National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-05

those now living educate their successors. and fit
Them by intelligence and virtue, for the Inheritance
which awaits them. In this benefcent work Sec
tions and races should be forgotten and partisan
| ship should be unknown. Let our people find a
new meaning In the divine oracle which declares
that "a little child shall lead Them, for our own
little children will eonsEolthe destinies of the
Republic.
My countrymen, we do not now differ in our
judgment concerning the controversies OF past
generations and fifty years hence our children
will not be divided in their opinions concerning
controversies. They win surely bless their fathers
and their fathers God that the Union was pre-
served. that slavery was overthrown, and that
both races were made equal before the law. We
| may hasten, or we may retard, but We cannot pre-
vent the final reconciliation. II Is not possible
/ for us now to make q truce with time by antici-
| patlng and accepting its inevitable verdict
| Enterprises of the highest importance TO our
moral and material well being unite Us and offer
ample scope for the employment Of our best powers.
Let all our people, leaving behind them the
battle fields Of dead issues. move forward, and in
the strength liberty and the restored Union win
| the grsnder victories OF peace
The prosperity which now prevails is without a
parallel In eur history. Fruitful seasons have
done much to secure il, but they have not
! done ALL The preservation of the public
credit and tho resumption of specie
payments, successfully attained by the admins
tton OF my predecessors has enabled our people to
/ secure the Blessings which the seasons brought.
/ By the experience of commercial nations In all
ages 1t has been found that gold and silver afford
| the only safe foundation for monetary system.
Confusion has recently been created by variations
! in the relative value OF the two metals.
But confidently beiievei that arrangements can
be made between the leading commercial nations
which will secure tbs general use of both metals
Congress should provide that the compulsory coin
age or silver now requiredby law may not disturb
our monetary system by driving either metal out
of circulation. II possible, such an adjustment
should be mados that the purchasing 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 and declare It's value. Crave doubts
have been entertained whether Congress IS
authorized by the Constitution 70 make
any form Of paper money legal tender.
The pT-scnt issue OF United states notes has been
sustained by the necessities Of war but such paper
should depend for It's value and currency upon
is convenience Ina use and is prompt Redemption
in coin ai the viii Of the holder and not upon les
compulsory circulation. These notes arc not
money but prOuaises % PAY aaoney. 1.-THE holders
demand it the promise should be kept
The rrfunding Of the nzsiOaal debt az loweT rafs
Of interest shoald BE- accomplished without COM
peliing the withdrawal Of tbs national bank notes
and thus disturbing the bushes Of the country.
Ivenfurc % refer 10 the position have occupied
financial questions during long service in Con
grss-. and 10 Say that time and experience have
strengthened the opinions hayesO Ohea expressed
GA these subjects. The dnaucrs OF the Government
shall suffer no detTiment which IL may be possible
for my administration to prevent
The Interests Of agriculture deserve more atten-
tiOa from the Governments than they have yes re-
ceivcd. The farms of the United States afford
homes and employment for more than one-half
our people. and furnish much the largest part OF
all our exports As the Government lights coasts
for ihe protection of mariners and the benefit of
commerce. IL should give to the tllers of the soil
the best lights of practical science and experience
Our manufactures are rapidly making us indus
trially independent and opening to capital
and labor new and profitable fields Of employ
ment Their steady and healthy growth should |
still be maintained.
Our facilities for transportation should be pro-
NOTED by the continued improvement of our haT-
bors and great interior waterways, and by the i'll
crease of our tonnage on the ocean The develop !
ment of the worlds commerce has led to urgent
demand for shortening the great voyage around
Cape Horn by constructing ship canals railways
the Isthmus which unites the two continents
Various plans to this end have been suggested and
will need consideration; but none of them have |
been sufficiently matured to warrant the United |
States i'll extending pecuniary aid The subject is,
however, one which will Immediately engage the /
attention of the Government, with a view to 4 |
thorough protection of American interests. |
We will urge no narrow policy, seek Pc
culiar or exclusive privileges in any commercial |
route; but in the language of my predecessor, /
believe it to be the right and duty of the United
States to assert and maintain such supervision and
authority over any inteFUceanic canal across the !
Isthmus that connects North and South America |
as will protect our National interests
The Constitution guarantees absolute religious /
freedom. Congress is prohibited from making |
any law respecting establishment of religion |
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof The Ter |
ritories of the United States are subject to the |
direct legislative authority of Congress and hence
the General Government is responsible for any
violation Ofthe Constitution in any of them 1t is
therefore a reprOach to the Government that
in the most popuiOus of the Territories
the constitutional guaranty is not enjoyed by the
people and the authority of Congress is set at
naught. The Mormon church not only Ofends the
moral sense of manhood 10y sanetiOniEg polygamy,
but prevents the administration of justice through
ordinary instrumentalitiss of law In my judy
ment it is the duty of Congress- while
to the uttenmOst the conscientious
convictions and religious scrupIes Of every citi-
zen, to prohibit within its jurisdiction all crimi-
nal practices especially of that class which destroy
the family relations and endanger social order.
Nor eau any ecclesiastical organization be safely
permitted to usurp in the smallest degree the
functions and powers Of the National Government |
The civil service can never be placed on a salts
factory basis until it is regulated by law. For the
good OfIhe service ITSELF Tor the protection of
those who are entrusted with the appointing
power against the waste time and obstruction of
the public business caused by the inOrdinate
pressure for place, and for the protection
of incumbentS against intrigue and wrong
/ shall at the proper time, ask Congress to fix the
tenure Ofthe minor offices of the several executive
departments, and prescribe the grounds upon
which removals shall be made during the terms
for which incunbents have been appointed.
Finally, acting always within the authority and
Limitations of the Constitution, invading neither
the rights of the States the reserved rights of
The people, it will be the purpose of my admins
tration to maintain the authority of the
Nation, and in all places within its juris-
lction; to enforce obedience to all the laws of
the Union in the interests of the people to de-
nand rigid economy in all the expenditures of the
Government; and TO require the honest and faith
full service of all executive officers remembering
that the Offices were created not for the benefit Of
ncumDents or their supporters but for the service
Of the Government.
And now, fellow Citizens, I am about to assume
The great trust which you have committed to my
hands 1 appeal to you for that earnest and
thoughtful support which makes this Government
in fact as it Is in law, government of the people
shall greatly rely upon the wisdom and pa
riOtisIn OF Congress and of thOss who may share
with me the responsibilities and duties of admin
stration. And, above all, upon efforts TO pro-
mote the welfare of this great people and their
reverently invoke the support and
blessings of Almighty God.
DIED.