Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-12-12
Presidents Message.

vades the fourth annual Message of
President Grant, that betrays the
authors purpose to reach the matter
of his communication to Congress
without much preliminary, and to
give it expression in the most direct
style. 1t is characteristic of the COM
mercial era which has displaced the
forensic method of presenting topics
for Legislative consideration. After
indulging in timely and feeling re-
ference to the calamity which has be-
fallen this community, the President
enters upon a rapid review of the re-
lations of the United States with
foreign powers, and takes occasion to
congratulate his countrymen on their
undisturbedly peaceful and even cord
ial character. He felicitates the coun-
try on the adjustment of the Alabama
and San Juan disputes, and urges
to cover the requirements
of the third point of the Treaty of
Washington, viz, the Fisheries, Cuba
receives a word, though not Of sym
pathy for the insurgents it is directed
to the hope that Spain may see fit to
advance to the real accomplishment of
emancipation. The Presi-
dent regards the slavery question as
the hinge of the long conflict, and
thinks that it is the continuance of
slavery that insures the continuance
of the strife. The Mexican and Ven
ezuelan claims are referred to, and so
is the necessity of making certain i'm
provements in our diplomatic inter
course with Japan. The financial
of the Government is briefly
with figures Illustrative of
the statements made; and while we
find the debt reduced a hundred mill
ions for the last year, we are met with
Il protest against futher present re-
duction of taxation. Congress is
to wait and see if the re-
venues leave sufficient margin from
the expenditures. But two hundred
and seventy-fve millions for the latter
must be conceded to be on a scale be-
You'd all limits of necessity. The
Army and Navy Departments are re-
ferred to, mainly to approve the re-
concentrations of the reports of their
Heads.
There are sundry reforms in connec-
ton with the former which the Presi- |
dent urges. For the navy he asks
more vessels, to command respect for
our commercial flag; although he
cities from the Secretary Of
the Treasury the fact that our carrying
trade was never so diminutive. To
'evive that trade, however, the old
oanacea of Government subsidies is
again resorted to. A scheme is also
though not yet advocated,
5or connecting the waters Of the Miss
ssippi with the Atlantic, and another
or securing a land-locked water COM
from Maine to the Gulf of
Mexico, along the coast line. The
productiveness of the coun-
Try, and the need of moving products
n larger volume from the interior to
he coast, are topics that obtain pass
ng recognition. The President ex
olicitly favors the Postal Telegraph
without adducing any special
for such n plan Of alb
,orption of individual enterprise and
by the Government AS to
he Enforcement law, while he insists
IN its necessity, he expresses the hope
hat he may never again be summoned
% apply it. For the Indians he be-
peakes a territorial government in
indian Territory, and asserts that his
general policy towards them is sue
,ess in practice. He promises to APP
bly, the rules of civil service reform so
IS to correct existing abuses, but re-
rains from recommending to Congress
hat it takes any active part save for
he purpose of binding future Admin
STATIONS. 1t would have excited
WIDER qualification ifhe had announced
With something like vigor his purpose
o enforce those rules, with or without
he cooperation Of Congress. A new
ational census in 1875 is recommend
d, the present interval of ten years
icing considered too long. On the
ther matters pertaining to the routine
f the different Departments and
Bureaus, the Message cursorily touch
s, furnishing convenient synopsis OF
he state of the country. It's, in fact,
he condition of the nation itself that
invests almost any such statement of
with profound interest. The Mes
age is a rapid epitome of public aft
irs, without any elaborateness of dis
ussion or the positive advocacy Of
ny important measure. -BoSton Post,
Dec. Sd.