The Princeton union., 1880-07-22

snOn OI some or the principal topics which are
likely to become the subject of discussion.
have been settled during the last twenty years,
and with no purpose or wish to review the pas
sions of the late war it should be said that
while Republicans fully recognize
and will strenuously defend / B all
the rights retained by the people and all rights
reserved to bethe States, they reject the per
nicious doctrine of State supremacy which
long crippled the functions Of the national
government and at one time brought the
union very near to destruction. They insist
that the United States is nation with ample
powers of that is the constitu-
tion and the laws lmade in pursuance thereof
arethe supreme laws of the land that the right
of q nation to determine the method by which it's
legislators shall be chosen cannot be surren-
dered without abdicating one of the funda-
mental powers of the government that
the national law relating to the election of
representatives in Congress shall neither be
violated nor evaded; that every elector shall
be permitted freely and without intimidation
to cast his lawful vote at such elections, and
have it honestly counted, and that the potency
of his vote shall not be destroyed by the fraud
ulent vote of any other person.
The best thoughts and energies of our people
should be directed to those great questions of
national well-being, in which all have a CON-
mon interest Such efforts will soonest restore
to perfect peace those who were lately in arms
against each other, for Justice and good will
Outlast passion But it is certain that the
wounds of the war cannot be completely
healed, and the spirit of brothelh hood cannot
fully pervade the whole country until eyery
citizen, rich or poor, white or black, is secure
in the full and equal enjoyment of every civil
and political right, guar anteed by the constitu-
tion and the laws. Wherever the enjoyment
of these rights is not assured discomfort will
prevail, immigration will cease. and the social
and industrial forces will be disturbed by the
migration of laborers and the consequent di-
minishment of prosperity. The ma
t19nal tic government .:..! . should " exercise
to put an end to these evils, for all the people
and all the States are members of one body,
and no member can suffer without injury
to all. ''-~
The most terrible evils which now affict the
South arise from the fact that there is not
such freedom and federation of political opin.
ion and action that the minority party can ex-
ercise an effective and wholesome restraint
upon the party in power. Without such re-
straint party rule becomes tyrannical and cor
rupt. The prosperity which is made possible
IN the South BY it's great
be realized until every voter can freely and
safely support any party he pleases. Next in
Importance to freedom and justice, is popular
education, without which, neither justice nor
freedom can be permanently maintained. 1t
is intrusted to the States and to the voluntary
actions of the people. Whatever aid the ma
tion can justly afford should be generously
given to aid the States in supporting common
schools, but it would be unjust to our people
and dangerous to our institutions to apply any
portion of the revenues of the nation, or the
States to the support of eectarian schools.
Z Onthe subject br national tinauces, my views
have been so frequently and fully expressed
that little is needed in the way of additional
statements. The public debt is now 80 well
secured, and the rate of annual interest has
been so reduced by fefunding, that rigid econo-
my m expenditures and the faithful applica-
tiou of our surplus revenues to the payment of
the principal Of the debt, will gradually but
certainly free the people from its burdens and
close with honor the final chapter of the case.
At the same time the government can
provided for its ordinary expenditures and dis
charge its sacred obligations to the soldiers of
the Union and to the widows and or phans of
those who fell in its defense. "a
The resumption of specie payment, which
the Republican 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 gov
ernment and the business of, the country Our
paper currency is now as national as the flag,
and resumption has not only madeit every where
equal to coin, but has brought into use our
store of gold and silver. The circulating me-
dium is more abundant than ever before, and
we need only to maintain the equality of all
our dollars to insure to labor and capital a
measure of value, from the use. of which no
one can sufferloss. s #{ta## g. 2 !;
The great prosperity which the county is
now enjoying should not be endangered by
any violent changes or doubt ful financial expe-
riments. and in reference to our custom laws a
policy ~ should T>~Sbe 2 pursued which
viii bring, revenue to the treasury,
employed in our great Industries to compete
fairly IN our own markets with the labor and
capital of foreign produce. We legislate for
purchase of vast territory, extending from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific ocean. The
wisdom OF Congress should be asked to devise
some plan by which that great river shall
cease to be terror to those who dwell upon
its banks, and by which its shipping may safe
'ly carry the Industrial products of q, 900 900
of people The interests of agriculture, which
is the basis of all our material prosperity, and
na IN which seven twelfths Of our population are
as vel vel as the interests
the facilities for cheap transportation shall be
increased by the use Of all our great water
courses.
The material interests of this country. the
traditions of its settlement, and the sentiments
Of our people, have led the.government to Of
fer the widest hospitality to emigrants who
seek our shores for new and happier homes,
willing to share the burdens as we'll as the ben
efits of our society, and intending that their
posterlty shall become an undistinguishable
part Of our population. The recent movement
of the. Chinese to our Pacific coast partakes bnt
little OF the qualities of such an emigration,
either in its purpose or its result. It is too
much like an importation to be welcomed with
out restriction; too muchlik an invasion to be
looked upon without solicitude. We cannot
consent to allow any form Of servile labor to
be introduced among us under the guise of inn
migration. Recognizing the gravity of this
subject the present administration, supported
by Congress, has sent TO- China
o commission 2s. of distinguished
citizens for the purpose of . securing
such. q modification of the existing treaty
as will prevent the evils likely to arise from
the present situation. It is confidently be-
ieved that these diplomatic negotiations will
be successful without the loss of commercial
intercourse between the powers which promises
great increase of reciprocal trade and the
enlargement of our markets. Should these
efforts fail it will be the duty of Congress to
mitigate the evils already felt and prevent
their increase by such restrictions Is without
violence and injustice will place upon !. sure
foundation the peace of our communities and
the freedom and dignity of labor.
The appointment of citizens to the various.
executive and judicial f6ces is perhapsthe most
difficult of all the duties which the constitution
has imposed upon the executive. The oonsti-
tuition wisely demands that Congress shall CO.
Onernte with the executive denarfments in,