The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-05

. ana, so Tar as the latter IL true, II Is the
only palliaiion that can be offered for Cd.
posing The freedom Of The ballot. Bad
iocal government Is certainly great evil,
: whlen ought to be prevented; but 10 VIC.
lale The freedom ard sancliiy Of suf.
ifage ~ worse than an evil: IL IL
crime, which II persisted In will de-
stroy the Government itself. Suicide IL
not remedy. II In other land. il be high
treason to compass the death Of king, II
should be counted no less crime here to
strange our sovereign power and stife It's
voice. IL has been said That unsettled ques-
lions have no pity for the repOse Of nations.
~ sb0nld be said with the utmost emphasis
that this question OF suffrage will never give
repo.e or safety 10 the States or TO The ma
ton until each within its own jurisdiction
| makes and Keeps the ballot free and pure by
the strong sanction Of Law.
But The danger which arises from
IGNORANCE IN VOTERS
cannot be denied. II covers field far wider
than that OF negro suffrage aud the present
condition OF that race. IL is danger that
turks and hides in The sources and fountains
Of power in every State. We have no
standard by which 10 measure the disaster
that may be brought upon u, by ignorance
or vice IN citizens when joined 10 cofrup-
ton and fraud in suffrage.
The voters Of the Union, who make and
unmake constitutions, and upon whose will
hangs the dcsiinIes OF our Government, can
transmit their supreme authority to no sue
cessors save the coming generation OF voters,
| who are the sole heirs OF sovereign power.
| III that generation comes TO IT'S Inheritance
blinded by ignorance and corrupted By vice,
the fail OF the republic will be certain and
a.. 4
the alarm in appalling figures, which mark
how dangerously high the
TIDE OF ILLrrERACY
has risen among cur voters and their chill
drca. TO the South this question is Of SUI
| prcme importance, bu, the responsibility
1 for the existence OF slavery did not rest
upon the South alone. The nation Itself
| is res pODSible for the extension OF suffrage,
and il under special obligation, TO aid in
removing the iIliteracy which it had added
to the voting population. For the North
and South alike there j. but one
remedy. All constitutional power OF
the nation and Of STATES and all vol
unleer forces Ct the people should be sur
rendered 10 meet This danger by the SlyOry
influence Of universal education. II j.
the high privilege and sacred duty Of those
now living TO educate their successors and
! fit them by intelligence and virtue fol The
! Inheritance which awaits them. In this
! beEeliccut work sections and races should
! be forgotten and plrIS1h>hip should be I'm.
known. Let our people find new meaning
! in the divine oracle which declares that "a
! little child shall lead them; for our little
children will soon control the dc~iinios OF
| the republic.
Nv counirymcn, we do not now differ in
our judgment concerning the
CONTROVERSIES OF PAST GENERATIONS,
and fifty wears hence our children will not
| be divided in their opinions concerning 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 llY. We nay hasten
or may rclard, but we cannot PIE
vent final reconciliation. l. 1t not
possible for us now 10 make Il
truce with time by anticipating and accept.
ing its inevitable verde? Enterprises OF
| the highest importance to our moral and
material well.be ng unite us and offer
ample employment Ter our best powers. Let
all our people, leaving behind them the bat
tle.field> OF dead issues. move forward, aud
| in the strength Of libery and restored
| Union win the orauder victories Of peace.
The prosperity which now prevails is
without parallel in our history. Fruit
ful seasons have done much 20 secure it,;
bm have they done all? The pre'eryillOn
OF the public credit and the resumption OF
spccie-paymeniS. so success Stully ait lined
by the administration OF my predecessor.
ha> enabled our people 10 secure the
BLESSINGS WHICH THE SEASONS HAVE
BROUGHT.
By the experience Of commercial nations
| in all ages it has been found that gold and
silver afford the only safe foundation for a
monetary system. Confusion has recently
been created by the variations and relative
value OftwO metals, but confidently believe
| that arrangements can be made between lead
| ING commercial nations which will secure the
| general use Of both metals. Congress should
provide that the compulsory image of silver
now required by law may not disturb our
monetary system by driving either metal
ont OF circulation. II possible, such adj
! juStments should be made that the pur-
chasing power OF every coined dollar viii
be exactly equal to lis debt-payiDg power
in all The markets OF the world. The chief
duty OF the National Government in con-
nectiOn with The currency OF the country is
! 20 coin money and declare its value.
whether Congress is authorized by The Con-
>tiiution TO make any form OF paper money
a legal tender. The pres Mt Issue Of United
states notes have been sustained by the ne.
| ce,sii eS OF war, hut such paper should de-
pend for lis value aS currency upon IT, con-
yenicncc in use and It's prompt redemption
in coin at the will OF the holder, and not
upon Ms compulsory circulation. These
notes are not money, bui promises TO pay
money. ii The holders demand il the rom
ise should be kept.
TIE REFUNDING or THE NATIONAL DEBT
at lower rate OF interest should be accom-.
plished without compelling the withdrawal
OF the natiOna-hank notes. and thus dis
tufbing the business Of the country. ven
ture to refer to the position have occupied
on financial questions during long service
in Congress, and TO say that time and cYpe-
ricnce have strengthened the opinions !
have 20 often expressed on these subjects.
The iinance, OF the Government shall suffer
no detriment which it may be possible for
my administration TO prevent.
The inter, IS of agriculture deserve more
attention from the Government than they
have vet received. The farmers o. the
United States afford homes and employment
for more than one half OF our people. aud
furnish much the largest part OF all our cN-
ports. As the Government lights our coast
for the protection OF mariners and the bene'
fit Of commerce, so IT should give to
THE TILLEEs OF THE SOIL
the best lights of practical science and eX-
perlence.
Our manufactures are rapidly making Us
ndustIiOu>ly independent, and are open
ing To- CAPITAL and labor new and profitable