The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-12-06
The Presidents Message.

The annual message of President Hayes
with the exception of some comparatively
unimportant portions, will be found in the
Journal to-day. 1t will fail to please the
radical members of the Presidents own
party, chiefly on account ofhis persistency
in clinging to certain ideas and purposes
which they regard as heretical. There is
too much satisfaction expressed with the
course of the administration towards the
southern state governments, and the man
itest result of that course, to draw towards
him the gratitude of those who have looked
upon the southern policy as Il wrong to
themselves and to the party. They hoped
to be able to point to continued turmoil
in those states, to iealOusies of caste. even
war OF races, and a suspension Of bust
ness, and to say 81 told you o.' But in
stead they behold everywhere peace, pros
perity, a ready acquiescence in laws and
an acknowledgment Of the rights Of the
colored race. And they see, besides, that
returning confidence begets prosperity,
and that business tlourshes They see,
also, that the tranquility of the South
and its improved business prospects, re-
act upon the North, and that trade is en-
Outraged here. 1t is hard to acknowledge
all this for those who have prophesied a
directly contrary result But the people
at large cannot fail to perceive it as well,
and are giving to the wisdoHa that dictat-
ed it, their approval. This approval is
founded upon what has been actually
achieved, upon results drawn by skillful
management from most unfortunate
state Of affairs for the country The
gratitude which is thus evoked from the
hearts of people, reaches beyond party
lines and party considerations, and takes
Mr.. Hayes has done good and patriotic
thing, and deserves commentator for it.
The financial portion of the message is
sound, and will meet the approval Of men
OF all parties, excepting the wild theorists
OF an irredeemable paper currency. He
regards silver as too tluctuatny and un
reliable to be made measure of values,
and that its unlimited reconciliation
could not fail to be an evil, especially to
those OF limited incomes. He says in the
plainest terms that the public debt should
be secured from the effects of any plan
whatever which would compel the creditor
to receive for dollar that which is not
dollar. This, the President truly says. is
dictated no less by the principles of hon
esty than by sound financial policy. Run
ming parallel with these views are those
upon the matter of specie resumption. He
evidently believes the act providing for a
general resumption in 1879 to be pledge
from which the government cannot recede
with either honesty or safety. ltwas ac-
cepted by the world as an additional eX-
preston both of our intention and ability,
and ought to stand 1t can be pretty
clearly seen, we think, that any bill max
ing silver an unrestricted legal tender, or
repeating the resumption act, will encoun-
ter the executive veto.
The President apparently does not view
the achievements in the civil service line
with satisfaction. The tone of his re-
marks are apologize rather than tri-
umphant. 1t is alluded to as my at
tempted change of CUSTOM" And the
discussion of the subject is burdened and
saddened by consciousness of failure
that cannot be concealed.
The remainder of the document is de-
voted to the mention of the usual themes
of message-the treasury, army, navy,
foreign relations, &c, OF no immediate or
special interest.
Taken altogether, the message is u
credltable state paper, and one especially
to be commended FORTS wise and judicious
treatment Of the great subject of the po-
litical pacitication of the country. pom
that overshadowing subject the frmness
of the President has never faltered from
the date Of his inaugural to this time
His positions upon the subject of the coin
age, and the general finances, will meet
the appreciation of men of experience and
judgment the world over and in their in
tluence upon the policy and legislation Of
the country, will be most salutary.