The Columbus journal., 1884-07-30
BLAlNE,S LETTER.
Continued from first paae.)


gress is forbidden by the constitution
to make any law Prospecting the
establishment of religion, or prOhibi-
ting the free exercise thereof" For q
century, under this guarantee, Pro-
testant and Catholic, Jew and Gentle,
have worshiped God according to the
of conscience. But religious
liberty must not be perverted to the
justification of offences against the
law. A religious sect, strongly in
trenched in one of the territories of
the union, and spreading rapidly into
four other territories, claims the right
to destroy the great safeguard and
imminent of social order, and to
practice as a religious privilege that
which is a crime punished with
severe penalty in every stale of the
union. The sacredness of unity OF
the family must be preserved as the
foundation of all civil government, as
the source of orderly administration.
as the surest guarantee of moral
purity.
The claim of the Mormons that
they are divinely authorized to prac-
tice polygamy should no more be ad-
mitted than 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 a man believes
it takes cognizance only of what be
does. AS citizens, the Mormons are
entitled to the same civil rights as
others and to these they must be con-
fined. Polygamy can never receive
national sanction or federation by
admitting the community that up
holds it as state in the union. Like
others, the Mormons must learn that
the liberty of the individual ceases
where the rights of society begin.
OUR CURRENCY.
The people cf the United 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 not done SO, they will not do so
under any necessity less pressing
than that of desperate war. The one
special requisite for the completion o.
our monetary system is the fixing Of
the relative values of silver and gold
The large use of silver as the money
of account among Asiatic nations,
taken in connection with the inCreas
ing commerce of the world, gives the
~, int
al agreement in the premises. Oul
government should not cease to urge
this measure until a common standard
of value shall be reached and estab.
lished-a standard that shall enable
the Uuited States to use the silver
from its mines as all auxiliary to gOlC
in settling the balances of CONNER
cial exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength of the republic is in
creased by the multiplication of land
owners. Our laws should look to the
jUdiciOus encouragement of actua
settlers on the pnh!ic domain, which
should hencetOrih he held as sacret
trust for the bene:;t Of those seeking
homes. The tendency to consolidat,
large tracts of laii in the ownership
of individuals or corporations should
with proper regar,i ior vested rights
be discouraged. Onn hundred thous'
and acres OF land in the hands of ont
man is far less profitable to the natiOI
in every way than when its owner
ship is divided amCng one Thousand
men. The evil OF permitting larg'
tracts of the national domain to b.
consolidated and controlled by tn,
few against the many is enhanced
when the persons controlling it art
aliens. 1t is but fair that the public
land should be disposed of only I,
actual settlers and TO those who ar,
citizens of the republic, or willing Il
become SC.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Among our national interests ont
languishcs - the foreign carrying
trade. 1t was very seriously crippled
in our civil war, and another blow
was given to it in the general substi
tuition Of steam for sail in oceaI
traffic. With a frontage on the two
great oceans, with a freightage larger
than that of any other nation, W.
have every inducement to restore Oul
navigation. Yet the government ha
hitherto refused its help. n small
share of the encouragement given by
the government to railways and tt
manufactures. and a small share o.
the capital and the zeal given by Oul
citizens to those enterprises wonld
have carried our ships to every ses
and to every port. A law just enact
ed removes some of the burdens upon
cur navigation and inspires hope that
this great interest may at last receive
its due share of attention. All efforts
in this direction should receive en-
couragement.
SACREDNESS OF THE BALLOT.
This survey of our condition as a
nation reminds us that material pros.
perity is but a mockery if it does not
tend to preserve the liberty of the
people. A free ballot is the safe
guard of republican institutions
without which no national welfare is
assured. A popular election honestly
conducted, embodies the very majesty
of true government. Ten millions OF
voters desire to take part in the pend
ing contest. The safety of the repub-
lie rests upon the integrity of the
ballot, upon the security of suffrage
TO the citizen. To deposit fraudu-
lent vote is no worse crime against
constitutional liberty than to obstruct
the deposit of an honest vote. He
who corrupts suffrage strikes at the
very root of free government. He is
the arch-enemy of the republic. He
forgcts that in trampling upon the
rights of others he fatally imperils
his own rights. at is good land
which the Lord our God doth give
u.s." but we can maintain our heritage
only by guarding with vigilance the
source of popular power. l am, with
great respect, your obedient servant,
JAMES G. BLAINE.
THE GREEDY SURVIVORS,.
Particulars in Re.