The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1881-03-10

crime here to strangle our sovereign
power and stihe its voice. 1t has
been said that unsettled questions
have no ply for the repose Of ma
tons. II should be said, with the
utmost emphasis, that this question
of suffrage will never give repose or
safety to the States Or to The nation
until each within its own jurisdiction
makes and ke ps the balo, pure by
the strong sanction Of the Law.
The census has already sounded
alarm in appalling figures, which
mark how dangerously high The tide
Of illiteracy has risen among our to.
ters and their children To The South
this question 10 Of supreme impor-
lance, but the responsibility for the
existence Of slavery did not rest
upon the South alone. The nation
itself is responsible for the extension
Of suffrage, and is under special OBJ
lie atoms to aid in removing the Hit
eracy which it has added TO the vot-
ing population North and South
alike. There is but one remedy,
All the constitutional power Of the
nation and of the States, and all the
volunteer forces of the people, should
be summoned to meet this danger
by the saving Influence of universal
education. II is the high privileges
and the sacred duty Of thoee now
living to educate their successors,
and fl, them, by intelIib ence and
virtue, for the inheritance which
awaits them. In this benehcient
work sections and races should be
forgotten, and psrtizanship should
be unknorn. Let cur people find a
new meaning 10 the divine oracle
which declares that "a little child
oh all lead chem for our little chill
dren will soon control the destioies
of the republic. Ny country men,
we do not now differ in our judgment
concerning the controversies OF the
past generations, and fifty years
hence our children will not DO divid
ed 10 their opinions concerning our
controversies. They will surely
bless their fathers and their fathers
God that the Union was preserved !;
that slavery was overthrow, and
that both races were made equal be-
fore the law. We may hasten or
we may retsrd, but we caunot pre-
vent the final reconciliation. Is
it not possible for US now to make a
truce with time by anticipating and
accepting its inevitable verdict Z
Enterprioes of the highest lmpor>
lance to our moral and material well
being invite US, aud offer ample
scope for the employ ment of our best
powers. Let all our people, leaving
behind them the battlefield of dead
issues, move forward, and in the
strength OF liberty and restored Un-
ion win the grand victories Of peace
The refunding Of the national
debt at lower rate of interest should
be accomplished without compelling
the withdrawal Of the national bank
notes, and thus disturbing the bust
ness of the country, | venture to re-
fer to the position | have occupied
on financial questions during loqg
service in Congress, and to say that
lime aud experience have strength
ened the opinions | have so often ex>
pressed 90 these subjects. The
finances Of the government shall suit"
Ter no detriment which it may be
possible for my administration TO
I,nrevent. ga
" The civil service can never be
placed on satisfactory basis uutil it
is regulated by laws for the good Of
the service itself, for the protection
of those who are entrusted with the
appointing power against the waste
Of time and the obstruction TO public
business caused by the inordnate
pressure for place and the protection
of incumbeots against intrigue and
wrong. shsll at the proper time
ask Congress to fix the tenure of the
minor offices of the several executive
departments, and prescribe the
grounds upon which removals shall
be made during the terms for which
the incumbents have been appoint
ed.