The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

stlsmatzed as impelled by sectional hate
and In essence little better than treason.
1t must be refreshing to read this Mes
sage, wherein aversion to Slavery at home
and abroad, with Recommendations that
cur citizens be forbidden to hold slaves in
countries where human bondage is still
legal. congratulations on the initiation of
enirauchIsemeut in Brazil, hopes that the
process may be hastened, complaints that
SPANS semblance of emancipation in Gu
ba and Porto Rico is a mockery. &. &c =,
are so prominent. The fact that the Pre-
sldent who thus nobly embodies and enun.
cIates the better impulses of our people
was himself a partisan of Slavery down to
the outbreak of our great Civil War, so
far from weakening the force of his de-
monstratlons against the discarded
scourge and shame Of our country, but in
tenshes and emphasizes that testimony.
just compare this Message in its relations
to Slavery with one of Buchanan uttered
barely twelve years ago, and the immense
benehclent strides made by our Republic
within that period will be manifest. Let
none doubt that the melioration is perm
anent, and far more likely to be increased
than diminished
Our Foreign Relations appear to be
satisfactory in the main, and the Pres
dent is right in regarding and represent,
ing our late Treaty with Great Britain,
whereby our grave differences with that
power are submitted to friendly arbitra
ton, as a striking evidence of progress in
true civilization. Grant that the Treaty
in question is less favorable to US on some
points than might fairly have been ex-
peCted-that we should have insisted on
a total abolition ofwar on private proper.
ty (other than contraband) afoat-still
We hold that Treaty theme of just felic
itation, honorable to both PARTIES, and
auspicious to the future peace Of Chris
tendon. We believe Gen Grants felici-
tatious thereupon will be fully respond ed
to BY great majority of his countrymen.
We judge that our relations with Spain
are more critical than the Presidents
guarded language would indicate other
wise, we should strenuously object to his
Endorsement of Secretary Robenson's sug
gestion as to the necessity for increasing
and improving the material "of the Ma,
Wy" We protest against any such in
crease. If we need more vessels and more
men for any present emergency, let Us
hire them, and pay the bill but there is
no need Of a permanent increase. Ga
the contrary, we suggest that half the
National vessels now rotting idly, in our
ports be sold to the highest bidder, and
no longer watched and guarded at use
less cost while they grow daily more and
more unseawOrthy and unserviceable Ii
We ever want more war-vessels, these will
be found good for nothing but breaking
up and sold as old iron. Let Us break
them up at once, now that iron is 10 de,
mand at good prices, and not eat their
heads off twice more. If we need more
guns in the West Indies, call home our
useless parade feet from the Mediterra-
mean. Secretary Robeson is jolly good
fellow, and we wish him all matrimonial
and other felicity but his suggestion"
implies more officers and more expense,
whether he knows it or not, and that the
country will not stand Avast, there,
skipper , for you are rushing on sunken
rocks which your chart seems to take DO
note of,
The Presidents recommendations that
the Internal Texas be swept away, those
known as Stamps and those levied on LII
quors and Tobacco, will meet with gen
eral approval. May we not hope that
Congress will act promptly and decidedly
on this recommendation
AS to tariff revision, the President re
fleets very nearly the average sentiment
of the People But we guess his true
friends in Congress will make haste slow
ly in reducing the revenue from this
source. The fact that the Debt has done
more than anything else to make the Ad
ministration and the party supporting it
strong and popular. SO many Millions
paid off each month are to Gen. Grants
Administration what Union victories on
hard fought fields were to Mr Lincoln's s.
No financial difficulties beset rule which
is thus amply supplied with revenue and
using it for such purpose. The fact
stated BY the President that the annual
burden of the Debt is now Seventeen
Million less than it was when he was in
augurated is perfect Vicksburg to his
supporters. Now, you cannot both eat
your cake and save it; and, if tax repeal
is to be the order of the day, We shall soon
have reached the end of debt reduction
ADD when we have stopped reducing the
Debt, it will weigh upon US much more
heavily than it now does, while reducing
outgoes, by contracting new loans at a
lower rate of interest wherewlth to pay
of old ones, will be found impracticable.
We respectfully suggest, therefore that
sweeping away Fifty Millions per annum
Of internal revenue may well suffice for
oue session When Tariff reduction shall
be in order, the President plan may in
the main be safely followed.
With regard to the Ku Klux outrages
in certain localities at the South, the Pre-.