The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-05

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! cally denied the freedom OF the ballot.
In go far as the truth Of this allegation ia
admitted 1t 10 answered that in many pla'
ces honest local government Ia impossible,
II mass OF unsduCated negroes are al
lowed to vote. These are grave allega-
tions. So far as the latter is true tits only
q palliation that can be offered for oppos,
sing the freedom OF the ballot, Bad local
government Is certainly great evil, an
evil which ought to be prevented; but TO
violate the freedom and sanctity OF SUI
frage Ia
MORE THAN AN EVIL; IT Is CRIME,
which, II persisted in, will destroy the
Government itself. Suicide Is not rem
edy. II in other lands 1t be high treason
to compass the death Of the King, 1t
should be counted no less crime here to
strangle the sovereign power and stitle its
voice. II has been said that unsettled
questions have no rity for the repose OF
nations. 1t should be said with the ut
most emphasis that this question Of suf'
frage will rever give repose or safety to
the States or the Nation till each within
Its own jurisdiction makes and keeps the
ballot free and pure by the strong sane
tons OF the law,
But the danger which arises from ignor-
ance In the voter cannot be denied, 1t
covers q field far wider than that Of
negro suffrage and the present condition
oil that race. II danger that Turks and
hides in the sources Of formation OF power
In every State. We have no standard by
which 10 measure the disaster that may be
brought upon us by Ignorance and
vice In the citizens when joined TO cor
ruption and fraud In Suffrage. The voters
OF the Union who make and unmake the
Constitution, and upon whose will hangs
the destiny Of our Government, can trans
NIT their supreme authority to no success
sors save the coming generation Of voters
who are the sole heirs OF sovereign
power. II that generation comes to Its
inheritance
BLINDED BY IGNORANCE AND CORRUPTED
ny VICE
the fall Of the Republic will be certain and
remediless. The census has already
sounded the alarm In appalling figures,
which mark how dangerously high the
tide Of illiteracy has arisen among our
voters and their children.
To the South the question is of supreme
Importance, but the responsibility for the
existence Of suffrage Is upon the North
and 1t Is under special obligations to
aid In removing the illiteracy which
1t has added to the voting population.
For North and South alike there Ia
but one remedy. All the Constitu.
tional power Of the Nation, and OF
the States, and all the volunteer forces
OF the people should be summoned
TO meet this danger BY the saving
influence oil 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
inheritance which awaits them. In this
beniACent work section and race should
be forgotten, and partisanship should be
unknown. Let our people find new
meaning in the divine oracle which de.
clares that 20 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 contro.
versies OF past generations, and fifty years
hence our children will not be divided in
their opinions concerning our controver.
sles. They will surely
BLESS THEIR. FATHERS AND THEIR FATHERS
GOD THAT TIE UNION WAS PRESERVED,
That slavery was overthrown and that
both races were made equal before the
law. We msy hasten or we may retard,
but we cannot prevent the final recon.
ciliation. Is 1t not possible for US now to
make truce with time, by anticipating
and accepting iIs inevitable verdict2 En-.
terprises OF the highest importance TO our
moral and material well being invite US
and offer ample scope for the EN-.
ployment OF our best powers. Let
all our people leaving behind them battle
fields Of dead issues, move forward,
and in the strength oi liberty and
restored Union win the Rrandest victories
OF peace. The prosperity which now pre-.
walls Is without parallel In our history.
Fruitful seasons have done much to secure
1t, but they have mot done all. The pre-.
seryation OF the public credit and tho re.
sumption OF specie payments, 80 success.
fully obtained by the administration OF
my predecessors, has enabled our people
to secure the blessings which the seasons
brought. .I..
By the experience Of the commercial na.
tiona in oil ages, II has been found that
gold and silver afford the
ONLY SAFE FOUNDATION,
for O monetary system. Confusion has
recently baen created by variations In the
relative value Of the two metals, but l
confdentially believe that arrangements
can be made between the leading com.
mercIal nations which will secure the gen.
eral use OF both metals. Congress should
provide that the compulsory coinage OF
silver now required by law may not dis.
turb our monetary system by driving
either metal out Of circulation. II
possible, such adjustment should be
made that the purchasing power OF
every coined dollar will be exactly
equal 10 its debt paying power In all the
markets Of the world. The chief duty Of the
National Government In connection with
the currency ofthe country is to coin II and
declare lie value. Grave doubts have been
entertained whether Congress is authoriz.
ed BY the Constitution TO make any form
OF paper money legal tender. The present
issue OF United States notes has been s1s.
tanned by the necessities OF the war, but
such paper should depend for its value
and currency upon lie convenience 10 use,
and lie prompt redemption In coin al the
will OF the holder and not upon its com.
pulsory circulation. These notes are not
money, but promises 10 pay money i the
holders demand IL. The promises should
be kept.
THE FUNDING or THE NATIONAL DEBT AT A
LOWER RATE or INTEREST
Should be accomplished without com.
pellibs the Withdrawal Of National Bank
notes and thus disturbing the business ol
The country. venture 10 reier 10 The
position l have occupied on the financial