Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-12-11
synopsis of the Message.

and ClVulLttu0; OF us NunuSfiul achieve
mCuts In arts. science and all the coacomitauls
of advanced betlermeut Of all the people
AMI in this connection be urges that all cili-
Gems should be educated sufficiently to cast a
vote with right Intelligence Of tue value Of the
elective franchise, which is proposition no
reasonable person wiilquestiOn, though II was
urt acted upon 10 tue reconstruction policy OF
tue Presidents own party. Tue absence
OF such educated intelligence Is, the Pres'-
deut thinks, the primal danger To our
couutry'S prosperity aud the permauenee Oi
It's free Institutions, aud in such belief he re-
cummeuds lu amendment to the constitution
recurring the several States 90 establish and
forever maintain free public schools adequate
o.. al least the rudimentary education OF all
the children. Irrespective of color, sex, natiou-
ality or religion f0rbiddius, however, the
tea. hing iu such schools the inculcation OF pa
slu OF a,bcisjic tcUe,S, OF the bcstowal OF
school funds % any religious denomination Tor
educational purposes. lie also objects 70 the
accumulation Of vast amounts OF untaXed
church property aud SAYS that that class oi
property no TIE United States 10 1919 amounts
10 ! 600 600 600. lie recommends the tax
atiuu of all such property, eXempuug only
cemeteries aud limited ediices iyr churches
These subjects have always 10 tins country
heretofore been regarded as belonging PC
cuiluly % the State aud local governments,
aud az uo tiu,e have they received more gene
nal and willing attention IN the States than at
present.
Stating that our relations With foreign pow
ers are satisfactory aud friendly, Tue President
d. hoo eh.
So .c.js.ate as % prohibit citlz us OF the uul-
ted States from owning slaves IN any other
country aud be hopes such contamination
may Infinitely embrace citlzvus OF all nations.
Chill has male reparatlon IN some long
s,audin. cases ui outrage on our cummercIal
marine. Mention Is made OF the Hawaiian
reciprJcity treaty. aul ot the NrsIuius IN
Gemuitv. which 0as teen settled by Spain.
In regard 10 Cubl, the President thinks
there is DOB evidence ui . near termination oI
tie Conflict there, aud that there still exists
that continuous disregard ot laws OF civilized
warfare and Immunity which has characterized
the iuteruecjge strife during the past seven
wears. eaIvcr,s % the commercial lmport-
auce Of Clba &, The world at large aud asser.s
his belief that the nations have q Ti..,, 10 IN
up a secure basis LuJ he considers the recu.-
uiti0l OF Cuban independence imprtctjcable
at prls.ut, aud be believes the United States
uui all o;lcr nations must so'a consider the
necessity Of mediation and Intervention IN
the premises \ considerable portion OF the
message Is devoted 10 this subject
lie endorses The recommendations made IN
the annual report Of the SeCr,t1ry OF War, IN
c.uGug system Of auuultiCs Tor families ct
deceased officers Jy luudiug a monthly drduc-
,iou from the pay of these officers while IN
service; a return TO the old system at mileage ;
an approval Of torpedo experiments, aud a
permanent organization OF the signal service
corps.
The condition Of the navy is stated as being
satisfactory. IL does not contain mncn lron-
cruising power, but it has considerable num-
Der of ir1u-ciads OF the monitor class, which,
though not cruisers, are Of excellent effect Tor
operations on our coast, and Tor safe defense
OF our harbprs The navy includes more than
atty warshipS, fifteen of them being iron-claI.
Ia referring 20 Postutfice Department affairs,
the President recommends the exclusion from
the mails merchandise OF al kinds, and the
limitation OF tausportab!e matter thereia only
10 those articles which should be properly
classed rs mt'dble.
The President says that although govern
meut efforts % protect the rights of Indians
I'm the Black Hills have been successful, the
next year vii, exhibit large increase OF
immigration thilhgy The condition "i the
Intmn Territory is practically unchanged, but
the President may hereafter make S'me SuS-
gestious us 20 legislation for tie government o
that Territory.
The gra,stupper plague is supposed to have
diminished the sale OF public lands during thC
wear. there being decrease IN the sales Cd
I 245q. con acres as compared with those OF the
previlus year. The surveyed area OF puhh'
/ domain Is CSC .253 O94 acres, leaving l,l54
Al. 7G2 acres yet L. be surveyed The maui
+ aeemeut and disposition OF this vast farm "a
/ "Cuc.c sam" are recommended 10 the careful
consideration ot Congress
/ As % pensioners the message states tina
/ duriu. the pas, year - 5j7 names have beer
added o. The plyralls AMI = OF dropped
,howinta decrease Of .32O But Uutwjth
standing this decrease OF pensioners, there ha
/ been au increase ~ pay 60 the amount %
/ S44.133.l IS which was Induced by tte greatly
increased average rate of pensions allowed by
tie last Congress During the last fiscal yea
there WAS raid frr account Of pensions S29
CSSIlG There are on the rolls 234 S2l per
sons. ul whom DO SG3 are army pensioners
/ af these lO547S being iuytliis) and lO1
SIS are widows and dependent relatives
The navy pensioners are 9420. Wcludiu: J.,
$50 uy1HJS and 1854 widows and depcnden
relatives. OF the war uf 1912 there aye p,
03S pensioners, Is So being survivors an'
5,I4S widows. The amount required for pay
m,.t &c pensions Cor tie next fiscal year l.
estimated 40 SO, go 600.
The President thinks his Indian policy ha
been prosecuted with encouraging aud SitiS
factory results Us 90 the improvement OF th'
race. aul lc saws the same policy will he con
tuueI with such notifications as may b,
+ deemed proper.
Ast1 The centennial exhibition tie PreSilen
thfEs that as 10 Is % te au international affair
o. which the United States government Is
only voluntary cuuJributur. It's contribution
should be- large enough % sustain the dignity
&C tle Caued States iu such a contingency
he saws TINT almost without exception III,
powers Of Europe, the Southern American
. States. aud even the hr-ol Eastern sovereign
/ ties have takcu steps 20 lie represented 10 th'
centennial exhibition.
The President recommends the formation o
aslecul tribunal fr hearing and determining
a,, claims ui a'itus against the government o
The United States which ROW exist ar may
hereafter arise outside ct treaty >,jpuhti'us.
Tine quest. a> 90 monopoly aud eXorhiiaut
,ir--csru the Atlantic telesnphjc cahlel Inc
is given o. the earnest consideration of Com
49,. .nL m ah.ancn Of acli-n Ly TINT -nly