Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-03-16
ER, PA. WEDNESDAY, MARCH is. 1881

ing power in all the markets OF the
| world The chief duty of the National
, Government, in connection with the
, currency of the country, is to coin
T money and declare its value. Grave
doubts have been entertained whether
or not Congress is authorized by the
Constitution to make any form OF pa
per money legal tender. The present
issue of United States notes have been
sustained by the necessities of war, but
such paper should depend for its value
and currency upon its convenience in
use aud it's prompt redemption in coin
at the will of the holder, and upon its
compulsory circulation. These notes are
not money, but promises to pay money
If the holders demand it, the promise
should be kept.
The refunding of the national debt
at a lower rate of interest should be
accomplished without compelling the
withdrawal Of the national bank notes,
and thus disturbing the business Of the
country. | venture to refer To the po-
sition | have occupied on financial
questions during long service in Con-
gress, and to say that time aud expert
ence have strengthened the opinions
have 80 often expressed on these sub
jects. The finances of the Government
shall suffer no detrmont which it may
be possible for my administration to
prevent. The interest OF agriculture
deserve more attention from the Gov
crnmen. than they have yet received.
The farms of the United States afford
homes apd employment for more than
one-half our people, and furnish much
the largest part of all our exports. AS
the Government lights our coasts for
the protection of mariners aud the ben
eft of commerce, SO it should give To
the tIler Of the soil lights of practical
science nd experience.
Our manufacturers are rapidly max
ing us industrially independent, and
are opening to capital and labor new
and profitable fields Of employment
Their steady and healthy growth
should still be maintained Our facil-
tiles for transportation should be pro-
NOTED by the continued Improvement
of our har5ors and great interior water
wuvs and the incease Of oar tonnage
on the ocean The development of the
worlds commerce has led to All urgent
demand for shortening the great sea
voyage around Cape Horn by construc-
ting ship canals or railways across the
Isthmus which untes the two conti-
nents. Various plans to this end have
been suggested, and will need consd-
Grafton, but none of them have been
sufficiently matured TO warrant the
United States in extending pecuniary
aid The subject, however, is one
which will Immediately engage the at
tention of tic Government, with n
view to thorough protection To
American interest We will urge no
narrow policy, nor seek peculiar or ex-
elusive privileges in any commercial
route, b. IN the language Of my pred
eccssor, believe it to be the right and
duty of the Uuited States to assert and
maintain such supervision and author
ity over any inter-oceanic canal across
the sthmus that connects North and
South America as will protect our ma
tional interest.
The Constitution guarantees abso-
lutte religious freedom. Congress is
prohibited from making any law re-
specting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereOf.
The territories of the United States
are subject to the legislative authority
Of Congress, and hence the General
Government is responsible for any vlo'
Ia,ion of the Constitution in any Of
them. 1t is. therefore, rcproach to
the government that in the most pop
u!ous of the Territories the Constitu-
tional guarantee il not cnioincd Ivy the
people and the authority Of Congress
is set al naught. The Mormon Church
not only olfends the moral sense Of
mankind by sanctioning polygamy,
but prevents the administration Of JUS
tice through the ordinary instrument
tales Of law. In my judgment it is
the duty Of Congress. while respect
ing TO the uttermost the conscientious
convictions and religious sruplcs Of
every citizen. to prohibit within its
jurisdiction all criminal practices and
pictv Of that class which destroy the
family relations aud endangcr social
order. Nor can any ecclesiastical or
ganization be safely permitted to
usurp ia the smallest degree the func-
tions and powers Of the National Gov
ernmcnt.
| The civil service can never he placed
on satisfactory basis until it is regu-
lated by law. For the good of the
service itself, for the protection Of those
who are entrusted with tho appoint
ing power against the waste Of time
and obstruction to the public business
caused by the inordinatc pressure for
place, and for the protection Of incum-
bents against intrigue and wrong, |
shall at the proper time ask Congress
TO fix The tenure of the minor Offices Of
the several executive departments. aud
prescribe the grounds upon which ro-
movals shall be made during terms for
which incumbcnts have been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the
authority and limitation Of the Consti-
tuition, invading neither the rights Of
the states nor the reserved rights Of
the people, it will be the purpose Of
my administration 20 maintain the
authority Of the nation, and in all
places within it's jurisdiction to en-
force obedience 10 all the laws of the
Union in the interests Of the people, TO
demand rigid economy in all the cx-
pcnditurcs Of the Government, and To
require the honest and faithful service
Of all executive officers. remembering
that the Offices were created not for the
benefit Of incumbents or their support
ers, but for the service Of the Govern
ment.
| nd nn,u f..IInu, citiunna l nm