The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-12-09


President says that while we should not
intrude our institutions upon the inhab-
itants OF other countries, it is neverthe-
less but natural and right to manifest q
lively interest in the spread of Ameri-
can political ideas, and to be especially
rejoiced to see them adopted by so great
and highly civilized q country as France.
The President has a good deal to say
about the War in Cuba, and explains
that in the negotiations which he found
necessary to open with the Government
of Spain, in order to adopt measures for
restraining injuries to citizens of the
United States, for which the Spanish
Government in Cuba were responsible,
the United States simply claimed that
in the future the rights secured to their
citizens by treaty should be respected
in Cuba. He hopes that this moderate
and reasonable demand may be acceded
to by Spain without further delay.
The San Domingo scheme is discuss
ed exhaustingly by the President. He
believes it to have been q great mistake
made by the Senate in refusing to rati-
fly the treaty for the annexation of the
island of San Domingo. So soon rs 1t
becomes known that this Government
has abandoned the project of annexa-
ton, a free port will be negotiated for
by European Nations, in the bay, and a
large commercial city will spring up, to
which we will be tributary, without re-
ceiving corresponding benefits. The
people of San Domingo are anxious for
annexation. They are a weak people,
but inhabit one of the richest localities
in the world. In regard to that very
interesting and important question, the
Alabama Claims, the President very
pointedly expresses his regret that TIC
adjustment, or any approach to an ad-
justment, has yet been made. For this
state of the case England is chiefly re-
sponsible, for she has yet manifested nc
great concern for a settlement of ouI
claims. Canada and the British Gov
eminent are also responsible for the en-
gendering of an unfriendly feeling be.
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain, in relation TO the fisheries, and the
President recommends, that, if this un
just and un-neighborly conduct be per
sisted in, non-intercourse with Canals
be proclaimed, and that Canandian yes
sells be forbidden to enter the waters o.
the Uniled States.
On the financial question the Presi
1a,,k ah khok hn Af fhI
country has appreciated fully one-fourtl
during the last twelve months. H.
thinks, however, that the evils of (
deprecated and fuctuating currency
are very great and that it would b.
well by wise and prudent legisla
ton to look to a policy which shall
place our currency at par with golt
at no distant day. The tax collect
ed from the people has been reduced
more than eighty millions per an
mum. By steadily pursuing the pres
ent wise course there is no reason VIII!
the tax gatherers may not disappear en-
tirely.
With reference to Revenue Reform
the President says:
| Revenue reform if it means this, ha
my hearty support; if it involves a col
lection of all the revenue for the sup
port of government, for the paymen
| of principal and interest of the public
debt, pensions, &C., by directly taxing
the people, then am against revenue
reform, and confidently believe the PEG
pie are with me. If it means a failur.
to provide the necessary means to de
fray all expenses of the government
and thereby the Reputation of the pub
lie debt and pensions, then / am still
more opposed to such kind of refenu'
reform Revenue reform has not beer
defined by any of its advocates to IN,
knowledge, but seems to be accepted q
something which is to supply ever,
mans wants without any costs or eff
fort on his part. A true revenue re
form cannot be made in a day, bu
must be the work of national Legislation
and of time.
The President has good deal to sa,
on the land question, explaining tn,
original operation of the homestead ant
presumption laws. He takes the sensi
BILE ground that the residuary of the IA
tional domain should be disposed of t
actual settlers only, and to enterprise
of actual and acknowledged impor
lance.
Ofthe Civil Service Reform the Pres
ident wisely says:
respectful call your attention to al
abuse which .o- 1 be remedied by thi
Congress ; it ~ 2form in the civil ser
vice of the co.uJry. l would advis
that it go beyond the clerks and EN-
ployees who do not require the advic
and consent of the senate to make thei
appointment s complete. l would hav
it govern not the tenure but the manne
of making all appointments. There
no duty which SO much embarrasses tn
executive as that of appointments, no
is there any such arduous and thankles
labor imposed upon senators and repre-
sentatives as that of finding places 70
constituents. The elevation and purifi
cation of the civil service of the gov
ernment will be hailed with approve
by the whole people.
The message taken all in all is a YER
able and wise state document. The fol
lowing is the concluding passage in tn
message:
ain conclusion, i would snm u
the policy of the administration L
be, q thorough enforcement of ever.
law faithful collection of the reven
ne and economy In the disbursement o
the same reduction of taxes as rapid,
as the requirements of the country viii
admit reduction of taxation and tarii
to be so arranged as to afford the great
est relief to the greatest number; hon
est and fair dealings with all other PEG
pie, to the end that war, with all it
blighting consequences, may be avoid
ed, but without surrendering any RICH
or obligation due the United States
reform in the treatment of the Indian
and in the whole civil service of tn
country and, finally, in securing apur
and untrammeled ballot, where ever,
man entitled to cast q vote may do 81
just once at each election, without fea
of molestation or prescription ON &C
count of his political faith, nativity o
color. (SIGNED) Z. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 5, 1870"
Mrs II z Holman of Eureka viii