The Placer herald., 1874-12-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

ut ltrhtu' 4btsc"SC W o'bEi i'H'
seems to us, when we consider The tenor Of
sprevious messages from the same source
and review for moment the record Of its
author, to be document of policy more than
principal. The Presidents has undoubtedly
discovered the drift of public sentiment on
the most important issues, and evidently pre-
fers TO sultify his past record than TO disre-
gard it. Considering the exgency Of the
iimea we don't blame the President great
deal ,espec ally as he has nothing great in the
way Of reputation TO forfeit. The message
makes the candid acknowledgement that the
"nation has recently undergone prostraion
in business and industries such as has not been
witnessed with us in many years" and con-
sidering the country has been so ebundanily
supplied with those three essential elements
of prosperity, labor, capital and productive
soil and climate he pretends to be puzzled 10
know why this should be. IF he would look
into the result Of his corrupt and ex rava-
CANT administration he would probably find
the key to his puzzle. High protective
tariffs is one Of The central ideas of Republ-
canism. The President simultaneously with
the people evidently recognizes this principle
as one of the main causes of the present bust
ness prosiraiion, and in order to keepup will,
the popular current of public sentiment, he
lays aside fer the lime being tie doctrine oftlle
Republicans on this subject, and borro wing
from the principles long advocated by the
Democratic party, suggests to Congress the
importance of modify ing the tariff, to the eff
feet that it shall produce more revenue and
'ess projection.
The currency question occupies very
prominent part of the message, and though
in this again he opposes the popular Repub-
licon idea, be earnestly recommends free
banking, and the earliest possible resump
lion Of specie payment. Though we are glad
TO see this policy pursued Ivy the President,
and hope his suggestions will receive prompt
and positive action from Congress, still it
seems so strange after nearly ten years OF
peaceful -Rcpublican rule and six years of
this same Presidents adm inistraiionh, that he
should just discover "that there can be no
prosperous and permanent revival of husi-
ness and industries until policy is adopted
with legislation 10 carry it out. looking to Il
return to specie bases. " We have heard il
said in the case of some children that a good
whipping brought them to their senses
From the policy adopted by Grant in his
message, the same seems to apply to the
Republican party. All the evils of the
Hncunting rag currency seems suddenly to
have dawned on the visions of the President
On the subject of foreign relations, moth
ing has occurred to mar The cordial relations
of the United States with other powers.
Inspeaking of China and Japan, the Pres
ident alludes to what we in California cali
the Chinese evil, and says "if this evil ca,
be legislated against, it will be my pleasure
AS well as duty, to enforce any legislation
to insure so desirable an end" This is in
deed weak for President. II it can be
legislted against as though there was
doubt on the subj ct. 1t can be legisated
against, and Congress, is the very power to
L. 81. a. D,o,ilo,t la 1.
ing from eamestness instead of from the
lh'nest kind of policy he would have said
10 Congress, after showing up the evils Of
this great curse, cit is your duty to take
prompt and eiiectual acton for the suppress
sion of this alarming evil" But then, Page
will attend to the matter. That is so far as
talk and sputter without result will satisfy
lhe people.
The survey of the Northern boundary of
the United States has been completed from
he Lake of the WoSds, to the summit of
the Rocky mountains. The early completion
of the work is recommended.
In speaking of Mexico, the President says
there has been no material change in our re-
lations with the Independent States Of this
hemisphere, which were formerly under the
dominion OF Spain.
Our neutrality has been maintained in the
Argentine war.
Venezuela has made 10 further payment
of the rewards to American citizens. Its
neglect is attributed TO internal strife.
The allegiance question is touched on, in
which complaint is made of the present laws on
the subject. The President speaks ofthe fraud
practiced in naturalizaions, and recommends