The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-12-12
VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF CITY AND COUNTY
Vancouver, Clarke County, Washington Ter
ritory.
The Presidents Message.

Representatives,
Our heartfelt gratitude is due to the Divine
Being who holds in His hands the destinies of
nations for the continued bestowal during
the last year of countless blessings upon our
country.
OUR NATIONAL PROSPERITY.
We are at peace with all other nations.
Dur public credit has greatly improved, and
is perhaps now stronger than ever before
Abundant harvests have rewarded the labors
Of those who till the soil. Our manufacture
ing industries are reviving, and it is believed
that the general prosperity which has been so
long anxiously looked for is at last within our
reach.
THE FEVER PLAGUE.
The enjoyment of health by our people gen.
orally has, however, been interrupted during
the past season by the prevalence of the fatal
pestilence of yellow fever in some por
lions OF the Southern States, creating an
emergency which called for prompt and extra
ordinary measures of relief. The disease APP
peared an epidemic at New Orleans and
other places in the lower Mississippi soon
after midsummer. 1t was rapidly spread by
fugitives from infected cities and towns, and
did not disappear until early in November.
The States OF Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten
nessee have suffered severely About 100, 900
cases are believed to have occurred, of which
about 20 0O0 according to intelligent esti-
mates, proved fatal. 1t is impossible to esti
mate with any approach to accuracy the loss
to the country occasloned by this epidemic.
1t is to be reckoned by hundreds of millions
OF dollars. The suffering and restitution that
resulted excited the deepest sympathy in all
parts of the union, physicians and nurses has
tening from every quarter to the assistance of
the afflicted communities. Voluntary contri-
buttons of money and supplies in every needed
form were speedily and generously furnished.
The government was able to respond i'll some
measure to the call for help by providing
tents, medicine and rations for the sick and
destitute, requisite directions for this purpose
being given in confident expectation that this
action of the executive would receive the
sanction of Congress. About l. 500 tents and
rations of the value OF about So, 600 were
sent to the cities and towns which applied for
them, full details OF which will be furnished
20 Congress by the proper department.
SANITARY GOVERNMENT.
The fearful spread of the pestilence has
awakened a very general public sentiment i'll
favor of national sanitary administration,
which shall not only control quarantine, but
have sanitary supervision Of internal commerce
IN times of epidemics, and hold IN advisory re-
Iation to State and municipal health authori-
ties, with power to deal with whatever eu
dangers the public health, and which the
municipal and State authorities are unable to
regulate The national quarantine act, APP
proved April 30 1873, which was passed too
late in the last session of Congress to provide
means for carrying it into practical operation
during the past season, Is a step III the direc-
ton here indicated. In view OF the necessity
for the most effective measures. by quaran-
tine and otherwise for the protection OF sea-
4 ,tr,rc soil 10 nd
other epidemics. it is recommended that Con-
gress give the whole subject early and careful
consideration.
THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS
The permanent paclhcatlon OF the country
by the complete protection OF all citizens In
every civil and political right, continues to be
of paramount interest with the great body of
our people. Every step in this direction is
welcomed with public approval, and every
interruption of steady ard uniform progress
10 the desired contamination awak ems general
uneasiness and Widespread condemnation.
Recent Congressional elections have furnished
4 direct and trustworthy test OF the advance
thus far made III the practical establishment
of the right OF suffrage, secured by the con-
stitution to the liberated race in the Southern
States. All disturbing influences, real and
imaginary, have been wiped from all these
which conferred freedom and equality of civil
and political rights upon the colored people OF
the south, were adopted by the concurrent
action OF the great body OF good citizens who
maintained the authorities OF the national
government and the integrity and perpetuity
Of the union at such cost of treasure and
life. as a wise and necessary embodiment in
the organic law of the just results OF the war
The people OF the former slave-holdIng States
accepted these results, and gave inSevery prac
teal form assurances that the 18th, l4th and
18th amendments, and laws passed in pursu-
ance thereof, should in good faith be enforced
rgidly and impartially in letter and spirit
TO the end that the humblest citizen. without
distinction OF race or color, should under them
receive full and equal protection in person and
property, and in political rights and privileges
BY these constitutional amendments and in
crease of political power in Congress and the
electoral college, the country justly expected
that elections would proceed as TO the en-
franchised race upon the same circumstances
of legal and constitutional freedom and pro-
lection which obtained in all other States in
the Union The friends of law and order
looked forward to the conduct OF these cleo
tons as offering to the general judgment OF
the country important opportunity to meas
ure the degree in which the right OF suffrage
could be exercised by the colored people, and
would be respected by their fellow citizens.
But more general enjoyment of the freedom
OF suffrage by colored people; and more just
and generous protection OF that freedom by
the communities of which they form part
were more generally anticipated than the
of al Isel