The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-03-10

them, for our little children will soon control
the destlnles of the republic
i AN IDEAL FUTURE.
4 My countrymen, we do not now differ in
1 our judgment concerning the controversies of
past generations, and fifty years hence our
children will not be divided in their opinions
concerning our present controversies. They
i will surely bless their fathers and God, that
the Union was preserved, that slavery was
overthrown, and that both races were made
/ equal before the law. We may hasten or we
may retard, but we can't prevent the final re-
Cancellation: 1t is not possible for us now to
make a truce with time by anticipating and
accepting its inevitable verdict. Enterprises
OF the highest importance to our moral and
| material Well-beng invite US and offer ample
| scope for the employment of our best powers.
Let all our people, leaving behind them the
| battlefclds of dead issue. look forward. and
! IN strength ana liberty and a restored Union
win grander victories Of peace ,sf ~
PROSPERITY OF THE, COUNTRY.
The prosperity which now prevails is with
out parallel IN our history. Fruitful seasons
have done much to secure it, but they have not
zone all. The preservation of the public credit
ana resumption OF specie payment SO success
fully attained by the administration of nv nre
decessor, has enabled our people to secure
the blessings which the seasons brought.
GOLD AND SILVER.
BY the experience of nations in all ages. It
has been found that gold and silver afford the
| only safe foundation for a none tary system.
Confusion has recently been created by yaria-
tons in the relative value of the two metals.
/ Dull confidently believe that arran gements
can be made between leading commercial
nations which will secure the general use of
Dotn metals. Congress should provide that
compulsory coinage of silver, now required
| rof ho b 80. =
m 11afy system g,,t by driving either
possible such an adjustment
should be made that the purchasing bower of
every coined dollar will be exactly equal to its
debt- Paylng power in all markets of the world
me chief duty of the national government in
connection with the currency Of the country,
is to coin ard declare its value. Grave doubts
have been entertained whether Congress is au-
thorlZed by the constitution to make any form
OF paper money a legal tender. The present
issue OF United States notes has been sustained
Dy the necessities OF the war, but such paper
should depend for its value and currency
upon its convenience in use and its
| prompt redemption in coin at the will of the
! holder, and not upon its compulsory circula-
ton. These notes are not money, but prom
| Uses to pay money. If holders demand it the
promise should be kept. The
| REFUND1NG OF THE NATIONAL DEBT
at lower rate of interest should be accom-
pllshed without compelling the withdrawal of
national bank notes and thus disturbing the
business of the country. venture to refer to
the position have occupied on financial ques-
i lions during my long service in Congress, and
to say that time and experience have strength
|! ened the opinions I have SO often
expressed on these. The finances of the gov
eminent shall suffer no detriment which it
may be possible for my administration to
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS
The interests of agriculture deserve more
attention from the government than they have
yet received. The farms of the United States
afford homes and employment for more than
one-half the people, and furnish much the
largest part OF our exports. AS the govern
ment lights our coast for the protection of
mariners and the benefit Of commerce, SO
should it give to the tllers of the soil the lights
OF practical science and experience.
OUR MANUFACTURERS
are rapidly making us independent; are open
ing to capital and labor new and profitable
fields OF employment. This steady and
healthy growth Should be still maintained
HARBoR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
Our facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued improvement Of
our harbors and great interior waterways, and
by the increase of our tonnage on the ocean.
The development of the worlds commerce
has led to the urgent demand for shortening
the long sea voyage around Cape Horn by
constructing
SHIP CANALS ACROSS THE IsTHMUs,
which unites the two continents. Various
plans to this end have been suggested, and
will need consideration, but none of them
have been sufficiently matured to warrant us
in extending pecuniary aid. This subject will
Immediately engage the attention of the gov
eminent, with a view to thorough protection
to American interests. We will urge
no narrow policy or seek ~ peculiar or
exclusive privileges in any commercial route,
but, in the language of my predecessors, be-
lieve it is the right and duty of the United
States to assert and maintain such supervision
and authority over any interoceanic canal
across the isthmus that connects North and
South America as will protect our national
interests.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution guarantees absolute religi-
Gus freedom. Congress is prohibited from
making any law respecting the establishment
of religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof. The Territories Of the United States
are subject to the direct legislative authority
of Congress, and hence the general govern
ment is responsible for any violation of the
constitution IN any OF them. IL IS therefore
a reproach to the government that in
the most populous of Territories
the constitutional guarantee is not enjoyed by
the people, and the authority of Congress is
set at naught.
THE MORMON CHURCH
not only otfends the moral sense of mankind
by sanctioning polygomy, but prevents the
administration of justice through the ordin-
airy instrumentalities of law. In my judg-t
ment it is the duty Of Congress, while re-
specting to the utmost the conscientious CON
victions and religious scruples of every citi-5
zen, to prohibit within its jurisdiction all
criminal practices, especially of that class
which destroy family relations and endanger
social order. Nor can any ecclesiastical Or
ganization be safely permitted to usurp in the
smallest degree the functions and powers of
the national government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE
can never be placed on satisfactory basis I'M
til itlis regulated by law for the good of the
service itself, for the protection Of those who
are intrusted with the appointing power against
waste of time and the obstruction to public
business caused by inordinate pressure for
place and for protection of incumbents against
intrigue and wrong. shall at a proper time