The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09

Weld It's fulness OF blessings 80 long hs the law
or its administration places the smallest obstacle
in the pathway OF any virtuous citizenship. The
emancipated race has already made remarkable
progress. With unquestoned devotion 70 M tne
OF fear they have followed the light as God gave
them 20 see the light. They are rapidly laying
the material foundation Of self-suPport, widening
the circle OF intelligence aud beginning 20 enjoy
the blessings that gather around the homes OF the
industrious poor. They deserve the generous en-
courngcmeut OF all good men. SO far rs my
eiithoritv can lawfully extend, they shall enjoy
the full and equal protection OF the constitution
The Tree ENJOYMENT of equal suffrage is still In
question and the frank statement OF the Issue
NAV aid its solution. 10 u alleged that, In many
communities negro citizens are practically denied
the freedom OF the ballot In 80 far ns the truth
of this allegation IL admitted. ~ Is answered thal
In many places honest local government ! lmpos
slble n the mas OF uneducated Legroes are al
lowed tO vote. These are grave allegations. So
far ~ the latter Is true II Is no palliatoi that can
be- offered for opposing The freedom OF mo BLACKS;
Rad local government j. certainly great evil
which ought To be prevented; but TO violate thc
reed ON aud sanctity Of suffrage Il more Than al
evil. it j. crime. wnmn, ~ PS,sis,,n Pi i'', ~, WI
remedy. II IN other lands II be high treason 70
compass the deoh of the King II should be
counted no less n crime here 10 strangle our SOW
eregn power, aud stifc -ts voice. IL has been
said that unsettled questions have no pity lor the
repose OF Nations. IL should be said, with the
utmost emphasis. that this question OF suffrage
will never give repO.c or safety Ia states or 70 the
Nation until each Within It's own lnIlslie',3,i, ,,
]
| strong sanction OF the law.
but the danger when arises from ignorance Ia
| the voter can not be denied IL cover HELD lar
larger than that Of suffrage, and the pres.
| eni condition OF that race. II + n danger that
turks aud hides IN the source ana fountain OF
power la every state. We have no standard ny
brought upon us by Ignorance and vice In ciii'
Icns when Joined tO corruption ana imnd ~
suffrage. The voters Of the nion, VINO ,ia msK9 .I
hangs the destiny OF our HoNtrhnent' eau
transmit their supreme authority. 10 no successor
save the coming generation OF voters, who are the
sole heirs OF the sovereign power lt that gener'
alton comes 10 its inheritance bliuded by ignor
ance and corrupted by vice, the lall ol lhe kepup
lie will be- certain and rcmediless. The census
has already sounded the alarm ia ap-
| Mailing figures, which mark how danger
ously high the tide OF illitemcS ans arisen
among our voters and their children. To the
south the question Is OF supreme import.
ancc; but the responsibility for the existence of
ignorance does not rest upon the south alone
The Nation itself is responsible for the extension
of suffrage. and is under special obigatOns To aid
in removing the illiteracy which II has added 10
There Il but one remedy. All the Constitutional
power Of the Nation and Of the states, aud all the
/ volunteer forces of the people, should be sum
mOned a. meet this danger, by the saving iniu-
encc OF universal education. II Is the high priyi-
lego aud sacred duty of those now living 20 edu'
cate their SUCCESSORS and nc them by intelligence
and virtue ior the inheritance which awaits them.
ln this bencfcent work -sectiOn'Hud mres should
be forgotten. aud pariisanshp should be nm
the divine oracle which declares that ~ litue
child shall lead them for our little children
will soon control the destinies Of The
Republic. My countrymen, we do not now differ
I'M our Judgment concerning the controversies OF
past generations, and ffiy years hence our chill
slren will not be divided In their opinions con
ce,,,tn,, ,r tro1ersies bev viii surely bles,
their fathers and their fathers COD that the Union
was preserved. that slavery was Oyerhr0wn, and
that both races were made equal before the law
We may hasten on. we may retard, but we can not
prevent the final reconciliation. j. IL not possible
for us now To make a truce with time by anlici
patng and accepting its inevitable verdict I'm
ierprises of the highest Importance TO our mora
and material well-being invite VI and offer ample
scope for the employment of our best powers
Let all our people, leaving behind them the bat
tie fields Of dead issues, move forward, and in the
strength of liberty and restored Union, win the
grandest victories ot peace.
