San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-03-17

danger Dy the saving innuonco OF un-
iversal education. olirt ora 1000 /
II ID the high privilege aad saGsd
duty Of those now living 10 educate
their successoga and provide by in
teIligence and virtue for the inheri'
tence which awnits them. In this
beueAcent work sections and raoss
should be forgotten and psrtisanship
should be unknown. Let our people
find new meaning in the divine or
acle which declares that little child
shall lead them, for our little chill.
dren will soon oontsolthe deatinies Of
the republic. Ny oountrymsns wed do
not know the difference in our Ijudg-
|msnt CONCERNING the controversies Of
OF the past generation and Afty years
hence our children will not be divided
in their opinions concerning our CON-
troversies. r They will surely bless
their fathers, and their fathers gov
ernment, that the union was preserv-
ed, that slavery was overthrown and
that both races were made equal be-
fore the law. We may help. or we
may retard, but we cannot prevent q
final reconciliation. It is not possi-
BILE for us now to make q truce with
time by anticipating and accepting
its inevitable verdict. Enterprise OF
the highest Importance to our moral
and material well being invite us, and
offer ample scope for the employment
of our best powers. Let oil our peo-
pie leave behind them the battle field
of dead issues, move forward and the
restored union will be the grandest
victory Of peace. .,L .,. ,..,, II
The prosperity which now prevails
is without q parallel in our history.
Fruitful seasons have done mucht to
secure it but they have not been all.
The preservation of public credit and
the resumption Of specie payments,
30 successfully attained by the admin
istration OF my predecessor, has en-
abled our people to secure blessings
which the seasons brought BY the
experience of commercial nations and
ali ages it has been found that gold
and silver afford only a safe founda-
ton for a monetary system. Con-
fusion has recently been created by
variations in the relative value of the
two metals, but I confidently believe
that arrangements can be made be-
tween the leading commercial nations
which will secure the general use of
both metals. Congress should pro
vide that the compulsiye coinage Of
silver, now required by law, may not
disturb our monetary system by driv.
ing either of the metals out OF circu-
lation. If possible such an adjust
ment should be made that the pur
chasing power Of every coined dollar
will be exactly equal, and as q debt
paying power in all markets of the
world. The chief duty Of the nation
al government in connection with the
currency of the country, is to coin
money and declare it's value.
Grave doubts have been entertained
whether congress is authorized by the
constitution to make any such form
OF paper money legal tender, the pres
ent issue of United States notes has
been sustained by the necessities Of
war, but such paper should depend
for its value and currency upon it's con-
venience in use, and its prompt re-
demption in coin at the will Of the
holder and not upon the compulsory
circulation. The notes are not money,
but promises to pay money if the hold
ers demand it. The promise should
be kept The refunding Of the m
tional debt at d lower sato Of interest
should be accomplished without com
Ipelling the withdrawal of the national
bank notes and thus disturb the bust
ness Of the country. I venture to re
fer to the,position Ilhave occupied on
the financial questions during long
service in Congress and to say that
time and experience have strength
ened the opinions l have SO often en-
pressed on these subjects. The f.
nanccs Of government shall suffer no
detriment, which it may be possible
for my administration to prevent. ool
The interests of agriculture de-
serve more attention, from the gov
ernment than they have received.
The farms Of the farmers Of the United
States afford homes and employment
| for more than one-half of our people,
and furnish much the largest part OF
all OF onr exports. As the govern
ment lights it's coast for the protec.
ton of mariners, or the be>e6t OF
commerce, 80 it should give TO the TIL
lers OF the soil the best lights OF prac
teal science and experience
Our manufactures are rapidly
making us indsstsially independent
md are opening TO capital and labor
new and profitable fields OF employ
ment Their stcsdy md healthy
growth should still he mHntained Our
facilities for transportation should be
prominent by the continued improve
.nent Of our harbors axd great in
terror water ways. andby the Increase
Of our tonnage in the ocean. The
developments Of tina wor.ds eonmeree
has lei 70 the urgent demand for
shortening the geat "a voyages
arOand cspe Horn Wy constructing
ship canals OF. railways across the
istEmAs, which pnites the tv' e'n-
tneats- ..