The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-16
PRESIDENTS TMEsSlGE !
To the Senate and House Of Repre-


To the Senate and House Of Repre-.
Senfa[ices: -
In submitting ny Seventh Annual
Message to Congress, in this centenni-
al year of our existence as FREQ and
inds pendent people it affords me great
pleas TO recur to the advancement
that has been made from the time Of
the Colonies, one hundred years age.
We were then people numbering
only three millions now we number
more than forty millions. Then our
were confined almost ex-
to tillage of the soil !; now
absorb much of the la
Dor OF she country Our liberties re-
main unimpaired. The bondmen have
been freed frsm slavery. We have
become possessed of the respect, if
not the friendship, of all civilized ma
tions. Our progress has been great in
all the arts, in science, commerce, nav
igation, mining, mechanics, law, med
icine, &c.. and in general education the
progress ia likewise encouraging. Our
thirteen States have become thirty
eight-including Colorado, which has
taken the preliminsry steps to become
a State-and eight Territories, includ-
ing the Indian Territory and Alaska,
and excluding Colorado, making q
territory extending from the Atlantic
ts the Pacific. On the south we have
to the Gulf Of Mexico, and
on she west from the Mississippi to
the Pacific. One hundred years ago
the cotton gin, the steam ship. the rail-
road, the reaping, sewing, and modern
printing machine. and numerous other
implements OF scarcely less use to eur
business men were entirely unknown.
In I776 manufactures scarcely existed,
even i'm name, in all this vast territory.
In 1870 more than two millions Of per-
sons were employed in manufactures.
producing more than $2,1OO,O 900
werth of produce-an amount annu-
ally nearly equal 10 our national debt.
From nearly the whole of the popula-
tiOn of 177G being engaged in the one
Of agriculture, in 1870 So
numerous and diversified had become
the occupations of the people, that less
than six millions out Of more than
forty millions were so engaged. The
extraordinary effect produced in our
by resort to such occupa-
tions has built market for the pre-.
ducts of fertile lands distant from the
and the markets of the
world. The American system Of
various and extensive manu-
factures next to the plow and the pas
ture, and adding connecting railroads
and steamboats,, has produced in eur
country q result not equaled by
the intelligent parts of other nations.
The ingenuity and skill Of American
have been dem onstrated at
home and abroad in manner most
to their pride. But for the
extraordinary genius and ability of
our mechanics. the achievements Of
our agriculturists, manufacturers and
throughout the country
would be impossible of attainment.
The progress of the miner has also
been great. OF coal, our production
was small. Now many millions Of
tons are mined annually. So with
iron, which formed scarcely an appre-
ciable part of our products half CEN
tury ago. We new produce more
than the world consumed at the be-
ginning of our National existence.
Lead, zinc and copper, from being ar
iicles of imports, we may expect to be
arge exporters Of in the near future.
The development of gold and silver
mines throughout the States and Ter
has not only been remarkable
but has had large influence upon the
business of all commercial nations.
Dur merchants in the last hundred
years have had a success, and have es-
tablished reputation for enterprise,
segacity, progress and integrity un-
by people Of older nation
alities. This good name is not con-
fined to their homes, but goes cut on
every sea and into every port where
enters. With equal pride
we can point to our progress in all the
learned professions.
AS we are now about to enter upon
the second century commencing our
manhood 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 for his transgression to the
present day no nation has ever been
free from the threatened dangers to
its prosperity and happiness. We
should look to the dangers that threat
EN- US, and remedy them so far as lies
In eur power. We are Republic
whereof one man Is as good as anoth
er before the law. Under such q fern
of Government it is of the greatest
importance that all should be possess.
ed of education and intelligence
enough to cast vote with right IN
derstanding of its meaning. A large
association of ignorant men can not
for any considerable period, oppose
successful resistance TO tyranny, as op
preston from the educated few will
inevitably sink into acquiescence t.
the will Of intelligence, whether di
rected by the demagogue or priest
craft. Hence the education of tn
mass becomes the FIRST necessity fol
the preservation Of our institutions
They are worth preserving because
they have secured the greatest good t.
the greatest proportion of the poPula
ton of any form of government ye
devised. All other forms of govern
ment approach it just in proportion t.
the general diffusion of education an
independence of thought and action.
AS the preliminary step, therefore
| TO our advancement in all that ha
marked our progress in the last centu
| nv. I suggest for your earnest consid
Grafton, aud most earnestly recon
mend it, that a Constitutional Amend
ment be submitted to the Legislature
of the several States for ratification
making it the duty of each Of the sev
eral States to establish, and fereve
maintain, free public schools, adeqaat
TO the education of all the children j
the rudimentary branches within thei
respective limits, irrespective of Sc,
color, birthplace or religions; forbid
ding the teaching in said schools {
atheistic or pagan. and prohibiting th
granting of any school funds, or scho'
taxes. or any part thereof, either b
Legislative. municipal, or other author
ities, for the benefit of any other ol
iect, of any nature or kind whateve
In connection with this importaI
question, 1 wonld also call your
,ention to the importance of corrcc
ing an evil that, if permitted 10 col
tinue, will probably lead to gre
| ..o,hIo -, our Ioud hafoPe the f.$0se