Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-22

THE MESSAGE.
Opinions of Some of the Leading Newspapers
on the Document.
We clip from our exchanges the fol-
lowing opinions expressed in regard to
the general toue of the Presidents mes
sage:
washington December y Correspondence of the
| New York Tribune
There is one comment which all agree
| to making upon the message, namely.
that it bristles with surprises. In fact,
it is so extraordinary document that
the amazed Washington public can
hardly collect it's senses enough to
analyze its unexpected and radical sug-
gestions, and express an opinion upon
them. What people expected to find
in it is conspicuously absent, and they
discover batch of striking novel and
| political theories, weighty enough to
make or break half dozen political
parties. = The Presi-
dents remarks on the question of ex-
Guiding sectarianism from the schools
are also interpreted in two ways. BY
some they are taken as an evidence of
his sagacity and independence, and by
| others as an attempt to get ahead of
Mr.. Blaine in the presidential race.
This latter plank in Gen. Grants new
platform is thought by many to be in
tended only as blow at the Catholics;
but, if SO, it is laundering stroke, for
it hits great many Protestant denomi-
nations, which own other property than
church edifces. LII the condensed
statement of his views at the end of his
message, the President does not even
except the churches. He thus places
himself on the ground taken by few
radical clubs, and by some thoughtful
economists-and advocates a measure
which no one could have dreamed could
have come in the field of active politics
for generation to come.
The Presidents radical plan for re-
sumption terrifies the Republicans, who
have been trying to ride two horses, and
have tried to invent schemes for getting
specie without contracting the green
backs.
The recommendations in regard to
our Cuban policy are approved by
every one, and has given the question
careful consideration in all it's
bearings.
FOR WARNING RATHER THAN NsTRUC-
TON.
From the New York Tribune, Qnd).
With regard to the school question
and this is after all the feature of the
message. It opens and closes with it.
It anticipates ex-Speaker Blaine's pro-
posed constitutional amendment, and
dwells upon the need of amendments
to the constitution providing that the
States shall be required to afford COM
mon school education to every child
within their limits: that education shall
be made compulsory so far as
to deprive ali persons who can
not read and write from be-
coming voters after 1890; that no Sec
tartan tenets shall ever be taught in the
common schools; and that church and
state shall be declared forever separate
and distinct. Some of these PROPOSE
tions are very commendable. So with
regard to the question of the taxation
of church property, which is ably
argued, and about which there can
hardly be two opinions among thought
toll and sincere men. But all these are
questions which should be considered
in the policy of an incoming admins
tration, and not thrown out as new
issues upon which to bid for votes by
an q administration Just going. out:
It is not uncharitable or unfair to
say, under the circumstances, that he
must have preached these new issues
with the plain and unmistakable pur-
pose of making political capital. There
is nothing in this document that would
remind any one.of the grave and seri-
GUS questions that have been treated so
solemnly in his previous messages
nothing but the currency question, and
that is touched, not dwelt upon. The
heaviest portions of the message relate
to new questions, to questions which
have not heretofore been considered,
and which there is now no reason for
considering as urgent. It is politics
not craftsmanship.
The way of the Republican party is
not President Grants way. It will be
well for the party if it's leaders in Cor
gress read the message for warning
rather than instruction. So reading it.
and seeing how all former issues are
ignored, they will do well to remember
the quaint fable of the dog who drop
ped the meat he had in his mouth for
the shadow of it he saw in the water.
THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
From the New York World pem.>
The presidents treatment of the So
rious questions at issue between Spain
and the United States, growing out of
the civil confict'in the island of Cuba,
will hardly, perhaps, inspire an equal
confidence in the pacific intentions
either here or in Europe. The presi-
dent adds absolutely nothing to the
full statements already made of the
origin and the condition of these ques-
TONS. excepting to inform us that be
has not yet succeeded in efecting q
complete and satisfactory settlement of
our just demands upon the Spanish
! government. His language on this
point is not quite SO explicit as could
have been wished, but it is explicit
enough to make it necessary for
US to fix the attention of our