The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-07-21

ously gwen to AID the states IN sup
porting common schools: but il
would be unjust to our people and
/ dangerous to our institutions to app
ply and portion of the revenues OF
the nation or of the state to the sup
port of sectaIian schools. The sepa-
ration OF the church and the state in
everything relating to taxation
should be absolute.
On the subject of national finan-
ces, my views have been so frequent
" and fully expressed that little IS
needed in the way Of additional
statement The public debt is now
so well secured, and the rate of an
nual interest has been so reduced
by funding, that right economy in
expenditures, and the faithful appli-
cation of our surplus revenues to
the payment Of the principal of the
debt viii gradually but certainly
free the people from Its burdens and
close with honor the financial chap
ter of the war. At the same time,
the government can provide for all
its ordinary expenditures, and dis
charge its sacred obligations to the
soldier of the Union and to the wild
ovs and orphans Of those who fell
in its defence. The resumption of
specie payments, which the Rcpub-
lican party so courageously and sue
cessfully accomplished, has removed
from the field OF controversy many
Questions that long and seriously
disturbed the credit of the govern
ment and the business Of the coun-
Try. Our paper currency is now as
national as the flag, and resumption
has not only made it everywhere
equal to coin, but has brought into
use our store Of gold and silver. The
circulating medium is more abund-
ant than ever before, and we need
only to maintain the equality of all
our dollars to ensure to labor and
capital a measure of value from the
use OF which no one can suffer loss.
The great prosperity which the
country is now enjoying should not
be endangered by any violent chang
es or doubtful financial experiments.
In reference to our customs laws.
a policy should be pursued which
viii bring revenues to the treasury,
and viii enable the labor and capi-
tai employed in our great industries
to compete fairly in our own mark
cts with the labor and capital Of
foreign producers. We legislate for
the people Of the United States, not
for the whole world, and it is our
glory that the American laborer Is
more intelligent and betterpaid than
his foreign competitor. Our country
Ecannot be independent unless its
/ people, with their abundant natural
resources, possess the requisite skill
at any time to clothe, arm and equip
/ themselves for war. and in time OF
peace to produce all the necessary
implements of labor. It was the
manifest intention OF the founders
aof the government TO provide for the
Hcommon defence, not bv standing
sArmies alone, but by raising among
Stbe people a greater army ofartisans,
whose intelligence and skill should
powerfully contribute to the safety
and glory of the nation. Fortunately
for the interests of commerce, there
Is no longer any formidable opposi-
ton 70 appropriations for the I'M
I provemeut of our harbors and great
nayigable rivers, provided that the
expenditures for that purpose are
strictly limited to works of national
importance. The Mississippi river,
with its great tributaries, is OF such
vital importance toso manymillions
of people that the safety OF its nav
igation requires exceptional consid-
Grafton In order to secure to the
nation the control OF all its waters,
President Jefferson negotiated the
purchase of q vast territory, extend
ING from the Gulf OF Mexico to the
Pacific Ocean. The wisdom of Con-
/ gress should be invoked to devise
some plan by which that great river
shall cease to be 2 terror to those
who dwell upon its banks, and by
which its shipping may safely carry
the industrial products of twenty
five millions OF people. The inter
ests Of agriculture, which is the basis
Oft all our material prosperity, and
in which seven-tweliths of our popu-
lation are engaged, as well as the
interests of manufacturers and com
merce, demand that the facilities
for cheap transportation shall be
( increased by the use Of all our great
water COURSES. The material inter
ests Of this country, the traditions OF
its settlement, and the sentiment OF
our people, have led the government
TO offer the widest hospitality to
immigrants who seek our shores for
new and happier homes, willing 10
share the burdens as well as the ben
cfits of our society, and intending
that their postcrity shall become an
undistinguishable part of our popu-
lation.
4 The recent movement OF the Chi
4 |nese to our Pacific coast partakes
but little of the qualities of such an
Immigration, either in its purposes
or It's results. II s too much like
an importation to be welcomed
without restriction; too much like
an invasion to be looked upon with
out solicitude. We cannot consent
to allow any form OF servile labor tc
be introduced among Us under the
guise OF immigration. Recognizing
the gravity of this subject, the pres
ent administration, supported by
Congress, has sent to China a com
mission of distinguished citizens fol
the purpose OF securing sucha mod
ification of the existing treaty as
win prevent the evils likely to arise
from the present situation. 1t is
confidently believed that these dip
lomatic negotiations viii be success
ful without the loss of commercial
intercourse between the two powers
which promises a great increase o.
reciprocal trade and the enlargement
of our markets. Should these eff.