Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-03-17

the smallest os s.a in the ps,hwsy q
race has already made remarkableF progress.
With understanding devolion to the. Union.
fear. they have Followed the lisht as as God
gave them to see the light" They are rapidly
port. widening the circle Of intelligence and
beginning to enjoy the blessings that gather
around the homes Of the Industrious poor
all good men. So far as my authority can
lawfully extend, they shall enjoy the full and
equal protection of The Constitution and laws.
EQUAL SUFFRAGE. $
The free enjoyment of equal sunrag is still
In questiOn.sand fraIK 8 -atement OF the issue
may aid its solution. 1t is alleged that In
many communi ties negro citizens are prac-
ticallv denied the freedom OF the ballot. In so
far as the truth of this allegation is admitted,
it is answered that in MANY places honest
local government is impossible IT the mass of
T he acaed negroe 1e are aioyed to vote
latter is true it is the only paliatiOn that can
be offered for opposing the freedom of the
great evil. which ought to be prevented but to
violate the freedom and sancrity of suffrage is
more than evil; it is crime which. if per-
sisted in. will destroy the Government itself.
Suicide is not remedy. If in other lands it be
nigh treason to compass the death OF the klng.
strangle our sovereign power and stitie its
voice. It has been sud that unsettled ques
lions have no pity for the repose of nations;
it should be said with the utmost emphasis
that this question of suffrage will never give
TeptlS0 OF Sd1eLy 10 Otdtc3O CO~til6 xNdCiOH
until each within its own jurisdiction makes
and keeps the ballot free and pure by the
strong sanctions of law. But the danger
which arises from ignorance in the voter an
not be denied. 1t covers field far wider than
that of negro Suffrage aud the present condi-
ton of that race. It is a danger hat turks and
hides IN the courses AMI fountains of power
in every State. We have no standard by
which to measure the disaster that may be
brought upon us by ignorance and vice in
citizens when Joined to corruption and fraud
in suffrage. The voters of the Union who
Hons
whose will hangs the destiny Of our Govern
ments, can transmit their supreme authority
to no successor save.the coming generation
of voters. who are sole heirs Of our sovereign
power. If that generation comes to it's inner
itance: blinded by ignorance and corrupted by
vice, the fall of the Republic will be certain
and remediless. The census has already
sounded the alarm in appalling figures which
mark how dangerously high the tide of litter
dren. To the South the question is of supreme
Importance, but the responsibility for the ex-
istence of slavery did not rest upon the South
alone. The Nation itselfis responsible for the
extension of suffrage, and is under special OBJ
which it has added to the voting population
for the North and South alike. There is but
one remedy. Al!the Constitutional power OF
the Nation and of the states, and all the vol
unteer forces of the people, should be sum-
nofied to meet this danger by the saving in
fuence of universal
EDUCATION.
It is a high privilege and sacred duty of
those now living to educate Their, successors,
and fit them, by intelligence and virtue for
the inheritance which awaits them in this
beneticent work. Sections and races should
be forgotten, and partiSanship should be
known. Let our people find a new meaning
in the Divine oracle which declares that = a
children will soon control the destinies of the
Republic.
RECONCILIATION.
NY countrymen, we do not now differ in
our judgment concerning the controversies of
past generations, and fifty years hence our
children will not be divided in their opinions
cOntr0vQrSipS They wi Il gOrp-
~ bless their fathers and their fathers God
that the Union was preserved: that slavery
made equal before the law. We may hasten
or we may retard but we cannot prevent the
now to make a truce with time by anticip It
ing and accepting its inevitable verdicts. En-
terprises of the highest importance to our
moral and material wel-being invite us. and
offer ample scope for the employment of our
best powers. Let all our people. leaving be-
move forward, and, in the strength of liberty
and "a restored Union, win the grander victo-
res OF peace.
The prosperity which now prevails is With
out parallel in our history. Fruitful seasons
have done much to secure 1t, but they have
not done all.
OUR MONETARY SYSTEM. 2
The preservation of the public credit and
cessfully attained by the administration of
my predecessors, has enabled our people to
secure the blessings walch the seasons
brought. BY the experience of commercial
Nations in all ages, it has been found that gold
and silver afford the only safe foundation for
a monetary system. Confusion has recently
been created by variations in the relative value
of the two metals, but confidently believe
that arrangements can be made between the
leading commercial Nations which will secure
the general use OF both metals. Congress
shon!d provide that compulsory eoina se
disturb our monetary system by driving either
metal out of circulation. ii possible, such adj
iustment should be made that the purchasing
power of every coined dollar will be exactly
equal to its de bt-paying power in the markets
of the world The chief duty of the National
Government, in connection with the currency
of the country, is to coin and declare its value.
Grave doubts have been entertained whether
Congress is authorized by the Constitution to
make any form of paper money legal tender.
The present issue of United States notes has
such paper should depend for it's value and
currency upon the convenience in use and
It's prompt redemption in coin at the will of a
holder, and not upon its compulsory circula-
ton. These notes are not money, but prom
ises to pay money. If holders demand it, the
REFUNDING.
The refundng of the National debt at a low
er rate of interest should be accomplished
tional Bank notes, and thus disturbing the
business of the country. 1 ventu1 e 10 refer to
the position have occupie1 on financial ques-
lions during my long service in Congress, and
to say that time and experience have strength
ened the opinions have go often n expressed sh
eminent shall suffer detriment which it
may be possible for my Administration to pre-
vent.
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. A
The interests OF agriculture deserve more
attention from the Government than they
have yet received. The farms of the United
States afford homes and employment for more
than one-haif the people. and fui nish much
the largest part of all our exports. A. the
Government lights our coasts for the prOtec-
ton of mariners and for the benefit of COM
merce, so it should give to the tiilers of the
soil the lights of practical science and expe-
rience.
MANUFACTURERS.
Our manufacturers are rapidly making us
industrially independent. and are opening to
capital and la Dor new and profitable fields of
employment. This stead. and healthy growth
should still Be maintained.
THE ISTHMUS QUESTION.
Our facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued improvement of
our harbors and great interior Waterways,
and by the increase of our tonnage the
ocean. The development of the worlds COM
merce has led to an urgent demand for
shortening the great sea voyage around
Cape Horn, by constructing ship-canals
o. railways across the Isrhmns which unites
the two continents. Various plans to
this end have been suggested. but none of
them have been sufficiently matured to
rant the United States extending pecuniary
aid. he subject is one which will immedi-
afeiy engage the attention Of the Govern