Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-10

of our best powers. Let all our people,
leaving behind them the battle. fields
OF dead issues. move forward and in
the strength of liberty and the restored
| Union win the grander victories of
peace. The prosperity which now pre-.
walls is without parallel in our history.
| Fruitful seasons have done much to Sc
cure it. but they have not done all.
! The preservation of the public credit
and the resumption of specie payments
SO successfully attained by the admins.
tration Of my predecessors, have ena.
bied our people to secure the blessings
which the seasons brought
THE FINANCES.
BY the experience OF commercial ma.
tions in all ages it has been found that
! gold and silver afford the only safe
foundation for "A monetary system. Con.
fusion has recently been created by va.
riations in the relative value Of the two
metals, but | confidently believe that
arrangements can be made between the
leading commercial nations which will
secure the general use of both metals.
Congress should provide that the com.
/ pulsory coinage of silver now required
| by law may not disturb our monetary
system by driving either metal out OF
circulation. II possible such an adjust
ment 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 money aud declare its
value. Grave doubts have been enter.
tanned whether or not Congress is au.
thorzed by the Constitution to make
any form Of paper money legal tender.
The present issue of United States notes
has been sustained by the necessities Of
war, but such paper should depend for
its value and currency upon its conye.
nience in use and its prompt redemp.
tion in coin at the will OF the holder
and upon its compulsory circulation.
These notes are not money, but promises
to pay money. II the holders demand
it the promise should be kept. The
refunding OF the national debt at a
lower rate of interest should be accom-
plished without compelling the with
drnwal of the national bank notes and
thus disturbing the business OF the
country. venture to refer 10 the posi-.
ton ! have occupied on financial ques
tions during long service in Congress,
and TO say that time and experience
have strengthened the opinions have
so often expressed on these subjects
The finances OF the government shall
suffer no dctrimcnt which it may be
possible for my administration 10 pre-.
vent.
ISur-uHY tSu sovvTE,T.
The interests OF agriculture deserve
more attention from the government
than thcy have yet received The farms
OF the United States afford homes and
employment for more than one half OR
people and furnish much the largest
part OF al our exports. A. the govern
mcut lights our coasts for the protec
tlou of mariner. aud the benefit of
commerce, 90 it should give to the till
ers OF tine soil lights Of practical science
and experience. Our manufacturers are
rapidly making Us industrially indcpeu.
dent and are opening TO capital and
labor new and profitable fields Of EN-.
ployment. Their steady and healthy
growth should still bc maintained our
facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued improve.
ncnt OF our great interior waterways
and the increase of our tonnage on the
ocean. The development OF the worlds
commerce has led to an urgent demand
for shortening the great sea voyage
around Cape Horn, by constructing ship
canals or railways across the Isthmus
which unltes the two continents. Va.
Tious plans to this end have been sug.
eestcd and will need consideration, but
none have been sufficiently matured 10
warrant the United States in extending
pecuniary aid. The subject however,
Is one which will Immediately engage
the attention Of the government, with
view to a thorough protection to
American interests. We will urge no
narrow policy. nor seek peculiar or ex.
elusive privileges in our commercial
route, but, in the language Of my pre-.
decessor, believe 1t 10 be 1.-THE right
and duty OF the United States TO assert
and maintain such supervision and au.
thority over any inter oceanic canal
across the isthmus that connects North
and South America ss will protect our
national interests
THE MORMON CHURCH.
The Constitution gusran ntees absolute
freedom. Congress IA prohibited from
making any law respecting an establish.
ment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof The Territories of the
United States are subject TO legislative
authority Of Congress. and hence the
General Government is responsible for
any violation Of the Constitution in any
Of them. 1t is therefore a reproach 10
the government that in the most popu.
lous OF the Territories the constitutional
guarantee is not enjoined by the people |
and the authority OF Congress is set at
naught. The Mormon Church not only
ofiends the moral sense of mankind by |
sanctioning polygamy, but prevents the |
administration OF justice through the |
ordinary instrumentalities of law. In |
my judgment, it is the duty Of Congress,
while respecting 10 the uttermost the |
conscientious convictions and religious
scrunles of every citizen IN prohihit