Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-04
TIE RUTLAND HERALD
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1878.
THE MESSAGE.

which we gave in full yesterday morn
ing-ls somewhat longer than either of
his former messages, the difference be-
ing mainly in the ampler abstracts of re-
ports, and in the greater variety of sub
iects discussed. Like all of hispreyious
messages, ii is couched in clear, terse,
and vigorous language, with no effort at
ornamentation, and no straining after
effect. 1t is, moreover, a satisfactory
and complete presentation of the trans
actions of the past year; and is, in the
main, coupled with sound advice and
sensible comments.
1t is the popularity of the age that the
public are so Unsuitable in their demand
for news that President can hardly
ever present any subject to the people
which has not already been canvassed
and discussed by them. In the present
case many, if not most, of the topics
discussed are hardly more than histori-
cal presentations of facts known and
commented on months or weeks ago. 1t
is only when the President offers his
views as to the propriety or urgency of
measures to hereafter come up, that the
general public care to follow him.
There are not few among the people,
as well as amongthe politicians, who can
honestly differ from the President when
he expresses the belief that political
partnership has almost ceased to exist.
s
come that President Grant was elected
by so large a proportion of the votes
cast; but there has since seemed no lack
of unpleasantly intense zeal and parti-
zan clamor at every election held. 1t is
not to be concluded that either one of
the great parties is dead, and the intro
duction of the active elements of pro-
hibition, workingmen's rights, female
suffrage, and especially the grange into
politics, has not stilled the troubled
pool In view of the effect which the
latter organization has lately had in poll
tics, the President might almost be ac-
cused of irony when he specifies the Gag
ricultural regions as more than COM
monty free from partnership.
No new facts are advanced as to the
Vienna Exhibition, the Patent Con-
gress, the boundary questions, the Mixed
Claims Commission, the Mexican Com
mission, the Geneva award, or the diff
ferent departments of Government, ex-
cept that commission is recommended
TO apportion the 100000 among
those claimants on whose accounts it
was paid. This is of course only ne
cessary consequence of the decision of
the tribunal.
Within the last few years there have
been more or less difficulty and discus
sion with foreign governments, especial
ly that of Prussia, as to the liability of
foreign citizens who have received the
naturalization of our government to be
called upon for military service in the
country where they were born. The
question affects us vitality, and the Pres
ident wisely asks that it be settled at
once.
The generally expressed desire for
some more just method of electing the
chief magistrate, has led General Grant
10 request Congress to pass upon the
subject, and seems none too soon to take
the matter up. Within the memory of
young men we have had two minority
presidents, and justice to the majority
would seem to dictate that their choice
should be respected.
Coupled with this are recommends
tons for constitutional amendments to
govern the scope of SUBJECTS to be passed
upon by Congress at special sessions,
and another giving the executive the
power of veto on any portion of bill
presented to him. This last provision
was incorporated in the charter of Chi
cago, at the request of the then Mayor,
Medill, and worked excellently there
AS far as we know, Mayor Medill was
the originator of this method of defeat
ing legislatures who tack corrupt mea-
sures on important bills. 1t presents
the surest protection possible against
any more back pay swindles, and we
seem to need it for it is fair to suppose
that the last scheme of that kind would
hardly have passed unless under the
wing of the appropriation bill.
The most important portion of the
document to the welfare of the country
is that devoted to the consideration of
our finances. Starting with the showing
OF forty-three millions surplus in the
fiscal year, the President confesses a
fear that the same ratio cannot be kept
up, and discusses the panic at some
length, in its reference to the revenue.
Many OF the suggestions are more or less
known, and have been generally discuss
ed. The message does not'sttempt to
solve the problems which the necessities
OF the case present, but confines itself to
stating clearly the thing wanted, and the
means to bring it about, but leaves to
Congress the task of making currency
which shall be reasonably elastic, for
this is the one thing claimed by all par
ties to be needed. 1t is evident that the
Western inflationists have no friend in
the President, though he seems equally
opposed to contraction unless it is tenn
porary, and with the purpose of bring
ing about specie payments at once. The
President seems to confess his inability
TO fathom the panic, and deems it doubt
full whether it be a blessing in disguise,
or whether it has yet reached its full
height.
There has been no change in our In
dian policy and the same plan of reser-
yations will be sustained.
Post Office matters come in for dis
cussion of some length, and it appears
that the service has not been made self
sustaining. No opinion is offered as to
whether this desirable result will be
reached by cutting off of the ranking
privilege and the postal card scheme
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