Year: 1875

transgressions, to the present day,
no nation has been free from threat
ened dangers to its prosperity and
happiness. We should look to the
dangers that threaten us. and RENE
dy them so far as it lies in our power.
We are in republic whereof one
man is as good as another before the
law. Under such form of govern
ment it is of the greatest Importance
that all should be possessed of edu-
cation and intelligence enough to
cast vote with the right under
standing of its meaning. A large as
sociation Of ignorant men can not,
for any considerable PERIOD oppose q
successful resistance to tyranny or
oppression from the educated few,
and must inevitably sink in aequies-
cence to the will of intelligence,
whether directed by the demagogue
or by priestcraft. Hence the eduea-
ton of the masses becomes of the
first necessity for the preservation OF
our institutions. They are worth
preserving. because they have secur-
ed the greatest good to the greatest
proportion of the population of any
form of government yet devised. All
other forms of government approach
it just in proportion to the general
diffusion of education and independ
ence of thought and action.


REGARDING THE SCHOOL QUESTION.


As the primary step, therefore, to
our advancement in all that has
marked our progress in the past cen
tury, | suggest for your earnest con-
sideration, and most earnestly rec
ommend it, that a constitutional
amendment be submitted to the Leg
islatures of the several States for
ratification, making it the duty of
each of the several States to estab
lish and forever maintain free pub
lie schools adequate to the education
of all the children in the rudimenta
nv branches within their respective
limits, irrespective ofsex, color, birth
place or religion; forbidding the
teaching in said schools of religious
Atheistic or Pagan, and prohibiting
the granting of any school funds or
school taxes, or any part thereof,
either by Legislative, municipal, or
others, for the benefit of any other
object of any nature or kind what
ever.


AS To TAKING CHURCH PROPERTY.


In connection with this important
question | would call your attention
to the Importance Of correcting an
evil that, if permitted to continue,
will probably lead to great trouble in
our land before the close of the nine
teenth century. 1t is the accumula-
ton of vast amounts of untaxed
church property. In 1850, believe,
the church property of the United
States which paid no tax, municipal
or State, amounted to about $S3,OOO,-
600. In 1860 the amount had doubled.
In 1875 it is about 81 ,OOO,O0O,OOO.
By 1900, without check, it is safe to
say this property will reach a sum
exceeding $3,O00,000,O00. So vast a
sum, receiving all the protection and
benefits of government, without bear
ing its proportion of the burdens and
expenses of the same, will not be
look d upon acquiescently 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 limit to the
wealth that may be acquired by cor
porations, religious or otherwise. II
allowed to retain real estate without
taxation, the contemplation of so vast
property as here alluded to without
taxation may lead to sequestration
without authority 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, pos
sibly, with proper restrictions church
edifices.


The President discusses at con-
siderable length the Cuban question,
and reaches the conclusion that no
such state of facts exist as TO warrant
our Government in recognizing the
belligerent rights of the insurrec-
tionists. Intervention is not a thing
to be considered at present.


The President urges preparation
for the resumption of specie payment,
and concludes it would be great
blessing if resumption could be con-
summated even at an earlier day than
Jan. 1, 1879.


The punishment of polygamy as
crime is urged upon Congress.


PARTING ADVICE.


AS this will be the last annual mes
SAGE which shall have the honor of
transmitting to Congress before my
successor is chosen, l will repeat or
recapitulate the questions which |
deem of vital Importance, which
were legislated upon and settled at
this session.


First-That the States shall be re-
quired to afford the opportunity OF a
good common school education TO
every child within their limits.


Second-That no sectarian tenets
shall be ever taught in any school
supported in whole.or in part by the
State. Nation, or proceeds of any tax
levied upon any community. maze
education compulsory so far as to de,
nriye all persons who can not read
and write from becoming voters after
the wear 1890, disfranchising none,