The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-19

lands it be iigl, treason to compass
the death VI the king, it shout,
be counted no less Il crime here t,
strangle our sovereign lr,wer and ati
fle its voice. 1t has b+.eni said tina
unsettled questions have no pity fu
the IepOss Of nations. It should ~
said with the utmost emphasis thu
this question Of suffrage will neve
give repOse Or safety to the States q
nation until each within it's own iur
isdiction makes and keeps the ballo
free and pure by strong sanctions q
law. But the danger which arise.
from ignorance in the voter can no
b. denied. 1t covers field far wide
than that Of Negro suffrage and tn,
present condition II the race. It il
danger that turks and hides in til,
sources and fountains of power il
every State. We have no STANDARD
which to measure the disaster tina
may be brought npon US by ignoraDc,
and vice in the citizen when joined t,
corruption and franl in suffrage.
Tie voters Of the Union, who max,
and un,nake constitutions, and npor
whose will hangs the deatin,es of on
government, can transmit their su
preme authority to no successor savt
the coming generation Of voters, VIII.
aro the sole heirs IF a sovereign
power. II that generation comes t.
its inheritance blinded by ignorance
and corrupted by vice, tho fall Of the
Republic will be certain. The censu,
has already sounded the alsrn, IN %.
palling figures which mark how d.n
geronsly high The tide IT illiterscy
has risen among our voters and tbei,
children. To tho South this Questio,I
10 Of supreme isnper tance. but the
responsibility for the existence ol
slavery did not rest upon the Sonel,
alone. The nation itself is respon
sihle for this extension Of outrage
and is under special obligation. to aid
in renewing the illiteracy which i.
has sided to the voting population.
For the North and South alike there
is but one remedy. All the CON
power Of the nati"p and
Of the States and all the volunteer
forces Of the people, should be sun
mOned to meet this danger by the
saving influence Of un;vels sal edu-
cation. 1t is the high privilege aud
sacred duty of those now living to
educate their successors, and fit them
by intelligence and virtue for the in
heritance which awaits them. In this
beneticent work, sections and races
should be forgotten, and partisansbip
should be unknown. Let our people
End q new meaning in the divine
oracle which declares that ga little
child shall lead tbem," for our little
children will soon control the desti-
pies Of the republic.
My cOuntrymen, we do not now
differ in our Judgment concerning the
Of past generations. and
fifty years hence our children will not
be divided in their opinions concern
ing our controversies. They will
surely bless their fathers, and their
fathers God that the Union WAS pre-
served, that slavery WAS ove.thrnwn Il, ,
and that both races were made equal
before tho law. We may hasten or
30 may retard, but We can not prevent
inal reconciliation. Is it not posi-
de for us now to make q truce witl,
lime by anticipating and accepting
t. inevitable verdict Enterprises
# the highest Importance To orr
moral and material we'll being invite
Is and offer ample scope for the EN-
'loyment Of our hes. powers. Let
VI our people, leaving behind them
he battle fields Of dead issues, ID owe
onward and ID the strength Of liberty
md restored uniun win the grander
'ictories Of peace.
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
The prosperity which now prevails
. without a parallel in our history.
fruitful seasons have done much to
ecure it, but they have not done all.
The preservation Of public credit and
he resumption Of specie payments,
. successfully attained by the admin
stration of my predecessors, has en-
bled our people TO secure blessings
'hich tho seasons brought. BY the
Experience Of commercial nationa in
D all ages it has been found that gold
nd silver afford the only safe foun,la-
ion for monetary system. Confu-
ion has recently been created by
ariations in the relative value Of the |
NO metals, but ! confidently believe
hat arrangements can be made be-
ween tho leading commercial nations !
'hich will secure the general nse Of |
9th metals. Congress should pro-
ide that the compulsory coinage Of
liver now required by law may not
lsturb our monetary system by driv-
g either ont Of circulation. If pos.
ble such adjustment should be made
lat the purchasing power Of every
,ined dollar will he exactly equal to
8 debt paying power in all the mar
cts Of the world. The chief duty of
IL national government in connec-
on with tie currency of the country
to coin money and declare its value.
rave doubts havo been entertained
neither Congress is authorized by
e constitution TO make any form Of
per money legal tender. The
'eseut Issue Of United States notes
Is been sustained by the necessities
war, but such paper should depend
: its value and currency upon it's
nvenience in use and its prompt
demption in coin at the will Of the
'lder, and not upon its compulsory
'culation. These noes are not
oney, but promises to pay money.
holders demand it, the promise
onld be kept. The refnnding Of
. national debt at q lower rate Of
5erest should be accomplished with
t compelling the withdrawal of
ti0nal bank notes and thus disturb !
business of the country. l ven-