The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-15
THE MESSAGE.

THE MESSAGE.
The Presidents Message is the
longest ever written by Grant, and
perhaps the longest ever delivered to
Congress. We have not space for
even one fourth of it as delivered, and
with the best inclination to give it to
our readers, they must rest satisfied
to get it in sectional doses, as we Gull
it from the whole document, and give
it to them on the most important
questions now at issue in the Union {:
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
We are a Republic whereof one
man is as good as another before the
law Under snch a government, it is
of the greatest Importance that all
should be possessed of education and
intelligence enough to cast a vote
with right understanding of its
meaning. A large association of ig-
norant cannot for any considerable
period oppose successful resistance
to tyranny and oppression from the
educated few but will Inevitably sink
into acquiesccnce to the will of in
telligence, whether directed by the
demagogue or priestcraft. Hence
the education of the masses becomes
Of the first necessity for the preser-
walton of our institutions; they are
worth preserving because they have
secured the greatest good to the
greatest portion of the population of
any form of government yet devised.
All other forms Of government ap-
proach it just in proportion to the
general diffusion of education and in
dependence of thought and action
AS the primary step, therefore, to our
advancement in all that has marked
our progress in the past century, !
suggest for yeur earnest considera
ton aud most earnestly recommend
it that a Constitutional Amendment
be submitted to the Legislatures Of
the several States for ratification,
making it the duty of each of the
several States to establish and forev-
er maintain, free public schools, ade-
quate to the education of all the chill
dren in the rudimentary branches
within their respective limits, irres-
pective of sex, color, birthplace or
religion, according the teaching in
said schools Of religious, atheistic or
pagan tenets, and prohibiting the
granting of any school funds, or
school taxes, or any part thereof, eli
Their by legislative, municipal or 9TH
or authority for the benefit or in aid
directly or indirectly of any religious
sect or denomination, or in aid or for
the benefit of any other object of any
nature or kind whatever.
THE TAXATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
In connection with this important
question I would also call your atten-
ton to the Importance Of correcting
an evil that if allowed to continue
will probably lead to great trouble in
our land before the Nineteenth Cen
tury. 1t is the accumulation ofvast
amounts of untaxed Church proper
ty. In 1850, l believe, the Church
property Of the United States which
paid no tax, municipal or State,
amounted to about $50, 100000. In
1860 the amount had doubled. In
1875 it is about $1,000, 100000. By
1900 without check it is safe to say
this property will reach a sum ex-
ceeding $s,ooo,00o,oo0. So vast a
sum receiving all the protection and
benefits of government without bear
ing it's portion of the burdens and ex-
penses of the same will not be looked
upon acquiescently by those who have
to pay the taxes. In growing coun.
try where real estate enhances so ra-
pidly with time as in the United
States, there is scarcely a limit to the
wealth that may be acquired by cor
porations, religious or otherwise, If
allowed to retain real estate without
taxation. The contemplation of so
vast property as here alluded to
without taxation may lead to seques-
tratiou without constitutional au-
thority and through blood. I would
suggest the taxation of all property
equally, whether church or corpora
ton, excepting only the last resting
place of the dead, and possibly with
proper restrictions, church edifces
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS
Our relations with most of the for
eign powers continue on q satisfacto