Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-11

lieve much OF this expenditure might be saw |
ed under the plan proposed; that its econom-
ical effects would be increased with its con-
tinuance that the safety OF our frontier |
settlers would be subserved under it's opera
ton, and that the nation would be saved
through it's results from the imputation Of in
humanity, injustice and mismanaRement.
The public domain had its origin in ces-
sions OF land by the states to the general gov
eminent. The FIRST session was made by the
state Of New York, and the largest, which in
area exceed all the others, by the state Of Vir-
gnia. The territory, the proprietorship OF
which became thus invested in the general
government, extended from the western line
OF Pennsylvania TO the Mississippi river.
These patriotic donations Of the states we're
encountered with no condition except that
they should be held aud used "for the CON-
mon benefit Of the United States" BY pur-
chase with the common fund Of all the peo-
pie, additions we're made TO this domain IN
til it extended to the northern line OF Me1ico
the Pacific ocean and the polar sea. The ORR
ginal trust, "for the common benefit OF the
United States" attached TO all. In the exc
cution of that trust, the policy Of many homes
rather than larger estates was adopted by the
government, that these might be easily OBJ
tanned and be the abodes Of security and con-
tentment. The laws for their acquisition
were few, easily understood, and general in
their character but the pressure Of local in
terests, combined with the speculative spirit,
have in many instances procured the passage
of laws v hich mArred the harmony Of the
general plan and encountered the system with
a Us multitude Of general and special enactments
which render the land laws complicated and
subject titles TO uncertainty and the purchas-
ers often to oppression and wrong. Laws
which we're intended for the common benefit
have been perverted so that large quantities
OF land are vesting in single ownerships.
Exclusive Of Alaska, about three hfths Of
the national domain has been sold or sub
jected to contract or grant or the remain.
ing two-ffihs a considerable portion is either
mountain or desert rapidly increasing
| population creates growing demand for
homes aud the accumulation Of wealth in
spires an eager competition to obtain the
| public land for speculative purposes. In the
future the collision Of interests will be more
marked than in the past and the execution Of
| the nations trust in b, half of our settlers
will be more difficult. therefore commend
! your attention to the recommendation con-
tanned in the report of the secretary OF the
interior with reference TO the repeal and
modification of certain of our land laws.
The nation has made pTincely grants aud
subsidies to q system Of railroads projected
as great national highways to connect the
| Pacific states with the East. 1t has been
charged that these donations from the people
have been diverted to private gain and cor
rupt uses aud thus public indignation has
been aroused and suspicion engendered. Our
great nation does not begTudge it's generos-
ity but 1t Abhors REGULATION and fraud and
the favorable regard of our people for the
| great corporations 10 VIII CHI these grants
were made can only be revived by a restora-
ton of confidence to be secured by their con-
slant, untquivocal and clearly manifested in
tegrity. faithful application OF the undi-
minished proceeds of the grants TO the con-
struction and peTfecting of their roads, an
honest discharge OF their obligations, and en-
tire justice to all the people in the enjoy.
ment of their rights on these highways Of
travel is all the public asks and II will be con-
tent with no less To secure these things
should be the common purpose Of the officers
of the government as we'll as of the corpora
tions. With this accomplished, prosperity
would be permanently secured 10 the roads
aud national pride would take the place Of
national complaint
THE PENSION BUREAU.
1t appears from the report OF the commits
sioner of pensions that there were on the
FIRST day of July, 1885, 345, i25 persons borne
upon the pension rolls who we're classified as
follows;
Army--Invalids, PAL, 456 widows, minor
children and dependent relatives of deceased
soldiers, rs, s4l. Navy Invalids, 2745; navy
widows, minor children aud dependents
1926. Survivors of the war of 1919, 2945 (;
widows of those who served in that war, IL, E
212.
About one man in ten OF all those who en-
listed IN the late war are reported 40 reoeiv-
ing pensions. Exclusive of the dependents
of deceased soldiers, on the 5rst of July
1915, the number of pensioners vas pa, s2l /;
and the increase within the ten years there
after was 10, 3O4. While there is n0eIpend-
iture of the public funds which the people
more cheerfully approve than that made in
recognition of services Of our soldiers living
aud dead, the sentiment underlying the sub
ject should not be vitiAted by the introduo.
ton of any fraudulent practices. Therefore
II is fully as important that the rolls should
be cleAnsed of all those whom frauds have
secured place thereon, ~ that meritorious
claims should be speedily examined and Ad.
justed. The reform in the methods Of doing
the business in this bureau which have lately
been insugurated, promise better results in
both these directions.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In the territory of Utah, the Law Of the
United States passed for the suppression Of
polygamy has been energeticaily and faith
fully executed during the past year with
victions have bsen secured for unlawful CO.
habitation, and in some cases pleas of guilty
have been entered aud q slight punishment
imposed, upon promise by the accused that
they would not again offend against the law,
nor advise, counsel, aid or Abet in any way
it's violation by others. The Utah commits
sioners express the opinion, based upon such
information as they are able to obtain, that
but few polygamous marriages have taken
nil IN fha witt dttrav a. -
They further report that, while there cannot
be found upon the registration list Of voters
the name OF man actually guilty Of polyga-
my, and while none OF that class hold office
yet at the last election in the territory all the
officers elected, except in one county, were
men who, though not actually living in the
practice OF poygamy, subscribe to the doc
trine OF polygamous marriages as divine rev.
citation and law unto all, higher and more
binding upon the conscience than any human
law, local or national. Thus is the strange
spectacle presented Of q community protect
ed by republican form Of government, to
which they owe allegiance, sustaining by
their SURFACES principle and belief which
sets at naught that obligation of absolute
obedience to the law OF the land which lies
at the foundation of republican institutions
The strength, the perpetuity and destiny
OF the nation rest upon our homes, 0ssab-
hhhou uy tne law OF dOu, guarded by paf6n-
tai care, regulated by parental authority and
sanctihed by parental love. These are not
the homes of poygamy. The mothers Of
our land who rule the nation, as they mould
the characters and guide the actions OF their
sons, live according to Gods holy ordinances
and each secure and happy in the exclusive
love of the father OF her children, shed the
warm light of true womanhood unperverted
and unpolluted upon all within her pure and
wholesome family circle. These are not the
cherries, crushed and unWomAnly mothers
of polygamy. The fathers of our families
are the best citizens of the republic; wife and
children are the sources of patriotism, and
conjugal and parental affection beget dsvo-
ton 70 the country. The man who, unde-
filed with plural marriage, is surrounded in
his single home with his wife and children
has a stake in the country which inspires him
with respect for its laws and courage for its
defence. These are not the fathers Of po-
lygamous families. There is no feature of
this practice or the system which sanctions
It which is not opposed to all that is Of value
In our institutions. There should be no re-
Taxation in the firm but just execution of the