The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-12-06

as it always has been, suggested by some ex-
ceptional conditions. The sudden emancipa-
ton of the slaves, the bestowal of the suffrage,
which soon followed, and the impairment of
the ability of the states where these new citi-
zens We're chiefly found to be adequately pro-
vided with educational facilities presented not
only exceptional bnt unexamplsd conditions.
That the situation has been much cmeliorated
there Is no doubt. The ability and interest of
the states have happily increased, but a great
work remains to be done, and think the gen.
eral government should lend its aid.
As the suggestion of national grant in aid of
education grows chiefly out of conditions and
need of the emancipated slave and his descend
ants. the relief should. as far as possible,
while necessarily proceeding upon some gem
eral lines, be applied 10 the need that sug-
gested It. 1t is essentia il much good is to be
accom- lished that the sympathy and active
enlisted, and that the methods adopted should
be such as to stimulate and not to supplant
local taxation for school purposes. AS one
congress cannot bind u succeeding one in such
a case, and as the effort must, in some degree,
be experimental, / recommend that any APP
preparation made for this purpose be SO linn
which IL is to extend. as will, ON tho one
hand, give the local school authorities an OPP
portunity TO make the best use of the first
years allowance, and, on the other, de-
liver them from the temptation to unduly
postpone the assumption of the whole burden
themselves. The colored people did not in
trude themselves upon us; they were brought
here in chains and held in the communities
where they are now chiefly found, by cruel
are now free. They have from a standpoint of
Ignorance and poverty which was our shame,
not theirs, made remarkable advances in edu-
cation and in the acquisition OF property.
Faithful to the White Race.
They have, as a people, shown themselves to
be friendly and faithful towards the white
race, under temptations of tremendous
strength. They hayethe representatives in the
national cemeteries where O grateful govern
ment has gathered the ashes of those who died
in its defense. They have furnished to our
army regiments that have won high praise from
their commanding officers for courage and
soldierly qualities and for fidelity to the enlist
ment oath. In civil life they are the toilers of
their communities. making their full contribu-
ton to the widening streams of prosperity,
which the communities are receiving. Their
sudden withdraw would stop production and
bring disorder in the household. Generally
they do not desire to quit their homes, and their
employers resent the interference of emigra-
ton agents who seek to stimulate such desire.
of our country, where the colored population
Is large, the people of that rae are by various
devices deprived Of any effective exercise Of
their political rights and Of many of their
civil rights The wrong does not expend it
self upon those whose votes suppressed.
Grave Questions.
If it is said that these communities must
work out this problem for themselves, we
have a right to ask whether they are at work
upon it. Do they suggest any solution? When
and under what conditions is the black man
TO nave free oe Sv rw Us b mel IN fact to
long been his in law? When is that equality
of influence which our form of government
restored? This generation should courageously
face these grave questions, and not
leave them, as q heritage of woe TO
the next. The consultation should proceed
with candor, calmness, and gredt patience,
upon the lines of justice and humanity, not
of prejudice and cruelty. No question in our
base of justice and of the law. Earnestly in
woke the attention OF congress to the con-
sideration of such measures within its we'll
defined constitutional powers as will secure to
all our people free exercise of the right of
suffrage and every other civil right under the
constitution, and laws of the United States.
assumption, either on the part of the executive
or of congress, of powers not granted, but
granted are not wisely but firmly used to
correct these evils. The power to take the
whole direction and control of the election of
members of house of representatives is
clearly given to the general government. A
partial and qualified supervision of these
elections is now provided for by law and in
my opinion this law may be so strengthened
and extended to secure, on the whole, better
results than can be attained by "a law taking
all the processes of such elect on into the
federal government, whether as litigant.
juror or witness in our courts, as an elector of
member of congress, or as a peaceful traveller
on our Interstate railways.
Our Merchant Marine.
There is nothing more justly humiliating to
to the national prosperity than the inferiority
of our merchant marine compared with that
of other nations whose general resources,
wealth and sea coast lines do not suggest any
reason for their supremacy on the sea. 1t was
not always SO, and our people are agreed
think that it shall not continue to be so.
1t is not pos -ible in this communication to dis
cuSs the causes of the decay of our shipping
interests and the differing methods by which
IL is proposed to restore them. The statement
of few we'll authenticated facts and some
general suggestions as to the legislation is all
that is practicable. That the great steamship
lines sailing under the flags of England,
France, Germany, Spain and Italy, and en-
gagged in foreign commerce, were promoted
and have since been and now are literally
or another, is generally known. That the
American lines of steamships have been
abandoned by us to an unequal contest with
the aided lines of other nations until they
have been withdrawn, or in the few cases
where they are still maintained are subject to
serious advantages, is matter of common
knowledge.
Freer Intercourse with Nations.
The present situation is such that travellers
and merchandise find Liverpool often a neces-
sary intermediate port between New York and
some of the South American capitals. The
American states to the conference Of American
nations, now in session at Washington, reached
our shores by reversing that line of travel, is
very conclusive of the need of such a confer
ence, and very suggestive as to the first and
most necessary step in the direction of fuller
that are now our neighbors, upon the lines of
latitude, but not upon the lines of established
commercial intercourse.
l recommend that, such appropriations be
made for ocean-mail service in American
steamships, between our ports and those of
Central and South America, China, Japan and
the important islands in both of the great
oceans, as will be literally remunerative for
the service rendered, as will encourage the cs-
Enlistment, and in some fair degree equalize
the chances of American steamship lines in the
competitions which they must meet. That the
American states lying south of us will cordially
cooperate in establishing and maintaining
such lines of steamships to their principal
ports, do not doubt.
A Naval Reserve.
". should also make provision for a naval
American construction and of q specified ton
mage and speed rs the owners will consent to
place at use of the government in case of
need rs armed cruisers. England has adopted
this policy. and. as q result, can now, upon
necessity, at once place upon her naval list
some of the fastest steamships in the world.
proper supervision of the construction OF
such vessels would make their conversion into
effective ships of war vessels easy.
am an advocate of economy in our national
expenditures, but it is misuse of terms to make
this word describe policy that withholds an
expenditure for the purpose of extending our
foreign commerce. The enlargement and inn
provement of our merchant marine, the devel-
opment of sufficient body of trained American
seamen, the promotion of rapid and regular
mail communication between the ports of other
countries and our own and the adaptation of