National Republican., 1883-12-05

ton OF congress whether some federal aid
should not he extended TO public primary
education wherever adequate provision there
for has not already been made.
The Utah commission has submitted TO the
SECRETARY of the interior It's second aiinual re-
port. As result of its labors in Supervising
the recent election in that territory, pursue
ant TO the act Of March %, 1882, 10 appears
that persons by that act disqualified, 20 the
number Of about 10000, we're excluded from
the polls. This fact however, affords little
cause for congratulation and fear that IL is far
from indicating any real aud substantial prog
ress toward the extrpation OF polygamy All
tho members elect of the legislature are Nor
mons. There is grave reason to believe that
they arc in sympathy with the practices that
this government is seeking TO suppress, and
that its efforts in that regard will be more
| likely to encounter their opposition than to
receive their encouragement and support
Even if this view should happily be or
roneous, the law under which the COM
fnissoners have been acting should be made
more effective by the incorporation of some
such stringent amendments rs they recon-
mend and as were included in bill No. 2,235
on the calendar Of tho senate at its last sos
sion. ...
l am convinced however, that polygamy
has become so strongly entrenchod in tho
territory of Utah that 1t is profitless 10 attack
| IL with any but tho stoutest weapons which
constitutional legislation can fashion.
favor therefore, tho repeal of tho act upon
| whibh the existing government depends. the
assumption by the national Legislature of tho
entire political control of the territory, and
the establishment of d commission with
such powers and duties as shall be delegated
to 1t by law.
The department Of agriculture Is accom-
plishing much in the direction of the agri-
cultural development of the country, and the
report of the commissioners, giving the
results Of his investigations and experiments
will be found interesting and valuable
At his instance convention of those inter-
ested in tho cattle industry of the country
was lately held ut Chicago. The prevalence
of pleuro-pneumonia and other contagious
! diseases of animals was one of the chief topics
Of discussion A committee of the conven-
tion will invite your cooperation in invests
eating the causes of these diseases and pro-
| viding methods for their prevention and cure.
trust that congress will not fail at its
present session to put Alaska under the pro-
lection of law Its people have repeatedly
demonstrated against our neglect to afford
them the maintenance and protection OK.
pressly guaranteed by the terms of the treaty
| whereby that territory was cedod to the
| United States. For sixteen years they have
| pleaded in vain for that which they should
have received without the asking.
They have no law for the collection of
debts, the support of education, the convey
ance of property, the administration of es-
| tates, or the enforcement of contracts; none
indeed for the punishment of criminals ex-
cept such as offend against certain customs,
commerce, and navigation acts.
The resources of Alaska, especially in fur,
Mines and lumber, are considerable in extent
and capable of large development, while its
geographical situation is one of political and
commercial Importance.
The promptings of interest, therefore, as
well as considerations ofhonor and good faith,
demand the immediate establishment of civil
government in that territory.
Complaints have lately been numerous and
urgent that certain corporations, controlling
in whole or in part the facilities for the in
terstate carriage of persons and merchandise
over the great railroads of the country, have
resorted in their dealings with the public to
divers measures unjust and oppressive in
their character.
In some instances the state governments
have attacked and suppressed these evils,
but in others they have been unable to afford
adequate relief because of the jurisdictional
limitations which are imposed upon them by
the federal constitution.
The question how far the national govern
ment may lawfully in the premises, and what
if any, supervision or control it ought to ex-
ercise, is one which merits your careful con-
sideration.
While we canpot fail to recognize the i'm
portancc of the vast railway systems of the
country, and their great and beneiicent in
fiuenceS upon the development of our mate
rial wealth, we should, on the other hand,
remem Der that no individual and no corpo-
ration ought to be invested with absolute
power over the interest of any other citizen
or class of citizens. The right of these rail
way corporations to fair and profitable re-
turn upon their Investments, and to reasona-
BILE freedom in their regulations, must be rec
ognizedl; but 1t seems only just that. SO far
as its constitutional authority will permit,
congress should protect the people at large
in their interstate traffic against acts of in-
justice which the state governments are pow
erless to prevent.
In my last annual message / called alton
tion to the necessity Of protecting by suitable
legislation the forests situated upon the pub
lie domain. In many portions of the west the
pursuit of general agriculture is only made
practicable by resort to irrigation while sue
cessful irrigation would itself be impossible
without the aid afforded by forests in con-
tributing to the regularity and constaucy of
the supply Of water.
During the past year severe suffering and
great loss of property have been occasioned
by profuse floods followed by periods of un-
usually low water in many of the great rivers
of the country.
These Irregularities were in great measure
caused by the removal from about the sources
OF the streams in question of the timber by
Which oho Wuter supply nau peen nOurl5neu
and protected.
The preservation Of such portions of the |
forests on the national domain as essentially
contribute to the equable flow of important |
water courses is of the highest consequence.
Important tributaries of the Missouri, the |
Columbia, and the Saskatchewan rise in the |
mountain region of Montana, near the north |
ern boundary of the United States, between |
the Blackfeet and Flathead Indian reser- |
vations This region is unsuitable for set |
Element, but upon the rivers which flow from |
1t depends the future agricultural develop |
ment of vast tract of country. The atten-
tion of congress is called to the necessity of |
withdrawing from public sale this part Of the |
public domain and establishing there O forest
preserve.
The industrials exhibitions which have
been held in the United States during the
present year attracted attention in many for
eign countries where the announcement OK
those enterprises had been made public
through the foreign agencies of this govern
ment. The industrial exhibition at Boston
and the southern exposition at Louisville
were largely attended by tho exhibitors of
foreign countries, Notwithstanding the absence
of any profeBsed national character in those
undertakings.
The centennial exposition to be held next
year at New Orleans, in CONNIE noration of
the centenary of the first shipment of cotton
from port of the United States bids fair TO
meet with like gratifying success. Under tho
act of congress of the tenth of February, 1883,
declaring that exposition to be national and
International in itg rharantnr. foroin,,