, 1873-12-03

boon the most rapid during tho last months OF
tho year.
-
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The flrbt thing t4at nrreass our attention In
tho Prosidents 1ueaRago 10 ita oxtromo length.
1ta gonoral OBJECT Ia marrod by tho multiplicity
Of subjects treated, descending to variety Of
unimportant "details drawn from tho duat-bin Of
tho bureaus aud departments.
The matter Of most immediate interest, of
course, il that portion rotating to the Cuban
| question. The Presidents treatment Of this
subject is highly commondublo. Ho l,as pointed
out the roal cauao OF tho turmoil in that
| rich but unhappy island. It il tha eys"
tenn Of human Blavory Which exists tlero. Tho
pro-elavery aristocracy Of Cuba is conntant
menace to the Homo Government Of Spain, apd
Alavory itaolf is thorn in the sido Of civiliza-
ton. It is truo thut ITO hayo not been rid OF it
long enough to fit us for missionary service in
that behalf but tho faot romans TINT, long as
slavery exists in Cuba, thore will be diBsension,
revolution, barbarity, and bloodshod. It's oxist-
enco is In contIavention Of tho spirit of tho
age, and tho country which supports or tolorates
it must sunor the pains Of tho struggle that
civilization will constantly mako to uproot it.
President Grant believes that Cuba will
mover be At pence, and that Spain will never
be ablo to aaaort i.s full authority
iu the Island until sayory Is abolished. In this
he Is right, ami 1t Ia clear ntimation that Spain
or the CubanB should take moro efficient moas-
| ures than any heretofore adopted to rid the isl-
and Of itu great ourse. He dooB not intimate
however, that tho United Statos hayo any special
| duty in tho premises. In fact, ho confirms tho
porcetul solution Of tho controversy arising out
Of tile capture OF tho Yirginius, md refers to 1t
| throughout in q spirit Of farness and con-
| seryatiR1n. Ills utterances On the subject of
| slayory are OF character that ought to attract
tho attention Of foreign nations, and Of 8pnin
first Of all.
Tic noxt topic Of intorost is tho national
fnancee and tho currency quostion. It ia not
| to be expected that the President should under
stand worry thoroughly subject which cllls for
training and courBo OF study ho has neyor
enjoyed and which is, Of all others, difficult to
|
tho mind Of tile render any definite conception
| OF what nis yions are, but We can make out from
it that he iu opposed to "unduo iniarion," and
that lo ia in fayor Of speoio payments Whenever
we get specie enough for tho purpose. He docs
not seem to recognize any distinction between
capital aud currency. He uscs thoso torms inter-
changoab1y, in orlor to show that, III industry
| sud commerce incroago, more curronoy in wanted
to carry thom on-ths real fact being that the
mosorapidly induatry and commerce iucrcase, tho
more completely do oheoka and drafts Hnporsedo
the use Of currency and ronder it unnecessary.
It Ia true, however, as tho preBldont says, that
more currency is aoodod ut some aoaaons OF tho
year than at othorB; and for the roason that pay
mont for tho cropa must bo made at interior
points whero checks aud drafts will not avail
The President sayH truly That the restoration Of
q npeoio basis is the true method Of giving elas-
ticity to tho curronoy. He seens to recommend
a plan for giving elasticity to tho currency With
out speoio basis, but as We tail to comprehend
It, We forbaar to comment upon It. 1n conclu-
sion, ho says that his remarks on the whole sub
jeet aro to DO taken Az snggostiona rathor than
recommendations, and that he will approve any
bill that Congress may pass.
IIo recommends that the involuntary causoH
OF tue Bankruptcy act be repealed, On tlle ground
that, In a tins Of general strlugency Hike the
present, croditosH nuke une OF 1t to annoy
debtors. Az he loos not show how creditors
would annoy debtors any less after tho rapenl.
| L. q
that couunlruua.
Tho subject Of Cheap Transportation Ia re-
forred to tue Joiut Committee OF Congress- Oh
that subject without recommendation, except
that 1t would be well to plodge tue faith OF tl,o
nation to keep the Hudson River, the St. Clair
Flats, aud tho Illinois and MiasiHs!ppl Rivers In
good, nayigable condition, provided the statea
OF Now York aud Illinois will enlarge tile canals
within tEoir Respective lnitA.
To "roga!n our lost commerce ho auggeata
r that nnyal vessel DO neut mp the Amazo,
River, to oo|l for it the conli1los Of Bolivia
. II they don't lind 1t, no harm will hs ions.
, ue recommends thu creation Of 4 Commission
! to distribute tho Alabama award 10 tue psrsonn
D aud corporations entitled to receive it.
, lie Reports tho recommendation OF tho Post
mastor-Geuoral In favor Of postal aaviugs
. banlsp, but .nakos no recommendation on til.
: suhject Of poatal telegraph.
A III Wow OF tho denlino III tho revenues. il.
recommends . uigcontinuauuo OF appropriation
i, for public buildings whero work llau not beet
l.. actually commenced and also for river aus
i. lRrbor improvements In places where little ben
+. Aflt u to bs derived thersfron. He favoss th