The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-09
The Presidents Message.

ey- Reading Matter on all Four Pages.
The Presidents Message.
We have read with care the first annual les
sage of president johnson, which, we trust, Is
already somewhat familiar to our readers. 1t
is a well-written, clearly-eXpressed and candid
state paper, worthy place beside those of the
illust1ious predecessors of its ilustrious au-
thor. 1t is free from arrogance,dogmatism and
assumption, is singularly modest in tone ana
respectful to all parties. We say frankly that
we are pleased with it. 1t is worthy OF It's
author. 1t is worthy of the national exetu-
tive.
Probably there are very few thinking men
who will agree to every particular OF this mes
sage; it is not necessary that they should the
President neither expects nor asks it. On the
question of Reconstruction the President ex-
plains his views and the measures he has TAX
en- to actualize them. In doing SO he is per-
fectly simple and free from dictation. lie is
sincerely of the opinion that he is right, but is
perfectly deferential towards those VINO may
take different view. He does not endorse
the doctrine of State suicide; he does not toll
crate for moment the heresy OF State sover-
eighty. He says in terms that the sover-
eighty of the States was the doctrine Of the
old Confederation. not OF the Constitution.
Towards the freedman he is faithful, and
seems determined to leave no stone unturned
that can be lawfully used to secure all his
rights as free citizen before the law and in
the judicial tribunals.
On the financial questions Of the hour the
President agrees perfectly with the views
heretofore expressed by the Secretary of the
T easury, Mr.. McCulluch, particularly in his
Fort Wayne speech, which has been laid be-
tore the readers of the Press.
On the subject of pardon we think the Pres
ident vindicates his own actions. He still in
sists that treason is the highest crime, and
must be punished, and in this he foreshadows
the fate of the chief traitor should his life
finally depend upon an executive act. e'.s+4
Towards England he holds firm language,
and no doubt his words will make the British
lion growl, but the American people will
stand by their President in this thing as they
will in relation to what he says of France and
the Monroe doctrine. -l-55<L
There are those who will object to the Mes
sage because it does not 60 far enough, and is
not sufficiently radical, but for the present we
are not prepared to be of that number.
Mr.. Editor Il rather regret your exclusion
of further discussion by 'iE. II. T." and "R.
W. OF the subject of the Finances or course
your objection is to the subject and not to the
persons; since nothing could be more admira-
BILE than the candid and dignified spirit and
scholarly style in which both of these gentle
men have expressed their views.
am surprised that you should think the
subject out of place in a journal which claims
to be an organ of the intelligent public opin-
ion of such State as Maine, at time, when
the one duty of government and people, to
which they have been SO earnestly eYhorted
by the Pre- sident and Head of the Treasury,
seems to be, to reduce the paper circulation Of
the country from $70o,0o0,0O0, to $300,000,000.
The ratio between these two figures repre-
sents the excess in extra taxation which every
consumer OF goods has been patiently paying
for the last three years, and hopes now at an
early day to be relieved of. This is not a task,
which will achieve ITSELF Congress, the State
Legislatures. and the people must heartily CO.
the discussion being untimely, it is now more
appropriate than ever. Nor do think you
should have the least misaiving about the eff
feet of such discussion of the national finances
as you have already published. hose articles
on both sides to be sure, but decidedly pre-
ponderating upon the sile of prudence and
contraction, though they may have beer
scolded about by persons who had an interest
to keep the people under the yoke of former
prices. have DnQn in with
sound political economy, SO sustained by the
best financial opinions in the great commercial
cities, and now so heartily endorsed by the
government, that they could be only app1opri-
ate and salutary. Indeed 1 doubt not it
might be shown that the very cautious and
warnings, you have published, and your cub
scribers have eagerly read, have had their eff
feet in arresting course OF expansion and
speculation which would have inevitably end
ed in bankruptcy and public distress.
And, Mr.. Editor, let me say that if under
your able editorship the Press has attained
throughout the State consideration and in
fuence second to no other journal we have Or
have had in Name, it is NOT little due to the
tact that you have insisted that It's columns
should be kept open for men of thought and
intelligence to give expression to their opin-
ions upon public questions-and that it should
not be degraded to the mere echo OF the pub
lie clamor, or the vehicle of party. When
the Press ceases to supply this demand it may
still keep its place ahead of its political city
contemporaries, but it will leave field open
which the growing enterprise and culture of
this community will find means to have occu-
pied. G.
REMARKs.-"G" is entirely mistaken in
supposing we object to the Subject" of the
discussion to which he refers. We must be
our own judge, however, When any subject is
becoming tedious and thread-bare, and the
protracted discussion of it is becoming detri
mental to the general interest of the paper
with the most numerous class Of readers. We
think the discussion between "E. n. T." and
"R. W." had very nearly if not quite reached
this point, and for this reason we thought best
to stop it, at least for the present. The dis
cussion had ceased to bring out new facts and
arguments, and had become, or wss about to
become contest for the last word.
We will say here, however, though we may
be thought egotistical, that we think both
parties have lost sight of the real and main
cause of the imitation of prices; we do not be-
lieve in the great plethora of currency of
which we hear so much, and more than this
we think we can make it appear that other
causes than the surplus of money create the
high prices, and that currency, instead Of be-
ing over abundant, is in volume not above, if
it Is not actually below the demands of bust
ness. These things are clear to oar mind.
and we think we can make them clear to the
candid common reader, if not to the conyic-
ton of the controversialist. ~
..-. Recent Publications.
BEApLE's MAGAZINE, A Magazine Of To-day is
tiiIe Of e=dnllar mnnthlY nuhished