River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-10

the race. 1t is danger that turks and
hides in sources and fountains of pow
er IN every state. We have no stand
ard by which to measure the disaster
that may be brought upon US by igno-
rance and vice in citizens when Joined
to corruption and fraud in suffrage.
The voters of the union who make and
unmake constitutions, and upon whom
viii hang the destiny of our govern
ment, can transmit the supreme au-
thority to no successor save the COM
ing generation of voters, who are sole,
the sovereign power. II that
question comes to It's in
heritancc, blended by Importance
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 illit-
eracy has arisen among our voters and
their children. To the south this ques-
ton is of supreme importance, 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 I'M
der special obligations to aid in remov-
ing the illiteracy which it has added to
the voting population of the north and
south alike. There is but one remedy:
all the constitutional power of She ma
ton and of the states, and all the vol
unteer forces Of the people should be
summoned to meet this danger, 10y hay
ing the influence ofuniversal education;
it is the high privilege and sacred duty
of those now living to educate
their successors and fit them by inteli-
gence and virtue for inheritance which
awaits them in the beneficial road.
Sects and races should be forgotten,
and partisanship should be unknown.
Let our people find a new meaning in
the divine oracle which declares that "a
little child shall lead them," for our
little children will soon control she des-
TIMES of the republic.
My countrymen, we do not now diff
fer in our judgment concerning con-
troversaries of past generations, and
| fifty years hence our children will not
be decided in their opinions concerning
our controversaries. They will surely
bless their fathers and their fathers
God that the union was saved, that
slavery was overthrown, that both
races were made equal before the law
We may hasten or we may retard,
but we cannot prevent the final recon-
| citation. Is it no. possible
| for us to make truce with
time by anticipating and accepting
the inevitable verdict. Enterprises of
highest importance to our moFal and
material well being, invite us and offer
ample scope for the employment of
our best powers. Let all our people
leaving behind them the battle field of
the dead issues, move forward, in
strength and liberty and restored union,
and even grandel victories of peace.
The prosperity which now prevails is
without parallel in our history.
Fruitful seasons have done much to
secure it, but they have not done ALL
The presentation of public credit and
resumption to specie payment so sue
cessfullv attained by the administra-
ton of my predecessor, who hiss ena-
bled our people to secure the blessings
which seasons brought by experience
of commercial nations in all ages. 1t
has been found that gold and silver af-
fords the only safe foundation for a mon
etary system. Confusion has recently
been occasioneI by variations in the
relative value of the two metals, but |
confidently believe that an arrange
ment can be made between the lead
ing commercial nations which will Sc
cure the general use of both metals.
Congress should provide that the
compulsory coinage of silver row re-
quired by law may not disturb our
monetary system bv driving either
metal out of circulation if possible.
Such adjustment should be made that
the purchasing power of every coined
dollar will be exactly equal to its debt
paying power in all the markets of the
world. The chief duty of the national
government in connection with the
currency Of the country as 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 pre- MT issue of U. S. notes has been
sustained by the necessities of war, but
such paper should be dependent for its
value as currency upon its convenience
in use, and its prompt redemption in
coin at the will of the holder, and not
upon its compulsory circulation. These
notes are not money, but promises to
pay money. If the holders demanded
that these promises should be kept, the
refunding of the national debt at a
| lower rate of interest should be accom-
| plished without completing the with
drawal of the national bank notes and
thus disturbing the business OF the
country. ] venture to refer to
the position | have occupied on the
financial question during my long SER
vice in congress, and to say that time
and experience have strengthened the
opinions | have so often expressed on
the subject. The finances of the gov
eminent shall suffer no detriment
which it may be possible for my nd
ministration 10 prevent.
THE INTERESTS OF AGRICULTURE
deserve more attention from the gov
eminent than they have yet received
! The farms of the United States offer
homes and employment for more than
one-half the people and furnish nuch
the largest part of our exports; as the
government lights our coasts for the
protection of mariners and commerce,
so should it give to the tillers Of the soil
the lights of practical science and ex-
perience.
OUR MANUFACTURERS
are rapidly making rs industrially in
dependent, and are opening to capital
and labor new and profitable fields for