Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

below extracts, and condensation of such
portions as are of interest:
A NATIONAL ELECTION LAW.
After a glowing tribute to the Negro S
qualities as a patriot and citizen, the Presi-
dent says:
But notwithstanding all this, in many parts
of our 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 and of many of their civil
rights. The wrong does not eXpend itself upon
those whose votes are suppressed. Every con-
stitpency in the Union is Wronged. 1t has
been the hope of every patriot that a sense of
Justice and of respect for the law would work
a gradual cure of these fragrant evils. Surely
no one suppoSes that the present can be accept
ed as permanent condition. Ii it is said that
these communities must work out this problem
for themselves, we have 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 have free ballot? When
is he in fact. to have those full civil rights
which have so long been his in law? When is
that equality of influence which our form of
government was intended to secure the cleo
TORS to be restored? This generation should
courageouslY face these grave questions and
not leave them as heritage OF woe to the
next. The consultation should proceed with
candor, GOODNESS and great patience, upon the
lines of Justice and humanity, not of prejudice
and cruelty. No question in our country can
be at rest except upon the firm base Of Justice
and of the law learnestly. invoke the atten=
ton of Congress to the consideration of such
measures within its well-defned constitutions
al powers as will secure to all our people
free exercise of the right of suffrage and every
other right under the Constitution and laws
of the United States. No evil, however deplor-
able, can justify the assumption either on the
part OF the Executive or OF Congress of powers
not granted, but both will be highly blamable
if all the powers granted are not wisely but
firmly used to correct these evils. The power
to take the whole dir9Gti0n and control OF the
election of members OF the House of Represent
tatives is clearly given tie the General Govern
ment. 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 as t9 secure on the
whole, better results than can be attained by
law taking all the processes of such election
into Federal control. The colored man should
be protected in all of his relations to the Fed
eral Government whether as litigant, Juror OF
witness in our courts; as an elector for men,
her of Congress, OF rs peaceful traveller
upon cur Interstate railways.
NATIONAL AID TO EDUCATION.
On this subject the President has this to
say:
[ think the General Government should
lend its aid, as the suggestion OF national
grant in aid OF education grows chiefly out of
the condition aid needs Of the emancipated
slave and his descendants. The relief should,
as far as possible, while necessarily proceed
ing upon some general lines, be applied to the
need that suggested it. 1t is essential if much
good is to be accomplished that the sympathy
and active interest of the people of the States
should be enlisted, and that the methods adop=
ted should be such as to stimulate and not
supplant local taxation for school purposes.
As one Congress cannot bind succeeding one
i'll such a case, and as the effort must in some
degree, be experimental, | recommend that
any appropriation made for this purpose be SO
limited in annual amount and as to the time
over which to extend, as will on the one hand
give the local school authorities opportunity
to make the best use Of the first years allow
ance, and on the other deliver them from the
temptation to unduly postpone the assump-
ton of the whole burden themselves.
THE NEW REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL.
In reference to the regent revolution in Bra
I'll he says our minister at Rio de Janeiro
was at once instructed to maintain friendly
diplomatic relations with the provisional
government Our minister has been further
Instructed to extend on the part of this gov
eminent formal and cordial recognition of
the new republic so s09n as the majority of
the people Of Brazil shall have signitied their
assent to its establishment.
REVISING THE TARIFF.
He recommends a revision of the tariff law
both in its administrative features and in the
schedules He also suggests the preparation
of new schedule of customs duties. The
necessary reduction in the public revenues can
be made without making the smaller burden
more OnerOuS than the larger by reason of the
| disabilities and limitations which the process
OF reduction puts upon both capital and labor.
The removal OF the internal tax upon tobacco
would relieve an important agricultural pro-
duct from a burden which was imposed only
because our revenue from customs duties was
insufficient for the public needs. The removal
of the tax upon spirits used In the arts and in
manufactures would also offer an un0h jecton-
| able method OF reducing the surplus.
THE SILVER DOLLAR.
The evil anticipations which have accom-
panied the coinage and use OF the silver dollar
have not been realized. AS coin it has not
had genera use, and the public Treasury has
been compelled to store it. But this is man
ifestly owing to the fact that its paper repre-
sentative IS more convenient. lie thinks 1t is
clear that if we should make the coinage of
silver at the present ratio free, we must eXs
pect that the difference in the bullion values
of the gold and silver dollars will be taken
account OF in commercial transactions, and
the same result would follow any consider
able Increase Of the present rate of coinage
He says he has always been an advocate Of
the use OF silver iii our currency We are
large producers of that metal and should not
discredit it. The plan which will be present
ed by the Secretary OF the Treasury for the
issuance of notes or certificates upon the de-
post of silver bullion at its market value
seems to satisfy the purpose To contlnub
the use of silver in connection with our cur
rency.
THE SURPLUS IN THE TREASURY.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
he says, shows an estimated surplus of S43,.
56g, 522 80, which is more likely to be increased
than reduced. The existence of this surplus
should have the immediate attention of Con-
gress, with a view to reducing the receipts of
the Treasury to the needs of the government