The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-05

than that of 1880. The supreme trial of the
Constitution came at last under the tremen-
dous pressure of civil war. We ourselves are
witnesses that the Union emerged from the
blood and fire of that conflict purified and
made stronger for all the beneficent purposes
of good government. And now at the close of
this first century of growth with the inspira-
tons of its history in their hearts, our people
have lately reviewed the condition of their
nation, passed Judgment upon the conduct and
opinions of political parties, and have regis
tered their will concerning the future admin
iStration Of the Government. 10 interpret
and to execute that will in accordance with
the Constitution is the paramount duty of the
executor. Even from this brief review it is
manifest that the nation is resclutely facing to
the front resolved to employ its best energies
in developing the great possibilities of the fu-
ture, sacredly preserving whatever has been
gained to liberty and good government during
the century. Our people are determined to
leave behind them all those bitter controver-
sizes, including things which have been irrev-
ocably settled, and the further discussion of
which can only stir up strife and delay the on
ward march.
CHANGES WROUGHT BY THE WAR.
The supremacy of the nation and its laws
should be no longer subject OF debate. That
discussion which for half century threatened
the existence of the Union was closed at last
in the high Court of War by decree from
which there is no appeal: that the conditions
and the laws made in pursuance there
of shall continue to be the supreme
law of. the land binding alike upon the
States and the People. This decree does not
disturb the autonomy of the States nor inter-
fere with any of their necessary rules of local
self-government but it does Tx and establish
the permanent supremacy of the Union. The
will of the Nation, speaking with the voice of
battle, and through the amended constitution,
has fulfilled the great promise of 1776 by pro-
claiming Liberty throughout the land to all
the inhabitants thereof"
The elevation of the negro race from slavery
to the full rights of citizenship is the most i'm
portant political change we have known since
the adoption of the Constitution of 1887 No
thoughtful man can fail to appreciate its ben
ehcent effect upon our institutions and people
IL mas freed us from perpetual danger of war
and dissolution; it has added immensely to the
moral and industrial forces of our people: it
has liberated the master as well as the slave
from a relation which wronged and enfeebled
both: 1t has surrendered to their own guardian
ship the manhood of more than 000,O 900 of
people and has opened to each one of them
career OF freedom and usefulness; it has given
new inspiration to the power of self help in
both races by making labor more honorable to
the one and more necessary to the other The
influence of this race will grow greater and
bear richer fruit with the coming years.
No doubt the great change has caused seri-
Gus disturbance to our Southern communities
rms is to be depored, though it was unavoid-
able. But those who resisted the change
should remember that under our institutions
there was no middle ground for the Negro
race between slavery and equal citizenship.
There can be no permanent disfranchised
peasantry III the United States. Freedom can
never yield its fullness of blessing so long as
the law or its administration places the small
est obstacle in the pathway of any virtuous cit
lzen. The emancipated race has already made
remarkable progress With unquestioning de-
votlon to the Union, with patience and gen.
tleness not born of fear, they have followed
the light as God gave them to see the light %
They are rapidly laying the material founda-
lions OF self-Support, widening the circle of in
telligence and beginning to enjoy the bless
ings that gather around the homes of the in
dustrious poor. They deserve the generous
encouragement of all good men. SO far as my
authority can lawfully extend they shall enjoy
the full and equal protection of the COnstitu-
ton and the laws.
The free enjoyment of equal suffrage is
still in question and frank statement of tae is
sue may aid its solution. 1t is alleged that in
many communities negro citizens are practi.
cally denied freedom OF ballot. In so far as
the truth of this allegation is admitted, it is
answered that in many places honest local
government is impossible if the mass of uned-
ucated negroes allowed to vote These
are grave allegations. So far as the latter is
true it is the only palliation that be offered
Tor opposing the freedom of the ballot
Bad local government is certainly great evil
which ought to be prevented, but to violate
the freedom and sanctity of suffrage is more
than an evil-it is a crime which If persisted
in will destroy the government itself. Suicide
is not remedy. If in other lands it be high
treason to compass the death of the king, it
should be counted no less crime here to
strange our sovereign power and stifie its
voice. 1t has been said that unsettled cues
lions have no pity for the reposs of nations
1t should be said with the utmost emphasis
that this question of the suffrage will never
give repose or safety to the nation until each
within its own jurisdiction makes and keeps
the ballot free and pure by the strong sanction
OF the law But the danger which arises from
ignorance IN the voter cannot be denied 1t CO.
vers field far wider than that of negro suffrage
and the present condition of that race IT is a
danger that turks and hides in the sources and
fountains OF power in every State. We have
no standard by which to measure the disaster
that may be brought upon us by ignorance and
vice in citizens when joined to corruption and
fraud in the suffrage. The voters of the Union
who make and unmake constitutions and upon
whom will hang the destinies of our govern
ment, can transmit their supreme authority to
no successor save the coming generation of
voters who are the sole heirs of sovereign
power. Ii that generation comes to it's inner
itance blinded by ignorance and corrupted by
vice the fall of the republic will be certain and
remedileSS.
The census has already sounded the alarm in
gerousy high the tide of iliteracy has risen
among our voters and their children at the
South. This question is of supreme import
ance, but the responsibility for the existence
OF slavery did not rest upon the South alone.
The nation itself is responsible for the extern
sion of the suffrage, and is under special OBJ
legations to aid in removing the iliteracy
which it has added to the voting population for
the North and South alike. There is but one
remedy. All the constitutional power of the
n Stlfac nd oil fha VOL,
forces of the people, should be summoned to
meet this danger by the saving influence of
universal education. 1t is the high privilege
and sacred duty of those now living to educate
their successors and fit them by intelligence
and virtue for the inheritance which awaits
them in this bene6cent work. Sections
and races should be forgotten and par
tizanship should be unknown. Let our
people find a new meaning in the di-
vine oracle which declares that "a little child
shall lead them," for our little children will
soon control the destinies of the Republic. My
countrymen, we do not now differ in our judy
ment concerning the controversies of the past
generations and fifty years hence our-children
will not be divided in their opinions concern
ing our controversies They will surely bless
their fathers and their fathers God that the
Union was preserved, that slavery was over
thrown and that both races were made equal
before the law. We may hasten or we may re-
tard, but we cannot prevent the final reconcile
"oioh' 10 ~ hOV poSSiDlo ZOE us HOW 10 make q
truce with them by anticipating and accepting
its inevitable verdict?
THE FINANCES.
Enterprises of the highest Importance to our
moral and material we'll being invite us and
offer ample scope for the employment of our
best powers. Let all our people, leaving be-
hind them the battle field of dead issues,
move forward, and in the strength of liberty
and the restored Union win the grander vic
tories of peace The prosperity which now
prevails is without a 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 attained by the
Administration of my predecessor, has enabled
our people to secure the blessings which the
seasons brought. By the experience of COM
mercial nations in all ages it ha, been fJund
that gold and silver afford the only safe found.
alton Tor monetary system. Confusion has
recently been created by variations in the rela-
tive value OF the two metals, but confidently
believe that arrangements can be made be-
tween the leading commercial nations which
will secure the general use of both metals
Congress should provide that the compulsory
coinage of silver now required by law may not
disturb our monetary system by driving out
other circulation. If possible such an adjust
ment should be made that the purchasing DOW
er 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 it's value
Grave doubts Lave been entertained whether
Congress is authorized by the Constitution to