Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-12-14
The Presidents Message..

ieview OF u from the lineage I0sL
which we Adopt as orr own, will give our
readers v.'y satisfactory idea of its con-
tents:
The President congraiulates the coun
try on The final completion of the great
work of reconstruction, Shereby al the
States hare resumed their moral relations
to the government, aud lie anticipates
rapid advaGce of the nation in material
prosperity and happiness.
he alludes to the protection of foreign
ers by Mr.. Wasbburne 10 Paris, and ex
presses tho hope that tho struggle may
'result 10 attaching the hearts OF the
French TO our simpler forms Of represen-
tatiSe government" He refers with sat
isfactien 10 American ron intervention in
the Cuban revolt, aud renews his argu
inent for the annexation of San Domingo
in its most impressive form.
In allusion to the Alabama difficulty
the President recommends that the pr-
vatc claims he audited and paid from the
United States treasury, and then held by
the government for Great Britain TO set
tie. This is certainly wise suggestion.
The depredations of the Alabama and
Shenandoah were wholly political in their
nature, and it is only just that the own
ers should De promptly Unidentified by
the nation under whose flag they sniled.
That is the Ultimate significance of the
stars-and stripes. when unfurIed over the
stern of any ship; the national flag is a
national policy of Insurance against injdry
by the naval power of any other nation,
Mt least in time of peace. Finally, tue
claims will be adjudca!ed and paid; but
in the meantime, il is better that the
Federal treasur, should wait than that
the loss should DO any longer imposed on
A discussion Of our fishery differences
with the Dominion of Canada, forms n
prominent feature Of the message, and
the attitude of the President is decidedly
belligersnt. He charges that tue Do
minion's hostility, as displayed in it's acts
of confiscatiou during the last year, and
its menaees for the coming season, was
deliberately planned for the purpose Of
exhibiting unfriendliness and harassino
our fishermen, aud be asks authority 10
retaliate. ..5. ...
The question is not as the Tribune, of
this city. assumes. whether our smacks
have right tc harvest cod within three
nautical miles from the Canadian shore.
for the treaty of 1918 expressly sffirms
Thu; but il is where the measuring shall
begin, the Canadian authorities Insisting
that it means three miles outside of
straight line drawn from headand to
headIard, and the fishermen insisting on
following the iuden,ions of tho coast
There is assuredly nothing in such a
question Of teehnicaIs To fight about; it
should be settled promptly ty peaceful
methods.
Ii is recommended that our shipping
interests receive some fostering at the
hands of Congress "A suggestion in
whose inn ortauce all familiar with their
present depressed condition will concur
The Presid'n nj has evidently had an
eye to the revenue reform agitation dur
ing the past year. but its precise mcau
ing, he thinks is not well defined. He
apparently gives bis decision to tho prin
cipe Of a protective tariff, at least while
the Leeds of the treasury are so great,
but he advises "A wise adjustment of the
the tariff which will put duty only on
those articles which we could dispense
with, known as luxuries, and on lbose of
which we use more than we produce"
and thinks that by steadiness in our
present course there is 10 season why, in
few short years the national tax gath
erer may not disapl ear from the door of
The citizen almost entirely" This Ger
tainly elbows some comprehension of the
situation.
One Of the most important parts of the
message is that which ressts the claim of
the Canadians TO the right of excluding
American vessels from the ST. Lawrence.
1t is shown concusively, from historical
precedents, that international law, as well
as comfy. requires thai every river
touched by two or more nations at its
navignbIe points, shal. remain forever un-
obstructsd TO the sea.
Finally, The president declares himself
in nnmistakable terms for n radical and
sweeping reform in the civil service, for
reform in the revenue, and fer reform
in the public land system, prohibiting