Year: 1875

Following are very interesting ex tracts from the Presidents recent an nual message. Whatever demagogues and detractors may say to the contrary, the President has done wise act in elevating the subjects of public educa. ton and taxation of all property to the dignity of national issues. Here i. what he says:

 We are q republic where one man is is as good as anotlltr before the law Under such a form of government il is of the greatest importance that all should be possessed of education and intelligence enough 10 cast vote with a right understanding of its meaning \ large Association or ignorant men cannot, for any considerable period oppose successful resistance to tyran. ny and oppression from the educated few, but will inevitably sink into ac. quiescence to the will of intelligence. whether directed by the demagogue or prlest-craft. Hence tbe education of the masses becomes of the first neces- Sity for the preservation or our institu. tions. They are worth preserving. be cause they have secured the greatest good 10 the greatest proportion Of the population of any form of government yet devised. All other forms of gov. ernment approach it just in proportion to the general diffusion of education and independence of thought an d action. As the primary step therefore. to our advancement in all that has marked our progress in the past cen tury, l suggest, fer your earnest con. sideration and most earnestly recom- mend 1t, that constitutional amend. mendment be submitted to the legisla lures of the several States for ratifica- ton, making it the duty of each of the several States to establish and forever maintain free public schools adequate to the education of all the children in the rudimentary branches, within their respective limits, irrespective of sex, color. birthplace or creed: and forbid ding the Use in said schools of ir. religious, atheistic or pagan text books, and prohibiting the granting of any school funds or school taxes, or any part thereof, either by legislative. municipal or other bodies. or the bene fit of any other object, of any nature or kind whatever In connection with this important question, I would also call your attention to the importance of correcting an evil which, if permit ed to continue, will probably lead to great trouble Tn our land before the close of the nineteenth century.

 It is the accumulation of vast amounts of untaNed Church property. In 1850, believe the Church property of the United States which paid no tax, municipal or State, amounted to about $S3,0OO,000. In 1860 the amount had doubled, and in 1875 it is about 1000 100000. By 1900, without check, it is safe to say that this property will reach a sum exceeding $3,OOO,OOO,OOO. So vast a sum receiving all the protection and benefits of government without bearing it's proportion of the burdens and expenses of he same, will not be looked upon acquiescenly by those who have paid taxes. In a growing country, where real estate enhances so rapidly with time, as in the United States, there Is scarcely a limit to wealth that may be acquired by cor porations, religious or otherwise, if al- lowed 10 retain real estate without taxation. The contemplation also of so vast a property as is here alluded to, without taxation, may lead to sc questration without constitutional au. thority and through blood I would suggest the taxation Of all property equally, whether church or corporation, exempting only the last resting place of the dead, and possibly, with proper restrictions, church edifices.

 As this will be the last annual mes sage which I shall have the honor of transmitting to Congress before my sue cessor is chosen, Twill repeat or recapit ulate the questions which I deem of vital importance which should be leg1slated upon and settled at this session. First-That the States shall be required to afford the opportunity of a good common school education to every child within their limits. Sec ond-NO sectarian tenets shall ever be taught in any school supported in whole or in part by the State, nation, or by the proceeds of any tax levied upon any community To make eiu cation compulsory so far as to deprIvC all persons who cannot read and write from becoming voters after the veal 1890. disfIanchising none, however, or the ground of illiteracy who may bC voters at the time this amendment take. effect. Third - Declare Church anC State forever separate and distinct, bu each free within their proper spheres and that all Church property shal

 bear its own proportion of taxation Fourth-Drive out licensed immOrali tv. such as polygamy and the impOrta ton of women for illegitimate pur poses. To reeur again tO the Centen nial year, it would seem as though now. as we are about to begin the sec ond century of our national existence it would be a most fitting time fol these reforms. Fitth-Enact such law: