The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-07
president GRANTS Message.


,hrOeiourths of tic present one relates
to various topics not in any wise allied TO
politics. What Is said by the President
As to the policy Of the AdministratiGnis
,crscly and well said. lie isright on the
question of civil service reform and that
of tariff pS. free trade, though his mode OF
treating the'latter hardly stand the
fire Of criticism, -. 80 ,a' ,-r---s.--
There is nothing startling in tho mes
sage, nor any need that there should be-
In the main, it is II simple and practical
review of the concerns OF chief public intc-
rest, not polished nor always smooth in
STYLE, but with certain hOmely directness,
shrcwdncss and honesty calculated to
win the respect and confidence OF the pco'
ple. This is how the message strikes us as
n whole. Yetthere nrc portions Of 1t that
we deem weak and mistaken. While the
Presidents statement Of our differences
witll England about Canadian affairs
seem just, there are hints OF a. policy
looking to the CorcibIe absorption Of Can.
ada, and territorial aggranlizcmcnt gen
crnlly, which we trust will find very little
sympathy with tho people. Thcmost Tag
gressive partoi the Message is that treat
ing of Canadian relations. The President
treats the Alabama claims with curt
hrevity, and makcsa flank movement on
England in the direction OF Canada. His
views upon this point are similar to those
recently put f0rtli by BUTLER, though, OF
course, stopping far short Of BUTLER's
wnrlike ayowals. ltNyhethGr the President
repeats BUFFERS ideas, or whether But
LER took his cue from the President, is
question suggested by this portion Of the
Message. We trust the universal
condemnation of BUrLEEs avowed
wish to use the Fishery difficulties
to provoke Il war With Great Britain will
restrain both Prestdent:and Congress from
rash measures, which will .bc found quite
needless We Judge this part of the Mes
sage will create q sharp Interest in Eng
land to see what Congress will do in
seconding its recommendations. Mexico,
too, will probably bc' stirred somewhat
over the illusions to her uniriendly course
in the matter, of encouraging smugglers
dong the Texas frontier. t f3ls3t.
We are among those who see with re-
grct that the President is determined to
push through Congress, if he can, tho
scheme for the acquisition Of Dominica,
and whol believe tho President is deceived
and wrong in reference to that project.
We have expressed our opinion SO often
of this policy in general, and are so well
satisfied of the rottcness Of this scheme
in particular, that we do not care TO re-
peat them at any length here. The fol-
lowing comments from the Cincinnati
Gazettearc severe, but just:
"Thc President urges the annexation of
San Domingo with a list Of benefits to
come from i, and Of calamtties without
ii, which makes out that 1t is vital TO our
national existence He says by 1t we
shall command the sen, oil the other IS
lands, South America, and our own coast;
while without, it we command nothing
and arc commanded by everything; that
il will nav the national debt without tax.
ing the people, will cut of 100 millions Of
imports and restore our shipping and the
balance OF trade, while without 1t he can
not see how we can pay the debt; that it
will abolish slavery in Cuba, Porto Rico
and Brazil, will settle tho war In Cuba,
will carry out the Monroe doctrine, and
thus give that good man rest In his sepul-
cher; will support ten millions in luxury,
will give US cheap nCceSsariGs, und force
all the other countries 10 buy our pro,
ducts, and will give this country Hpid
stride toward greatness"
lie fcars that national existence will be
insuppOrtable without San Domingo, and
that ii VIC do not take this prize some
other power will; therefore he advises
annexation on the Joint resolution method
which General Butler proposed when it
appeared that the treaty could not COM
msnd two.thirds OF the Senate. This
mode has another unpleasant odor from
the rse made of 1t In tho annexation OF
Texas, 10 bring on war with Mexico,
which was not ut all necessary 10 the an
nexItiori '''i;tss sf>.stNtI.5-.It
We respcct the Presidents anxiety for
this annexation; TOR he believes that all
these benefits would flow from 1t. But
he Is deceived by Adventures who are us
unscrupulousIy pursuing their own private
.speculatiOns in this purchase US Gould
and Fisk were when they persuaded him
that the welfare Of the country required
that the Treasury sales OF gold should be
limited SO as 10 let gold COUP and good
prices prevail.
The greater commands the less. Our
continent commands the adjacent isles.
Not one Of them could be held against US
save by u superior navy and a superior
navy would lake 1t il VIC had 1t. IheeS'
porls arC less than two millions, the people
indOlcnt and turbulent, the climate un'
healthy to whites; II will support Il peo'
pie in luxury, because they arc content
with Incidence and the spontaneous fruits;
hutit can never he made TO pay US the
cost of holding it. II any foreign power
wants to try 1t, let us bid them welcome.
Our continent Of 40 millions commands
it, The world is not turned so topsy turvy
that an adjacent island commands Il con.
tinent. And to say that our public debt
hangs on it, Is 10 give poor character tn
our credit. "
Tho greater part Of the message, If not
always strong, is rather adrOit, md calcu-
lated to strengthen the President with