The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

WASHINGTON, December Ito Tie Senate and
House of Representatives: In submitting my
seventh annual message to congress, in THIS cen
and independent mt people, it ' affords me ne great re
pleasure to recur to the advancement that has
been made from the time Of the colonies, one
numberins only three millions; now % we number RTbr
more than forty millions Then, industries were
confined almost exclusively to the tilage of the
soil nov mautactorss absorb much Of f the la
paired, the bondsmen have been freed from sla-
very; we have become possessed Of the respect IL
not the Friendship of all civilized nations; our
agriculture, commerce, navigation, min
thg, mechanics, law, medicine, etc.; and
m general education the progress is like
como fhirty-sIgf2, including Colorado, which
has taken the initiatory step to become state,
and eight territories, Including the Indian terri
Ing territory extending from the Atlantic to
the Pacific; on the south we have extended to
tho gulf Of Mexico, and in the west from the
ago fhe cotton gin, the steamship, the railroad,
the telegraph, the reaping, sewing and modern
printing machines and numerous other inven-
tions of scarcely less value to our business and
happiness were entirely unknown.
In ITO manufactures scarcely existed even in
name all through our vast territory In 1870
ssn moTe sSanp
coo, 600 Of products In amount annually, nearly
equal TO our national debt. From nearly the
whole OF the population OF 1116 being engaged in
the one occupation of agriculture, In 1870 so nu-
rnsrous and diversified had become the occupa-
tions OF our people that less than ,,,,i six is
were 90 engaged. The extraordinary effect
produced in our country by a resort to diversi-
fied occupations has built a market for products
for fertile lands distant from the seaboard and
the markets of the world. The American sys-
tenn of locating various manufactures nsxt to
tho plow and pasture, and adding connecting
railroads sEL steamboats,, has produced in our
the inteliigent part Of all commercial nations.
The ingenuity and skin of American mechanics
have boen demonstrated at home and abroad
pride. But for the extraordinary genius and skill
Of our mechanics, the achievements of our agri-
caturatists, manufacturers and transpOrters
throughout the country would have been impossi-
BILE Of attainment. The progress OF the miner
has glso been great, OF coal our production was
small; now panly millions tons are mined annu-
aliy. So with iron, which formed scarcely an
appreciabIe part Of our products half a century
ago; we now produce more than the world con-
snnicd at the beginning of our national existence.
Lead, zinc and copper, from being articles of
the near future. The development of gold and
silver in the United States and territories has not
only been remarkable, but has had a large infiu-
ence upon the business OF all commercial nations.
Our merchants in the last hundred years have
had success and have established reputation
for enterprise, sagacity, progress and integrity
This good name is not confined to their homes,
hut goes out upon every sea and into every port
where commerce enters. With equal pride we
can point TO our progress In all Of the learned
professions. AS we are now about to enter upon
our second centennial, commencing our man.
hood as nation, it Is well to look back upon the
past and study what will be best TO preserve and
advance our future greatness From the fall OF
Adam from his trangression to the present day,
no nation has ever been free from threatened
danger TO its prosperity and happiness We
should look to the dangers threatening us and
remedy them so far as lies in our power. We are
u republic wherin one is as good as another be-
ment IL is of the. greatest Import
ance that all should be possessed of
education and intelligence enough to cast a
A large association of ignorant men can not for
any considerable period oppose a successful re-
sistapce to tyranny and oppression from the ed
asaaesesnce % the VIM Of inteiigeDcs s whstheG hsG
hence the education Of the masses becomes OF
ss of They arc es WORTH pssssrSR
because they have secured the greatest
good to the greatest proportion of the population
other forms Of government approach it just in
proportion TO the general diffusion of education
and independence Of thought and action. As
al that las ep Marked our % ia the pas
century. suggest for your earnest consid-
Grafton and most earnestly recommend
submitted to the legislatures Of the several
states for ratification, making 1t the duty OF
each Of the several states to establish and for
Education Of ali the Children in the rdime NJ Htapy
branches within their respective limits irrespec-
tive Of sex, color, birthplace or religion and for
bidding the teaching in said schools Of religious
atheistie or pagan tenets, and prohibiting the
granting of any school funds or pchool taxes or
any part thereof either by legislative, municipal
OF other authority for the benefit, or in aid, di-
rectiy or indirectly, of any religious sect or de-
nomination, or IN aid or for the benefit of any
other object Of any nature or kind whateyer In
connection with this important question would
also call your attention 10 the Importance of cor
recting an evil that II permitted TO continue
will probably lead 20 great trouble in our land
before the close OF the nineteenth century. 1t
is the accumulation OF vast amounts OF untaxed
property. In 1850, believe, the church prop
erty of the country which paid no tax, munich
pal or state, amounted to about SS3 900 900. In
1880 the amount had doubled. In 1875 it is about
q 200 900 900. By 1900, without check, it is safe
70 say that TN tnis p properly viii reach sum ex-
seeing y .ooS 900 900 SO vast a. sum receiving
without bearing its proportion of the burdens
and expenses OF the same, win not be looked al
aequiescently by those who haveto pay the taxes
In gruwingcountry, where real estate enhances
50 rapidly with time as In the United States
There is scarcely limit 10 the wealth that may
be acquired by corporations, religious or other
wise II allowed to retain real estate without taxa
don. The existence of 30 vast property
as here alluded 20 without taxation may lead to
sequestration, without constitutional authority
and through blood. would suggest the taxa
tion of all property equally whether of church OF
corporations, exemptlng only the last resting
place OF the dead, and possibly, with proper re-
strlctions church edihces.
Our relations with most of the foreign powers
continue ON a satisfactory and friendly footing.
Increased intercourse, the extension of com
merce, and the cultivation of mutual interests,
have steadily improved our relations with the
large majority OF the powers of the world, rem
dering practicable the peaceful solution of ques-
leaving few which demand extended or particu-
lar notice.