Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-11

corrupted by vice. the fall of the republic
| will be certain and remediless. The CEN
sus has already sounded the alarm in the
appalling figures which mark how danger
ously high the tide of illiteracy has risen
among our voters and their children.
To the South this question is of supreme
Importance, but the responsibility for the
existence of slavery did not rest with the
| South alone. The nation itself IS respon-
sible for the extension Of the suffrage, and
| is under special obligations to- aid in re-
moving the lllteracy which it has added
| to the voting population. FOE the North
and South alike there is but one remedy.
| All the constitutional powers of the nation
! and of the States and all the volunteer
forces of the people should he 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 tit
them by intelligence and virtue for the in-
heritance which awaits them. In this
benefcent work sections aud races should
be forgotten and craftsmanship should be
unknown. Let our people lind q new
meaning in the Divine oracle which de-
| clares 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 cOnlrO-
versies of past generations. and fifty years
| hence our children will not be divided in
| their opinions concerning our cOntrOver-
sizes, They will surely bless their fathers
and their fathers God that the Union was
pre-erved; that slavery was overthrown,
and that both races were made equal be-
fore the law. We may hasten, or we may
retard, but we cannot prevent the hhal re-
Cancellation. Is it not possible for us now
to make a truce with time by anticipation
and accepting its inevitable verdict? En-
terprises Of the highest Importance to our
moral and material well-being invite us
and offer ample scope for the employment
| of our best powers. Let all our people,
leaving behind them the battle-felds of
dead issues, move forward, IN the strength
| of liberty and the restored Union, to- the
grander victories of peace.
The prosperity which now prevails is
without 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 at
tanned by the administration Of my prede-
cessors, has 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 foundations for
| a monetary system. Confusion has re-
| Gently 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
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 mo-
notary system by driving either metal out
| of circulation. If possible, such an adj
| justment 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 govern
ment IN connection with the currency Of
the country is to coin money and declare
it's value. Grave doubts have been enter
tanned whether Congress is authorized by
| the Constitution to make any form of pa
of United States notes has been sustained
by the necessities of war, but such paper
should depend for it's value and currency
upon its convenience in use and its
| prompt redemption in coin at the
will of the holder and not upon
| it's compulsory circulation. These notes
are not money, but promises to pay
money. If the holders demand it the
promise should be kept. The refund
ing of the national debt at lower rate of
interest should be accomplished without
compelling the withdrawal of the national
bank notes, and thus disturbing the inter-
ests of the country. venture to refer to
| the position I have occupied on financial
questions during a long service in Con-
gress, 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 posi-
BILE for my administration to prevent.
The interests of agriculture deserve
| more attention from the government than
they have yet received. The farms of the
United States afford homes and employ
ment for more that one half our people.
and furnish much the largest part Of all
our exports. AS the government lights
our coasts for the protection of mariners
and the benefit of commerce, so it should
give to the tlllers of the soil the best lights
Of practical science and experience.
Our manufactures are rapidly making
us industrially Independent, and are open.
ing to capital and labornew and profitable
fields of employment. Their steady and
healthy growth should still be n aintained
i Our facilities for transportation should be
promoted by the continued Improvement
of our harbors and our great interior wa.
terways, and by an increase of our tonnage
on the ocean. The development of the
worlds commerce has led to an urgent de.
mand for shortening the great sea voyage
around Cape Horn by constructing shiI
canals or railways across the isthmus
which unites the two continents. Vari
Gus plans to this end have been suggested
and will need consideration, but none oil
them have been sufficiently matured te
warrant the United Statesa IN extending
pecuniary aid. The subject, however, il
one which will Immediately engage the
attention of the government, with view
to thorough protection to American in
terests. We will urge no narrow policy
nor seek peculiar or exclusive privileges in