Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-08


States or to the nation until each within
Is own jurisdiction makes and keeps
he ballot free and pure by the strong
of law.
But the danger which arises from ig-
torrance il voters cannot be denied. It
covers a field far wider than that
If negro suffrage and the present cons
iition of that race.
1t 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 or
vice in citizens when joined to cOrrup-
ton and fraud in suffrage.
The voters of the country, who make
and unmake constitutions, and upon
whose will hangs the destinies of our
government, can transmit their supreme
to no successors save the com.
ing generation of voters, who are. the
sole heirs of sovereign power. If that
generation comes to its Inheritance
by ignorance and corrupted by
vice. the fall of the republic will be GER
tain and remediless.
The census has already sounded the
alarm in appalling figures, which mark
how dangerously high the tide of illit-
eracy has risen among our voters and
their children. To the South this ques
ton is of supreme importance, but the
for the existence of slave
ry did not rest upon the South alone.
The nation itself is responsible for the
of suffrage, and is under spe-
cial obligations to aid in removing the
illiteracy which 1t had added to the vOt-
ing population for the North and South
alike.
There is but one remedy. All cOnsti
States and all volunteer forces of the
this danger by the saving influence to
meet this danger by the saving infu-
ence 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 beneicent work sections and
races should be forgotten and partisan
ship should be unknown. Let our peo-
pie find new meaning in the divine ora
Gle 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 judgment concerning the cOntro-
versies of past generations, and fifty
years hence our children will not be d.
vided in their opinions concerning our
controversies. 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
may hasten or may retard, but we can
not prevent final reconciliation. Is
it not possible for US now to make a
truce with time by anticipating and
accepting its inevitable verdict? En-
terprises of the highest Importance to
our moral and material well-being in
vite us and offer ample scope for the em-
ployment of our best powers. Let all
our people, leaving behind them the
battle-felds of dead issues, move for.
ward and in the strength of liberty and
a restored union win the grander victo-
ries of peace. The prosperity which
now prevails is without parallel in hour
history. Five fruitful seasons have
done much to secure it; but have they
done all? The preservation of the pub
lie credit and the resumption of specie
payments, so successfully attained by
the administration of nay predecessor.
has enabled our people to secure the
blessings which the seasons have
brought. By the ex experience of CONNER
cial nations in all ages, it has been
found that gold and Silver afford the
only safe foundation for . monetary
system. Confusion has recently been
created by the variations and relative
value of two metals, but confidently
believe that arrangements can be made
between leading commercial nations
which will secure the general use of
both metals. Congress should provide
that the compulsory use Of silver now
required by law may not disturb our
onetary system by driving either met
al 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 the mar.
kets of the world The chief duty afthe
National Government in connection
with the currency Of the 90 untry 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 is
sue of United States notes have been
sustained by the necessities of war, but
such paper should depend for its value
as currency upon its convenience in use
and its prompt redemption ia coin al
the will of the holder, and not 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 q,
low rate of interest should be accom-
plished without compelling the with-
drawal of the National bank notes, and
thus disturbing the business of the coun
try. [ yenture TO refer to the position
have occupied on financial question:
during long service in Congress, and
to say that time and experience have
strengthened the opinions I have SO of
ten expressed on these subjects. The
finances of the Government shall suffer
no detriment which it may be possible
for my Administration to prevent.
The interests of agriculture deserve
more attention from the Government
than they have yet received. The farm'
ers of the United States afford homes and
employment fer more than one half q
our people, and furnish much the larg.
est part of all our exports. AS the Gov
eminent lights our coast for the protec-
ton of mariners and the benefit of com.
merce, so it should give to the tillers Of
the soil the best lights of practical sci
ence and experience. Our manufactures
are rapidly making us industrially inde'
pendent, and are providing to capita
and labor new and profitable fields O
employ manl.
Their steady and healthy growth
should still be maintained, our facilities
for transportation should be promoted
by continued improvement of harbori
and great interior waterways, and by
increase of our tonnage on the ocean,
Development of the worlds commerce
has led to the urgent demand for short.
ening tue great se4 voyage around Cape
Horn by constructing ship canals OF
railways across the Ithmus which unites
the two continents.
Various plans to this end have beer
suggested, and will need consideration
but none OF them have been sufficiently
matured to warrant the United States
in extending peeuniary aid. Fhe sub
ject, however, is one which will imme-
diateIy engage the attention Of the Gov
eminent with view to thorough pro-
lection to the commercial interests. We
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