tennia. year Of our National existence
"a free and independent people, it
afford, me great pleasure to recur to
the advancement that has been made
from tn tine of the Colonies: One
hundred years ago we were then Il
people, numbering DULY three millions
how we lumber more than forty mill
lions. Then industries were confined
almost exclusively to tie tlllage of the
soil; now manufactures absorb much
of the labor Of the country: our hber-
ties rem ain unimpaired; the bOndsmen
have been freed from slavery and we
have become possessed of the respect
if not the friendship of all civilized ma
tions. Graphic aud well worded de
tails follow.
The President earnestly recon-
mendS that a constitutional amend
ment be submitted to the legislatures
max ;Ig it the duty of each State to es-
tablish and forever maintain her free
public schools quate to the educa-
lion of all children in the rudimentary
branches within their respective limits,
irIe-pectiVe of sex, color or reiigion;
forbiddiug the teaching in sad sch )ols
Of religions of Atheistic or Pagan te-
nets, aud prohibiting the granting OF
any schOOl funds or school taxes, or
any part thereof, either by Legislative,
MUNICIPAL or other authorities, for th,,
benefit or IN aid, directly or indirectly,
If any religious sect or denomination.
ur in ad or for the benefit of auy
other object of any nature or kind
lcE 10 cll
taDce of correcting the evil of the
vast amounts of untaxed church prop
erty, and estimates that by 1890, #
uncheck, d, his property would reach
a sum exceeding three thousand mil
hon dollars. He would suggest the
taxation of all property be equal. ac
cepting only the last resting place Of
the dead.
Relations with most foreign powers
continue on a satisfactory aud friendly
footing. The President is happy to
announce the pas.agn of an act by the
gene al Cortes Of Portugal. dboiishiu5
slavery IN the coilnies. Tn pat Year
has furnished no evidence of an APP
preaching termination of the ruiuOus
conflict which has been raging for sey-
en- years lu Cuba.
The sam. disregard of the laws OF
civilized warfarr, and tie just demands
of humanity Which have heretofor. { il
ed forth expressions If condemnation
from the nations OF chrsteudom hive
continued to blacllen the sad scene
Desola;inn. ruin and pillage are per
vadiBg the rich fields of the most feI-
tile and productive regions OF the ca III,
and the incendlarles torch firing plan
tations and valuable factories and
buildings is the ageut marking the al
ternate advance and retreat of Ih' con-
tending parties. The President liar
rates damage to interests of all com
mercial stions, especially those of the
United States. and the insecurity of
property owned by citizens of the
United States IN Cuba. He had hoped
Spain could be enabled to establish
peace in her colony, and because of
this hope and from an extreme reluc
lance to interfere in the affairs of an
other and friendly nation, he was pa
tientIy and anxously awaited the pro
gress of events. The armed bands of
either side now occupy the ground as
IL the past. The President makes long
argument, and concludes: A recogni-
| ton Of the independence of Cnba be-
| ing. in my opinion, indef5n5ible.
The question which next presents
Itself is that of the belligcraut rights
| Of the parties to the contest; after fur
Their argument the President CON
| cludes The recognition Of independ-
| ence or beliigerency being thus, III nv
| jndgmeu equally inadmissible; it re-
| s0aIns to consider what course shall be
| adopted. should the conf ct not soon
be brought to an end by acts of the
| parties themselves, and should the
evils result therefrom affecting all Ia
tioDs and particularly the United States
continue in such event, / am of opinion
that other nations will be compelled to
| assume the responsibility which de-
wolves upon them 20 seriously cOnsiie B:
the only remaining measures possible
= meditation and intervention. At
ter further statement, he says at the
same time while impressed, do not at
this time recommend the adoption of
any measure of intervention.
He adds : Persuaded however, that
| proper regard for the interests of the
| United States and of its cjtiz 1ns. emit
tie tito relief from the strain to which it
has been subjected by the difficulties
of the questions and the wrongs and
losses which arise from the contest in
Cuba, and that the interest of humani-
ty itself demand the cessation of the
strife before the whole island shall be
laid waste and larger sacrifices be
made, 1 shall consider 1t my duty
should my hopes for satisfactory ad-
justment of the early restoration
of peace, and tie removal of future
causes OF complain De unhappiiy dis
appointed, to make further commu-
TO 1
not far remote, and durin the prese ut
session. recommending what may then
seem to me to be necessary.
Abiding to the cattle raids on the Rio
Grande, the President says An ex-
perrin 2nt of au armed vessel on the Rio
Grande for that purpose is on trial.
and it is hoped that if DOT thwarted by
the shallowness of the river and other
uatnral Obstacles, it may materially
attribute to the protection of the
herdsmen of Texas.
Ocean telegrapEs are discussed at
great Len 9Th but no allusion is made to
the postal telegraph.
Discussing the specie resumption.
the 2: resident says: Too much stress
cannot be laid upon this Question and
L hope Congress may be induced at She
earliest day practicable, to insure the
contamination of the act Of last Con
gress at it's last session, to bring about
spe' lie resumption on and after the
first day Of January. 1879, at furthest.
1t would be great blessing if this
could be cOnsummated even at al ear
iier day. Nothing seems to me more
certain than that full, healthy aud
permanent reaction cannot tax, place
IN favor of the industries and financial
welfaf Q of the country, until we return
70 measure of values recognized
throughout the civilized world. While
re use currency not equivalent to
This standard, the worlds recognized
standard specie bee ones commodity
Ike the products of the soil-the SUR
plus seeking a market wherever there
IS ade mand for it. Under our present
system we should want non enor would |
we have any were if not that custom
dues are paid in coin. and because q |