The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-07-26

the claim of certain heather tribes. if
they should come among us. to continue
the rite Of human sacrifice. The law
does not interfere with what man be-
l.eves; it takes cognizancc only Of what
he does. As citizens. the MOlmons are
entitled to the same civil rights as 9th
crs, and 80 these they must be confined.
Polygamy can never receive national
sanction or liberation by admitting The
community that upholtis it as . State in
the I'nion. Like others. the Mormons
must learn that tie liberty of the iuli-
vidual ceases where the rights OF society
baein.
Our CURRENCY.
The people of the Unitcd States, though
often urged and tempted, have never
seriously contemplated the recognition
of any other money than gold and silver,
and currency directly convertible into
them. They have rot done SO, they will
not do So un.l1r any necessity less press
ing than that of desperate wa. The one
special requisite for the completion of
our monetary system is the fixing of the
relative values of silver and gold. The
large use of silver rs the money Of ac-
count among Asiatic nations, taken in
connection with the increasing commerce
of the world, gives the wcghtiest reasons
for an international agreement in The
premises. Our government should not
cease to urge this measure until a COM
mon standard of value shall be reached
and establishcd--a standard that shall
enable the United States to use the silver
from its mines as an auxiliary TO gold in
settling the balances Of commercial cx-
change.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength Of the republic is incrcas.
ell by the multiplication of landholders.
Our laws should lo2k to the judicious
encouragement OF actual settlers on the
public domain, which should henceforth
be held as a sacred trust for the benefit
Of those seeking homes. The tendency
30 consolidate large tracts of land in the
ownership Of individuals or corporations
should, with proper regard to vested
rights, be discouraged. One hundred
thousand acres of land i'll the hands of
one man is far less profitable to the ma
ton in every way than when its owner
ship is divided among one thousand men.
The evil Of permitting large tracts of the
natiot.al domain to be consolidated and
controlled by the few against the many
is enhanced when the persons controlling
it are aliens. 1t IS but fair that the pub
lie land should be disposed of only to
actual settlers and to those who are citi.
zens of the republic, OF willing to BE-
come so.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Among our national interests one lang
was very seriously crippled in our civil
war, and another bow was given to it IN
the general substitution of steam for sail
in ocean traffic. With a frontage on the
two great oceans, with freightage lar
ger than that of any other nation. we
have every inducement 10 restore our
navigation. Yet. the government has
hitherto refused to help. Ii small shaI C
OF the encouragement given by the gov
eminent to railways and t. manufactures,
and a small share of the capital and the
zeal given by our citizens to those enter
prises, would have carried our ships to
every sea aud to every port. a law just
enacted removes some Of the burdens
upon our navigation. and inspires hope
that this great interest may at least re-
efforts in this direction should receive
encouragement.
SNCREnNESS or THE BALLOT.
This survey Of our condition as a ma
ton reminds us that material prosperity
is but a mockcry if it does not tend to
preserve the liberty of Tie people. \ free
ballot is the safeguard Of Republican i'll
stitutiouS. without which no national
welfare is assured. y popular election,
honestly conducted, embodes the very
ajesty of true government. Ten mil
lions of voters desire to take part in the
pending contest. The safety Of the &c
public rests upon the integrity of the
ballot, upon the security Of suffrage to
the citizen. To deposit fraudulent
vote is no worse Il crime against consti-
tuti0nal liberty than to obstruct the de
post Of an honest vote. He who cor
rupts suffrage strikes at the very root of
free government. lie is the arch enemy
of the republic. lie forgets that III
trampling upon the rights Of others he
fatally imperils his own rights. 1T is
a GOOD land which the LOru our God doth
give us, but we can maintain our heri-
tagc only by guarding with vigilance the
source of popular power.
am, with great respect,
Your ubedient servant,
II,