Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-10
the States, and all the volunteer forces of the
people should be summoned to meet this dam

people should be summoned to meet this dan
ger by the saving influence of universal edu-
cation. 1t is the high privilege and sacred du"
ty of those now living to educate their success
sors and fit them by intelligence and virtue
for the inheritance which awaits them. In
this beneficent work sections and races should
be forgotten, and partisanship should he un-
known. Let our people find a new meaning
in the Divine oracle which declares that '';l
little child shall lead them;" for our little |
children will soon control the destinies of the
republic.
FINAL RECONCILIATION.
NM Country,nen: We do not now differ in
our judgment concerning the controversies of
past generations, and fifty years hence our
children will not be divided in their opinions
concerning our controversy. They will surely
bless their fathers and their fathers God that
the Union was preserved, that slavery was
overthrown, and that both races were made
equal before the law. We mag hasten on we
may retard, bit tve cannot prerent fndt reconcil-
iution. 1t is not possible for us now to make a
truce with time by anticipating or accepting
it's inevitable verdict? Enterprises of the
highest Importance to our moral and material
well-being invite us, and offer ample scope for
people, leaving behind them the battle fields of
dead issues. move forward and in the strength
of liberty and restored Union, win grander
victories Of peace.
THE CURRENCY AND TIE DEBT
The prosperity which now prevails is with
out Il parallel in our history. Fruitful seasons
have done much to secure it but they have
not done all. The preservation OF public cred
it and the resumption of specie payments, so
successfully attained by the administration
of my predecessor, have enabled our people to
secure the blessings which the seasons brought.
BY the experience of commercial nations in
all ages, it has been found that gold and silver
afford the only safe foundation for none
tary system. Confusion has recently been
created by variations in the relative value OF
the two metals, but l confidently believe that
arrangements can be made between the leading
commercial nation which will secure the gen
eral use Of both metals. Congress should pro-
vide that the compulsory coinage of silver,
now required by law, may not disturb our
monetary system by 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 markets of the world
The chief duty of the National Government
in connection with the currency OF the coun-
try is to coin money 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 present issue of the United States notes
has been sustained by the necessities of
war but paper should depend for its value and
currency upon it's convenience in use and it's
prompt redemption in coin at the will OF the
holder, and not upon it's compulsory circula-
tion. These notes are not money, but prOmls-
es to pay money If the holders demand 1t,
the promise should be kept.
The refunding of the national debt at a low
er rate of interest should be accomplished
without compelling the withdrawal of Nation
al bank notes and disturbing the business OF
the country. I venture to refer to the position
I have occupied on financial questions during
long service in Congress, and to say that
time and experience have strengthened the
opinions l 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.
AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
The interest 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 of our people, and furnish
much of the largest part of ali our exports.
AS the government lights our coasts for the
protection of mariners and the benefit of COM
merce so it should give to the tillers Of the soil
the best lights of practical science and expert
ence.
Our manufactures are rapidly making us
industrially independent, and are giving to
capital and labor new and profitable fields of
employment. Their steady and healthy growth
should still be maintained.
Our facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued improvement of our
harbors and interior water ways, and by the
increase of our tonnage OH the ocean.
The development Of the worlds commerce
has led to an urgent demand for shortening the
great sea voyage around Cape Horn, by con-
structing 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 matured to warrant the
United States in extending pecuniary aid.
The subject is one which will Immediately en-
gage the attention of the Government. With
new and thorough protection to our CONNER
cial interests, we will urge no narrow policy
nor seek peculiar or exclusive privilege 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 MAIN
tain such supervision and authority over any
inter-Oceanic canal across the 1SthmuS that
connects North and South America as will
protect our national interest
MoRMoNIsM.
The Constitution guarantees absolute relig
ious freedom The Congress is prohibited
from making any law respecting an establish
ment of religion or prohibiting the free exer:
else thereof. The Territories of the United
States are subject to the direct legislative au-
thority of Congress, and hence the General
Government is responsible for any violation OF
the Constitution in any of them. 1t is there
fore. a reprOach to the Government that in the
most populous of the Territories this cOnstitu-
tional guarantee is not enjoyed by the people,
and the authority of Congress is set at naught.
The Mormon Church not only OtfendS the
morals of mankind by sanctioning poygamy,
but prevents the administration OF justice
through the ordinary instrumentalities of the
law. In my judgment it is the duty of Con-
gress, while respecting to the uttermost the
conscientious convictions and religious scru-
pies of every citizen, to prohibit within its ju-
risdiction all criminal practices, and especial
ly of that class which destroy the family re-
lation and endanger social order; nor can any
ecclesiastical organization be permitted to
usurp in the smallest degree the functions and
powers of the National Government.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Civil service can never be placed on a salts
factory basis until it is regulated by law, for
the good of the service itself, for the protec-
tion of those who are entrusted with the ap-
pointing power, against waste of time and OBJ
sstruction to public business caused by inordi-
nate pressure for place, and the protection of
incumbents against intrigue and wrong |
shall, at the proper time, ask Congress to fix
the tenure of the minor offices Of the several
Executive Departments, and prescribe the
grounds upon which removals shall be made
during the terms for which incumbents have