The prosperity y which now prevails Is without
parallel ia 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 30 successfully Oh
tanned by the administration OF my predecessor
has enabled our people 10 secure the b eSsng'
which the seasons brought BY the experience O
commercial nations in all ages. IL has been found
that gold and silver afforded the only safe f>un
dation for monetary system. Confusion has re
Gently been created by the variations in the rcla
tive value of the two metals but confidently be
leve that arrangements can be made between the
leading commercial nations which Will secure d
general use OF both metals. Congress should pro
vide that the compulsory coinage of silver, now
required by law, may not disturb our monetary
III possible, such an arrangement should be made
that the purchasing power of every coined
dollar will be exactly equal to It's debt
paying power In all the markets OF the
world. The chief duty al the National
! Government in connection with the eur
TenCy of the country. i 10 coin and declare IT,
value Grave doubts have been entertained
whether Congress Is authorized by the Constitu-
ton to make any form oi 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 It's value and cur
rency upon its convenience In use and Its prompt
redemption IN coin Mt the will of the holder and
not upon it, compulsory circulation. These
notes arr not money, but promises to pay money.
II the holders demand IL, the promise should be
! kept.
The rcfunding of The National debt at lower
rate OF interest should be accomplished without
compelling the withdrawal OF National Bank
notes, and thus disturbing the business of the
country. | venture to refer To the position have
occupied On financial questions during Ions
periencc have strengthened the opinions have
often expressed on thcse subjects. The finance.
OF the Government shall suffer no detrimen
which IL may be possible for my Administration
The interests of agriculture deserve more atten
ton from the Government than they have yet
received. The farms of the United States afford
. homes and employment for more than One-half al
our people, and furnish much the largest part o
coasts for the protection of mariners aud Tor the
benefit Oi commerce, SO it should give % the I'LL
err of the soil the lights OF practical science aud
,
making ms industrlally independent, and are
opening 10 capital and labor new and profitable
, fields Of employment. This steady aud healthy
| growth should Sfill be main ntainca Our ficilites
Z for transportation should be promoted by the
continued Improvement of our harbOrS and great
interior water ways. and by the increase of oui
tonnage ON the ocean.
The development OF the worlds commerce ha.
lei Ia an urgent demand for shortening the great
, ! sea voyage around Cape Horn, by constructing
ship canals or railways across the lsthmus which
unite~ the two continents. Various plans 10 this
end have been suggested and will need consider
alton: but none OF them have been sufficiently
matured TO warrant us In extending pecunnry
aid. The subject Is one which will Immediately
/ vicw 60 u thorough protection TO American inter
e-ts. We VIII urge no narrow policy, nor seek
, peculiar or exclusive privileges in any CONNER
! cial route butiin the language Ol my predecessor
believe IL 10 be the right and duty of the United
States 20 assert and maintain such supervision
and authority over any inter-Oceanic canal across
the ISthmuS that connects North and SOut
America a will protect our national interests.
. | The Constitution guarantees absolute religious
Z freedom Congress Is prohibited from making
any laws respecting The establishment Of religion
I, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The
Territories of the United states are subject To the
direct legislative authority OF Congress- and
hence the Clenerai Government Is responsible fol
any violation of the Constitution In any Of them
10 l., therefore. reproacl 10 this Government
that In the most pOpulOus OF the territories the
constitutional guarantee Is not enjoyed by the
! people, and the authority Of Congress j. set n
1 naught. The Mormon Church not only Ofiend'
the moral sense Of mankind by sanctiOning pO
lygamy but prevents the administration OF JUS
while respecting To the uttermost the conscien
ciOus convictions and religious principles of ever,