Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-12-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Isvnonsis from fine baltimore SIMS


The most important features of the Presi>
dents message have beensso far anticipated
by the telegraphicN synopsis published yes.
terday in our general press dispatches as to
dispense with the necessity of arecapitulation.
The tull text of the message invites little
further remark, and still less of unfavorable
criticism. It is moderate, cautious, and
thoroughly conservative in tone, and as such
will commend itself to the majority of the
American people: Dispensing with the usual
commonplaces which have formed almost the
stereotyped commencement of so many "mes>
sages, the President follows the Horatian
maxim. and piunges at once IN medids res
In the very first paragraph of the message,
and with military bluutness and directness of
purpose. he takes the bull of .sthe financial
question" boldly by the.horns 1t is gratifv>
ing to find that upon this all important subject,
which is pre>eminently aud above all others,
''the question of the hour" the Presidents
trumpet gives no uncertain sound. He de-
clares in favor of resumption and of a return
to decent money. not merely in the abstract
or in vague and general terms, but explicitly
and specifically, urging upon Con- ress, sat
this session." the duty and necessity of
placing the currency of the country upon a
basis common to and recognized by the civil
lized world. In this portion of his message,
in prineipIe-we do not speak of details-the
Presidents views are as sound as dollar
and gold dollar at that. The public credi-
tor to DO raid in coin, according to the bond
when the debt was contracted, gold or its
equivalent" an obligation not to be evaded
without national digrace )" the repeal of the
legal tender clause, take effect as to all con-
tracts entered into after the day fixed in the
repeating act /; revenue sufficiently in excess
of expenditure to insure an accumulation of
gold in the treasury to sustain resumption
and lastly. system of free banking as essen
sentIal to give proper elasticity to the cur
rency. These are the salient recommends
tons urged by they President upon Congress
at its present session necessary to restore
the currency to normal and healthful con-
dition.
Foreign affairs furnish no special occasion
for remark or recommendation. The growing
importance of our relations both commercial
and diplomatic, with China and Japan is ad,
verified to- as is also the subject Of Chinese
Immigration to this country, coupled with
suggestion as to the need of further legisla>
tion for the protection of Chinese immigrants.
both male and fema'c. The unfinished north
western boundary survey between the United
States and the British provinces, the chronic
the Mexican frontier and the no less chronic
inability Of Venezuela to discharge its in
debfedness to American citizens, receive
stereotyped mention The duration and ten
acity OF the insurrection in Cuba. and the in
jury and annoyance occasoned thereby to
neutral powers are referred to in significant
language, and the fact of pending negotia-
tons Inadc the excuse for the absence of some
positive suggestion in reference to this SUBJ
ject, as we'll as the unsettled business of>thc
''Virginius' indemnity. A renewal of for
mer recommendations in reference to the de-
tectlve state of our naturalization laws, and as
the laws regulating tho status of American
citizens born abroad concludes what the Pres
ident has to say upon topics connected with our
Foreign relations"
Attention is called to the reports of the
Secretaries of the Treasury. Of War. the Navy.
the Interior, and the Postmaster General, in
reference to matters belonging to their re-
sFecsive departments The troubles in Loui-
slana and Arkansas give the President an OPP
portunity both to explain his past policy in
reference to affairs in those States and to in
dulge in some general observation and recom>
mendations in reference to the condition of
the South which are for the most part cons
ceived and expressed in moderate and con-
The President deprecates the necessity for
any federal or executive interference in the
local concerns of the States, justifies his re-
cent action in Louisiana nv reference to the
neglect aud failure of Congress at its last scs>
sion to act upon the recommendations of his
former messages. and indicates that in ref
erence to Southern affairs generally. and 'sout>
RACES" in particular, the truth is to be looked
for between two extremes. An cminently<
just and proper suggestion in this connection
although found in another portion of the mes
sage, is the recommendation to restore to the
list of pensioners of the war of 1912 the few
old persons residing in the South whose PEN
take the ironclad oath. The creation of two
additional circuit jud.eships, with or without
the addition of two more justices to the SUI
preme Court, is recommended on account of
the increased extent of territory to be tra>
versed and business to be transacted in the
federal courts. The President claims for his
Indian policy, whatever that may be. .'the
most beneficial results" and promises adj
'herence to it. For the mparative failure of
civil service reform. the President plainly
takes Congress to task. aud in,imates that. al
though himself still in favor of it, he Twill
have no; more or up the whole
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