The New York herald., 1874-12-26
what, Then, Did He Meant

The short paragraph referring to Cuban af-
fairs in the Presidents Message was generally
understood to mean that the long continued
insurrection was injuring our commerce, and
that therefore interference was becoming
necessary; or, in the Presidents own words,
''may make some positive steps on the part of
other Powers a matter of self-necessty."
''Self-necessity' is good. We commonly
say self-preservation, and why not self-neces-
sity? At least SO reasoned His Excellency,
and if the President of the United States
may not coin new word what is
the use of being President? Well, every
body thought 'seli-necessity" meant that we
were suffering and must interfere on our own
account. Not only did people here thus un-
derstand this curious, and. SO to speak. self
invented phrase, but in England also it was
SO taken. The London Daily Ne,os says:-'It
is observed that the commerce of the United
States suffers from the prolongation of the
war in Cuba, and this is an important con-
sideration." Evidently these English under
stood ''sef-necessity" as our own people did
Now, not only does His Excellency say
nothing about commerce in his paragraph re-
lating to Cuba, but, our correspondent
pointed out last Monday, official re-
turns plainly show that our commerce with
Cuba has not suffered and is not suffering.
Our imports from Cuba have increased during
those six years of insurrection of which His
Excelency speaks. from S56 976. 491 in 1869 to
SS5, 42S, ,097 in 1874, and our exports to the
island, exclusive of specie, have increased
from $1l, ,8l6020 in 1869 to $15 5677, TIC in
1874. Nothing is more certain, therefore,
than that Mr.. Grant did not mean
that our commerce with Cuba is suf-
fering or has diminished by reason
of the insurrection. What then, did he
mean? Among the inalienable rights of an
American citizen may surely be counted this
that the President shall not address him in
riddles or conundrums in q Message. That
the President shall write good English is not
provided in the constitution, nor is it forbid
den him, by any act of Congress to make ex-
periments in the English language. But he
ought to make himself understood What
does ''self-necessity" mean?
Puzzling over this matter-for it grieves us
to find the President SO generally misunder-
stood on both sides If the Atlantic-we dis
cover to our amazement some other passages
in the Message which also are liable to at least
two constructions. On the very first page of
this important document we meet sentence
which at first view might, by person igno-
rant of Mr.. Grants exalted character for
honesty and faithtulness to public trusts, be
understood to be a hint in favor Of reputation
of the national debt He recommends to Con-
gress Legislation ignoring the past," and i'm
mediately exclaims, 'Debt debt abroad is the
only element that can, with always q
sound currency, enter into our af-
fairs to cause any continued depression
in the industries and prosperity of our peo-
ple." OF course His Excelency did not mean
that we should IGNORE" the national debt; if
there were no other reason for this assertion,
would satisfy the general public of this. But
then, what did he mean? Why connect .legis-
lation ignoring the past with the fatal effect
of 'debt'' and in particular Of 'debt abroad?"
Again, Mr.. Grant says:-''Three elements of
prosperity to the nation-capital, labor, skilled
and unskilled, and products of the soil-still
remain with us. To direct the employment of
these is problem deserving the most serious
attention of Congress- What under
heaven does the President mean here?
Does he want Congress sto direct the en-
ployment'' of the products of the soil?" If
SO, he ought to point out how Congress not
remarkably brilliant shall go about SO puz-
zling an undertaking. Cabbages are-to the
German mind, at least-an important ''prod-
employment of cabbages? Perhaps he re-
CARDS his suggestion to increase the whiskey
tax ten cents gallon as one way of 'sdirect-
ing the employment of the products of the
soil?"
Moreover, there are capital and skilled and
upskilled labor, which Mr.. Grant thankfully
remarks, ''still remain with u.s. It is GER
tainly o matter for devout gratitude that
neither capital nor labor has run away
to "the Continent" wherever that place,
mentioned by His Excellency in the next
paragraph, may lie. II capi tai and labor
could fly away to any other continent than
ours they would doubtless do SO, if there was
the least danger that Congress would obey Mr.
Grants injunction to "direct their employ
rnent" What in the world has Congress to
do with directing employment" of capital,
labor and the products of the soil? Of course
President Of the United States does not talk
nonsense in his annual Message. He means
something. But what does he mean?
/ New Lines OF Travel.
| We observe that meeting of railroad men