The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-14

tors am strongly impressed with the value Of tn.
collection made by the government for the purposes
Of the Exhibition illustrating, as ~ does, the mine.
raj resources OF the country the statistical and prac
OF the mechanical arts, and the Applications OF
applied science In the administration Of the affairs
of government. Many nations have voluntarily
contributed their exhibits to the United States to
increase the interest In any permanent exhibition
Congress may provide for. For this act of gener-
osity they should receive the thanks of the people,
aud respectfully suggest that resolution Of Con.
gress TO that effect be adopted.
THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
The attention OF Congress cannot be too earnestly
called to the necessity OF throwing greater safe
guard ever the method Of choosing and declaring
the election Of President. Under the present sys-
tenn there seems to be no provided remedy for con.
Is partially, no doubt in the enlightenment OF elec-
tors. The compulsory support OF the free school,
and the disfrancbisement OF all who cannot read
and write the English language after fixed proba-
tion, would meet my hearty approval. would not
make this apply however, TO those already voters
but would to all becoming aftor the expiration
OF the probation fixed upon. Foreigners coming to
the country to become citizens who are educated IN
their own Language, would acquire the requisite
knowledge OF ours during the necessary residence
to obtain naturalization II they do not take inter-
est enough In our language TO acquire
sufficient knowledge of II to enable them to study
the institutions and laws Of the country Intelligent
ly would not confer upon them the right to make
such laws, nor se.oct those who do. / append to
this message, for convenient reference, synopsis
OF administrative events and of all reCOmmeudn-
tions to Congress made by during the last seven
years. Time may show some OF these recommends
tions not to have been wisely conceived but believe
the larger part will be no diseredt to the admipi is-
tration. One OF these recommendations met with the
united opposition Of one political party in the
senate and with strong opposition from the other
mempers-the treaty for the annexation Of
sANTo DOMINGO
to the United Staes-to which shall specially refer
maintaining as do that il my views had been con.
Cured In the country would be IN more prosper
I,Nl, Ill
ly Santo Domingo is fertile, and upon its soil may
be grown just those tropical products of which IL
United states use 30 much, and which are produced
or prepared for market now by slave labor almost
exclusively, namely, sugar, coffee, dyeweeds, ma
hogany, tropical fruits, tobacco, etc. About seventy
hys per cent of the exports of Cuba are consumed
in the United Statea. large percentage of the
exports Of Brazil also find the same market. These
are paid for almost exclusively ia coin. Legisla-
ton, particularly in Cuba, being unfayorable to
mutual exchange Of the products of each country,
flour shipped from the Mississippi river to Havana
can pass by the very entrance to the city its way
port in Spain, then pays duty nxed upon articles
TO be re-exported, transferred to a Spanish vessel.
and brought back almost to the point Of starting
paying second duty, and still leaves profit over
what would be received by direct shipment. All
that is produced in Cuba could be produced ia
st. Domingo. Being part of the United States,
commerce between the island and mainland would
be free there would be export duties her ship
ments nor import duties on those coming here.
There would be no import duties upon the supplies
machinery, ETC., going from the States. The effect
merce, with these advantages to q rival is obsery-
able at q glance. The Cuban question would have
been settled long ago
IN FAVOR OF "FRHE cupI,r
Hundreds of American vessels would now be
advantageously used in transporting the valuable
woods ani other products of the soil Of the island
to market and in carrying supplies and immigrants
to 1t. The island is but sparsely settled while 1t
has an area sufficient for the profitable employment
OF several millions of people the soil would have
soon fallen into the hands Of United States capital
lets, ana the products valuable in CONNIE rec
that imni grafton would have been encouraged The
einanspated race OF the South would have found
there congenial home, where their civil rights
would not be disputed, and where their labor would
be SO much sought after, that the poorest among
them could have found the means to 20, Thus in
cases of great oppression and cruelty, such as have
been practced upon them in many places within the
last eleven years, whole communities would have
sought refuge in st. Domingo. l do not suppose
the whole race would have gone, nor Is 1t desirable
that they should go. Their labor is desirable nds-
pensable almost, where they now are But the pos-
session of this territory would have left the negro
master of the situation" by enabling him to
demand his rights at home, on pain OF finding them
elsewhere. do not present these views now az a
recommendation for renewal of the subject Of
annexation. But do refer 10 IL TO vindicate my
previous action in regard to Il. With the present
Congress my official life terminates. 1t is not prob.
able that public affairs will again receive atten-
tion from me further than rs a citizen of the
republic always taking deep interest in the honorI
integrity and prosperity Of the whole land.
U. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. December 5, 1879.