Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-03

I ~
$ the. festival Of the srfFraee
which soon { followed, and the
Impairment Of the ability Of the
states where those new citizens
Were chiefly TO be found, adequately
provided with educational facilities
presented no. only exceptional but
unexampled conditions. That the
situation has been much ameliorated
there is no doubt. The ability and
interest ofthe States have happily
increased, but great work remains
20 be done, and l think the general
government should lend its aid.
AS the suggestion of n national
grant In aid OF education grows chief
~ out Of the conditions and needs
oil the emancipated slaves and their
descendants, the relief should, as
lar as possible, while necessarily
proceeding upon some general lines,
be applied to the need that suggested
II. 1t Is essential, If much good IS
to be accomplished, that the sym
pathy and active interest of the
people Of the States should be en-
listed, and that the methods adopted
sheGld be such as to stimulate and
not to supplant local taxation for
school purposes. As one Congress
cannot bind a succeeding one in
such case, and as the effort must
in SOME degree be experimental, /
recommend that any appro-
priation for the purpose be
20 limited in annual amount,
aud as TO the time over
which it is TO extend as well, on the
one hand to give local school
authorities an opportunity to make
the best use Of the first years
allowance and, on the other, TO de-
liver them from temptation TO I'M
duly postpone the assumption Of the
whole burden themselves.
RIGHTS OF THE CoLoRED PEOPLE.
The colored people did not intrude
themselves upon us; they were
brought here in chains and held in
| the communities where they are
now chiefly found by a cruel slave
code. Happily for both races, they
are now free; they have, from a
standpoint Of ignorance and power I
ty, which was our shame, not 1
theirs, made remarkable advances
in education and in the acquisition |
of property. They have, as a peo-
pie, shown themselves TO be friend
ly and faithful towards the white 4
race under temptations of tremen-
dous strength. They love their
representatives in the national 1
cemeteries, where n grateful gov
ernment has gathered the ashes of
those who died in its defense. They
have furnished to our regular army
regiments that have won high
praise for the commanding officers
for courage and soldierly qualities,
and for fidelity 10 the enlistment
oath. In civil life they are the
tOilers Of their communities. max
ing their full contribution to the
widening streams of PROSPERITY
which the communities are receiv-
ing. Their sudden withdrawal
would stop production and bring
disorder in the household, and gem
orally they do notdesire to quit their
homes, and theirl employers
resent the interference of
the emigration agent who seeks
TO stimulate such a desire.
But notwithstanding all this, in
many parts Of the country, where
the colored population is large, the
people Of that race are, by various
devices, deprived of any effective
exercise Of their political rights.
The wrong does net expend itself
upon those whose votes are sup
pressed. Every constituency in the
Union Il wrOnged. 1t has been the
hope Of every patriot that n sense of
justice and Of respect for the law
would work gradual cure of these
fragrant evils. Surely no one sup
poses that the present can be ac- ,
cepted as 4 permanent condition. ,
If it Is said that these
communities must work out
this problem for themselves. we ,
have n right to ask whether they
are ut work upon IL. Do they sug-
gest any solution? When and un- (
der what conditions is the black I
man TO have n free ballot? When Z
is he. in fact, to have those full civil
rights which have so long been his
in law? When Is that equality Of !
suffrage which our form of gov ,
eminent intended to secure to the /,
electors to be restored? This j
should courageously $
solve these grave questions and not a
leave them as heritage of woe to I
the next. The consultation should I
proceed with candOr. calmness AMI i
great Patience, upon the lines of :
Justice and humanity, not Of
and cruelty. No question
in cur country can be at rest except
upon the firm case Of Justice and Of
The law. 4
l earnestly invoke the attention
IF Congress 10 the consideration of
such measures, with its well defined [
Constitutional powers, as will secure v
o ali our people the free exercise
IF the right OF suffrage, and every
Jther civil right under the Constitu- L
ion and laws Of the United States. Il
No evil, however deplOrable, can
Justify the assumption, either on the +
art of the executive or OF Congress.
II powers not granted, but both 7
viii be highly blameable if all
he powers granted are not wisely n
yut firmly used TO correct these
wills. The power to take the Il
whole direction and control Of the a
election Of members of the House Of Fl
Representatives is clearly given to
he general government. 4 partial
md qualified supervision OF these
Elections is now provided for by f.
aw, and in my opinion this law Il
nay Ice strengthened and extended d:
o secure on the whole better results %;
han can he attained by a law letting III
II the processes Of such elections al
ntO Federal control. The colOred b,
nan should be protected in all of II
is relations to the Federal govern N
lent, whether a n legitimate juror Ill
T witness in our courts, as an
lector OF members Of Congress, or as %,
peaceful traveller on our Interstate " ~
always. !. !.
MERCHANT MARINE. n,
There is nothing more justly hu- 10
to the national pride, and to
.othing more hurtful to the national n
than the inferiority of Cd
ur merchant marine, compared W
With that OF other nations whose OF
eneral resources OF wealth and sea dc
cast lines do not suggest any reason bl
lr supremacy on the sea. 1t was
OF always so, and our people are o
greed, | think, that il shall not
)utinue TO be 30. 1t is not posi- =,
lie in this communication to dis -
lss the causes of the decay Of our
lipping interests, or the different m,
lethodS by which it is proposed to
store them The Statement Of a
W well authenticated facts and m
me general suggestions rs TO legis-
ton, is all that is practicable. or
The great steamship lines sailing IS
nder the flags Of England, France let
ermany, Italy and Spain, and en-
.ged in foreign commerce, were ap