New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-09
THE MESSAGE.

the ways of the politician, but using bus
own plain and nervous style to convey bis
own views of his own duty and the good OF
the people. 1t is perhaps remarkable as i'm
plying no censure on opponents and no
apologies for himself. The subjects with
which the President grapples are natu-
rally the most obstinate obstacles to public
peace and prosperity. 1t seems his mode
of warfare.
1. Aspecie currency. In insisting upon
the importance Of an international cur
rency, equally good everywhere because
equivalent to the standard value every
where, the President rightly says that
sound currency is the right of labor. His
reasoning is plain. Whatever the difference
between a local and standard currency, Is
invariably discounted in the price OF the
commodities of commerce. If iaborer
receives dollar in currency, the differ
| ence of ten per cent from specie is added
to the price of whatever he purchases.
Whether he is employed or not, this paper
premium on the specie value of the cur
rency is incorporated with the price OF
every commodity he consumes. This dis
count is as much an element of price as
any other tax can be- A laborer buys
dime Of matches. He pays one cent dis
count on the paper dime and one cent In
ternal revenue tax. He can not escape
one of these taxes any more than the
other. A currency equal to specie would
relieve him of one tax.
We 90 not see that any OF the most
blatant hard money men propose any
measure of resumption more immediate
than that proposed in the message. None
have traced more clearly the popular and
natural necessity for such action. The
President can have had no motive Of
political advantage in avowing this doc |
trine. OF course. nothing except his
office and patronage would satisfy his
Democratic opponents, while the boldness
of his views may increase the discomfort
of the imitation Republicans Of the West.
3. The revenue and the tariff. The
very small margin Of national receipts
oves disbursements renders il necessary |
to provide increased means for carrying
on the government. The duties on tea and
coffee may be restored without increasing
their cost 10 the consumer. the season be.
ing that the demand for each Of these az |
ticles is sufficient to allow the producer TO |
fix his own price. Having ascertained that
the consumer could gay the former price |
with the duty added, the producer sees no
reason why he should reduce the price.
since he il not compelled by competi-
ton 60 do SO. As between paying two
cents to the coffee planter Of Brazil OF the !
tea grower OF China on the one hand, OF
into the federal treasury on the other. the
consumer will not hesitate.
The reduction or the 1epeai Of the duty
Oh wool has been formerly serious ques.
ton between Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets. Il will be measure protective Of
home industry. Perhaps it may inciden. |
tally impsoye the importation OF foreign
wool through the por. OF New Orleans for
the supply Of the Western WOODEN facto-
tories. The policy indicated is that which !
WAS inaugurated b. Sir Robert Peel. 1t
is tho protection Of free trade by admit
tin: food and raw material duty free.
Perhaps our home WOO! growers may not !
see it in that light. but others Will.
1. Domestic policy Of the President
proposes certain measures of relief to the |
Southern States. I. In remitting the
charge for arms delivered to them. 2. The |
restoration to the pension roll Of Southern !
soldiers of 1912. ''The services for which /
they were awarded pensions was in de-
tense of the whole country" We can not
in this article continue the consideration
of Southern relations to the federal gov
ernmept. In regard to this the Presi.
dent is very distinct. We, however. omit
further reference to the subject at present.
5. Education. The principle that with
out popular education the problem of free
government is difficult of solution. is |
enounced. but the message goes much |
further, and recommends the creation of
additional departments OF military educa.
ton, which will tend to render the officers |
Of the American army and navy accom-"
plished scholars Of literature as well Us
exact science. The same true apprecia. |
ton Of science is expressed. and appro.
priations adequate to the physical and
commercial explorations of the nayigable
rivers and other resources Of the cont. |
nent are recommended.
6, Executive duty. We doubt whether
there has ever been an American Presi-
dent who has higher respect for the
popular will. as expressed through the
representative department. than the au.
thor of this message. In every line we |
find o Difference for the law. with deter
animation to enforce it. Everywhere he |
,nanifests determination to obey the !
will Of the people. whatever may be the |
consequences to himself or to the people.
And why should he not do SO? If the
people sin. the people suffer. 1t is their !
own government and their own country. !
The errors the people may commit fall ;
npon themselves. and it is their interest !
to correct the evils which they endure |
nj their own hands. 1t is too late to say !
that ono ,,,op Ia ha n Iino ~. a minister