The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-07-24

ue ItdliIeu until every voter can
freely and safely support any party
he pleases. Next in importance to
freedom and Justice is popular edu-
cation, without which neither JUS
tice nor freedom can be permanently
maintained. Its interests are en-
trusted to the States and the volun-
tary action Of the people. Whatever
help the Nation can Justly afford
should be generously given to all
the States in supporting common
schools, but it would be unjust to
our people and dangerous to our in
stitutions to apply any portion of
the revenues of The Nation or of the
States to the support of sectarian
school. The separation of the Church
and the State IN everything relating
to taxation should be absolute. ON
the subject of National finances, my
views haYe been SO frequently and
fully expressed that little is needed
in the way of additional statement.
The public debt is now so well secur-
ssdaana the rate0f annual interest has
been SO reduced by refunding that
rigid economy in expenditures and
the faithful application Of our surplus
revenues to the payment of the prin-
cipal of the debt will gradually but
certainly free the people from its bur-
dens and close with honor the finan-
cial chapter Ofthe war. At the same
time the government can provide for
all its ordinary expenditures and dis
charge its sacred obligations to the
soldiers of the Union ard to the wild
0WS and orphans of those who fell in
its defense. The resumption of spe
Gle payments, which the Republican
party so courageOusly and success
fully 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 country.
Our paper currency is now as nation
al 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 circu-
lating medium is more abundant
than eyer 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 suffer loss. The
great prosperity which the country
now enjoying should not be endan-
gered by any violent changes or
doubtful financial experiments. In
reference to our custom laws a policy
should be pursued which will bring
revenues to the treasury and will
enable the labor and capital employed
in our 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 word, and
it is our glory that the American
laborer is more intelligent and better
paid than his. foreign competitor.
Our country iannot be independent
unless its people, with their album
dant 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 nesessary implemel IS of labor.
1t was the manifest intention
Of the founders of the government
lOpIONl luN lOE Tic CUiiliilOil uS-
fense, not by standing armies
alone, but by rising among the
people greater army OF artisans
whose Intelligence and skill should
powerfully contribute to the safety
and glory of the Nation. Fortunate
ly for the interests of comm rec, there
is no longer any formidable opposi-
tion to appropriations for the inn
prOvement of our harb0rs and great
navigable 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 to so many millions
of people that the safety of its navi-
cation requires exceptional consider
alton. In order to secure to the ma
ton the control OF all its waters
President Jefferson negotiated the
purchase of vast territory extend
ing from the Gulf of Mexico to the