The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-07-22

VIC l'ChSIo VI wv II II
ment; that the National laws relatin!
to the election Of Representatives il
Congress shall neither be violated no
evaded; that every elector shall b
permitted freely and without intimi
dation to cast his lawful vote at sucl
election, and have it honestly counted
and that the potency of his vote shall
not be destroyed by the fraudulen
vote of any other person.
The best thoughts and energies O.
our people should be directed to thos,
great questions of National we'll beins
in which all have common interest
such efforts will soonest restore to per
feet peace those who were lately il
arms against each other, for justice
and good will will outlast passion.
But it is certain that the wounds o1
the war cannot be completely heeled
and the spirit of brotherhood can not
fully pervade the whole country, unit
every citizen, rich or poor, white Oh
black, is secure in the free and equaI
enjoyment Of every civil and political
right guaranteed by the Constitution
and the laws. Wherever the enjoy
ment of these rights is not assured
discomfort will prevail, immigration
will cease, and the social and indus
trial forces will continue to be dis
turbed by the migration of lab )rers
and the constant diminution of pros
perity. The National Government
should exercise all its Constitutional
authority 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 serious evils which now
affiict the South arise from the fact
that there is not such freedom and
toleration of political opinion and
action that the minority party can
exercise an effective and wholesome
restraint upon the party in power.
Without such restraint party rule
becomes tyrannical and corrupt. The
prosperity which is made possible in
the South, by its great advantages of
soil and climate, will never 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. Its in
terests are entrusted to the States and
to the voluntary action of the people.
Whatever help the Nation 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 institu-
tions, to apply any portion of the
revenues of the Nation, or Of the
States, to the support of sectarian
schools. The separation Of the Church
and the State in everything relating
to taxation should be absolute
On the subject of National finances
my views have been so frequently and
fully expressed that little is needed in
the way of an additional statement.
The public debt is now so well secur-
ed, and the rate Of 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 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
ows and orphans of those who fell in
its defense.
The resumption of specie payments,
which the Republican party so cour-
agesly and successfully accomplished,
has removed from the field of contro-'
versy many questions that long and
seriously disturbed the credit Of the
Government and the business of the
country. Our paper currency is now
as National as the flag, and resump-
ton 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 abundant
than before, and we need only to
maintain the equality of all our dol
lars 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 is
now enjoying should not be endan-
gered by any any violent changes or
doubtful financial experiments.
In reference to our Customs laws a
policy should be persued which will
bring revenue to the Treasury, and
will enable the labor and capital en-
ployed in our great industries to COM
pete fairly in our own markets with
the labor and capital Of foreign pro-
ducers.
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 better paid than his foreign COM
petitor. Our country cannot be indie
pendent, unless its people, with their
abundant natural resources, possess
the requisite skill, at any time, to
clothe, arm and equip themselves for
war, and, 10 time of peace, to produce
all the necessary implements of labor
It was the manifest intention Of the
founders of the Government to pro-
vide for the common defense not by
standing armies alone, but by raising
among the people. greater army o1
artisans, whose intelligence and skill
should powerfully contribute to the
safety and glory Of the Nation.
Fortunately for the interests o.
commence, there is no longer any for
midable opposition to appropriation:
for the improvement of our harbor:
and great navigable rivers, provided
that the expenditures for that pur
pose are strictly limited to works O.
national Importance.
The Mississippi River. with it