The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-09
pAsr coxrRoxEnsIEs srrrIrn.

PAST CONTROVERSIES SETTLED.
My countrymen. we do not now
differ in our Judgment concerning
the controversies Of the past genera
tions, end fifty years hence our
children will not be divided in their
opinions concerning our controver-
sizes. They will only bless their
fathers and their fathers God that
the Union was preserved, that slav-
cry was oyerthrown and both races
were made equal before the law. We
may hasten or we may retard but
We cannot prevent the final recon-
ciliation. 1t is not possible for US
to make a truce with time by an
ticipating and accepting its ineqita-
bic verdict? Enterprises of the
highest importance to our moral
and material well-being invite US
and offer ample scope for the enjoy
ment of our best powers. Let all
our people, leaving behind them
the battle fields and dead issues,
move forward, and, in the strength
of liberty and a restored Union, win
the grandest victories of peace. The
propriety which now prevails is
without parallel in our history.
Fruitful seasons have done much
to secure it, but they have not done
all. The preservation of the public
credit and the resumption Of specie
payments, SO successfully obtained
by the administrations of my pred
ecessors, has enabled our people to
secure the blessings which the sea-
sons brought. BY the experience of
all nations in all ages it has been
found that gold and silver afford
the only safe foundation for a mon
etary system. Confusion has re-
Gently been created by variations in
the relative value of the two met
ais, but / confidently believe that
arrangements can be made between
the leading commercial nations
which will secure the general use of
both meta.s. Congress should pro-
vide that compulsory coinage of
silver, now required by law, may
not disturb our monetary system by
driving either metal out of circula-
ton. If possible, such adjustment
should be made that the purchas-
ing 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 is
to coin and declare its value. Grave
doubts have been entertained wheth-
er Congress is authorized by the
Constitution to make any form of
paper money legal tender. The
present issue of United States notes
has been sustained by the necessi-
ties of war, but such paper should
depend, for its value and currency,
upon its convenience in use and its
prompt redemption in coin at will
or'order, and not on its compulsory
circulation. These notes are not
money, but promises to pay money,
if the holders demand it. The
promises should be kept. The re-
funding of the national debt at a
lower rate of interest should be ac-
complished without compelling the
withdrawal of national bank notes,
and thus disturbing the bushes. of
the country. | venture to refer to
the position | have occupied on the
financial question during long
service in Congress, and to say that
time and experience have strength
ened the opinions | have so often
expressed on these subjects. The
finances of the Government shall
suffer no detriment which it may
be possible for my administration
TO prevent.
MATERIAL INTERESTS.
The interests of agriculture de-
serve more attention from the Gov
eminent than they have yet received.
The farmers of the United States af-
ford homes AID employment for
more than one half of the people,
and furnish the much larger part
of all our exports. As the Govern
ment lights our coasts for the pro-
lection of mariners and the benefit
of commerce, so it should give to
the tillers of the soil the light of
practical science and experience.
Our manufactures are rapidly makt
ing us industriously Independent.
and are opening to capital and labor
new and profitable fields of en-
ployment. This steady and healthy
growth should still be maintained.
Our facilities for transportation
should be promoted by the contin-
ued improvement of our harbors
and the great interior water ways,
and by an nincreise of our tonnage on
the ocean. The development of the
worlds commerce has led to an ur-
gent demand for shortening the great
sea voyage around Cape Horn by
constructing ship canals or railways
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 ma
tured to warrant the United States
in extending pecuniary aid. The
subject is one which will immedi-
ately engage the attention of the
Government, with view to the
thorough protection of American inr
terests. We will urge no narrow
policy nor seek peculiar or exclu.
sive privileges in any commercial
route, but in the language of my
predecessor, | believe it to be "the
right and duty of the United States
to assert and maintain such super
vision and authority over our inter-
oceanic canal across the isthmus
that connects North and South
America as will protect our Nation
al interests
THE TWIN RELICS.
The constitution guarantees abb
solute religious freedom. Congress
is prohibited from making any laws
respecting the establishment of reli-
gion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof in the Territories of the