Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-11
SYNOPSIS OF THE MESSAGE.

SYNOPSIS OF THE MESSAGE.
President Grant,in his seventh annual
message, sent to Congress yesterday,
INDUCES in some pleasant mention OF
the advancement of our country from
its infancy to its centennial, and of the
nations great success in progress and
civilization; of its wonderful achieve
ments in arts, science and all the con-
comitants of advanced hetterment OF all
the people. And in this connection he
urges that all citizens should be educa-
ted sufficiently to cast vote with right
intelligence of the value of the elective
franchise, which is proposition no
reasonable person will question, though
it was not acted upon in the RECONSTRUCT
ton policy of the Presidents own par
ty. The absence of such educated In
telligence is, the President thinks, the
primal danger to our countrys prosper
ity and the permanence OF its free instl-
tutions, and in such belief he recon-
mends an amendment to the constitu-
ton requiring the several States to es-
tablish and forever maintain tree public
schools adequate to, at least, the rudl-
mentary education of all the children,
irrespective of color, sex, nationality or
religion; forbbding, however, the teach
ing insuch schools the inculpation ofpa-
gan or atheistic tenets, OF the bestOwal
of school funds to any religious denom-
nation for educational purposes. lie
also objects to the accumulation OF vast
amounts of untaxed church property,
and says that that class of property in
the United States in 1878 amounts TO
Sl,O00,OOO,0O0. He recommends The
taxation of all such property, exempt
ing only cemeteries and limited cdlfccs
for churches.
These subjects have always in this
country heretofore been regarded as be-
longing peculiarly TO the State and To-
cal governments, and at no time have
they received more general and willing
attention in the States than at present
Stating that our relations with for
eign powers are satisfactory and friend
V.
mark that Congress should so leglslate
as TO prohibit citizens OF the United
States from owning slaves in any other
country, and he hopes such consumma-
ton may ultimately embrace citizens Of
all nations.
Chill has made reparation in some
long standing cases of outrage on our
commercial marine. Mention is made
of the Hawai- an reciprocity treaty, and
of the Virginius indemnity, which has
been settled by Spain.
In regard to Cuba, the President
thinks there is no evidence of a near
termination OF the conflict there, and
that there still exists that continuous
disregard of laws of civilized warfare
and humanity which has characterized
TIE internecine strife during the past
seven years. He adverts to the com
mercial Importance of Cuba to the world
at large, and asserts his belief that the
nations have right to interfere suffi-
GENTLY to establish its government ON a
secure basis, but he considers the recog-
milton of Cuban independence impracti-
cable at present, and he believes the
Uuited States and all other nations
must soon consider the necessity OF
meditation and Intervention in the
premises A considerable portion of
the message is devoted to this subject.
He indorses the recommendations
made in the annual report of the Secre-
tary of War, including system of an
nuities for families of deceased officers
by funding monthly deduction from
the pay of those officers while in ser
vice; a return to the old system of mile
age; an approval of torpedo experiments,
and a permanent organization OF the
signal service corps.
AS to pensioners, the message states
that during the past year 1857 names
have been added to the payrolls and
1897 dropped, showing decrease OF
1920. But notwithstanding this de-
crease of pensioners, there has been an
increase in pay to the amount OF ST.
1888 Is, which was induced oy the
greatly increased average rate OF pen
sions allowed by the last Congress.
During the last fiscal years there was
paid for account of pensions $29,
ll6. There are on the rolls 234,S2l
persons, of whom 2l0,363 are army
pensioners, (of these l05,47S being in
valids,) and l04,SS5 are widows and
dependent relatives. The navy pen
siouers are 1920, including 1886
invalids and l,7S4 widows aud depen-
dent relatives, Of the war of 1912
there are 2I,03S pensioners, 1875
being survivors and 5,l43 widows.
The amount required for payment of
pensions for the next fiscal year is esti-
mated at 500, $4,000.
The President thinks his Indian poll
cy has been prosecuted with encourag-
ing and satisfactory results as to the
Improvement of the race, aud he says
the same policy will be continued with
such notifications as may be deemed
proper. ,,... -,
As to the centennial exhibition the
President thinks that as it is to be an
international affair, to which the United
States government is only voluntary
contributor, its contribution should be
large enough to sustain the dignity OF
the United States IN such acontingency.
He says that almost without exception
the powers of Europe, the South
American States, and even the far-on