The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-07

profitable to our country. As to the re-
sumption act, the president evidently sees
that it needs the aid Of practical meas
ures, but these cannot be expected from
this congress, and he is opposed to any
backward steps, So are we, but we want
practicable forward steps.
From the N Y. Times.
The Times takes issue with the president |
on his statements regarding the salutary |
effects of his policy in the south, and that
southern credit has been greatly strength |
ened. On the latter point the Times saws |
that 1t was never worse than at this mo-
ment, when the disposition to repudiate is /
almost universal in the SOUTH" Its edito-
rial closes as follows:
After informing congress that his policy
has already borne such rich fruit that It
must be accepted as q success, the presi-
dent in his final references to the subject,
practically comedies that everything
is yet contingent upon the voluntary pro-
ceedings of the southern states. The
| national government can now do little or
nothing. The education and general vel
tare Of the colored people. the enactment
OF iustsand humane laws and their proper
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, in short, not
specially provided for in the constitutional
amendments, must now be dependent upon
the southern democracy. They are mas :
ters OF the situation. To them the presi-
dent earnestly appeals for the recognition
Of the equality they have spurned, for the
protection which at present is mockery,
for the attainment of objects which they
fought against when the republican party
was power in the south, and which will
hardly receive their support now that their
authority is absolute. This, then. is the
glorious result this he2'salutary change
this the proof that the policy is not an
experiment"
From the N. Y Herald.
His defence of his civil service measure
is the weakest part of the message, be-
cause he was under the necessity of
executing retreat It is not mastery
retreat. There is no allusion to the
famous order in which he made his first
attempt to carry out his ideas of civil ser
vice reform. 1t would have been awkward
for him to have attempted its defence,
after allowing it to be defantly trampled
under foot with impunity in the state OF
, New York, and after having himself 'ex
planned it away by piecemeal until there
was hardly a shred OF it left The total
silence of the message with reference to
J that remarkable order is a tacit abandon.
ment of it. and an implied confession thai
/ it was a mistake.
. ''On the great question of the currency,
which is just now the most important OF
, all, President Hayes is so correct 10 bis
2 judgment aud so decided in his language
that the message will put the country
quite at ease on that subject. His sense
ls1F IL n
suggest vetoes in advance, but it is en-.
tirely certain that he cannot, in consistency
! with his declared opinions, sign either OIL
! the two bills which have passed the house
\ There was never any doubt as to what hC
s would do with the bill for repeating the re
/ sumption act, if it should pass the senate
o but the favor with which he was known
\ to regard the reconciliation of silYe
e caused more or less apprehension. What
n ever fears may have been felt on Thu
head are relieved by the message. Mr.
q Hayes silver fever is of a mild type
Q Although he wants silver ren.onetized anC
d believes in the double standard. he cares
e great deal more for the protection of tn
e public credit"
I'll From the n Y World.
a THE only criticism which candid mel
Vi eltuSE party eau udkc upOu ludt puIIloI
n of the presidents message which touche
q. the most vital question OF the moment, tn
; question Of the currency and its relation
4 TO the public faith, will be that be nigh
i with great advantage to all business inter
a ssts of the country, have found some wa
5 of saying long before this time what b
~ now most plainly and emphatically says
m He has committed himself, even IRE
vocably, to a veto of any measure founde
upon what he stigmatiLes as the delusiO
Mt that any temporary relief can be obtaine
lie for the private business of the country b
bit an issue of silver coinage to pass as leg
no tender at a rate materially above i
er commercial value, and of any measure r.
lie monetiziDg silver which lacks firm pr
N vision exempting the public debt, heret
mr. fore issued and now outstanding, from Il
is payment Of the principal OF the interest
he any coinage of less value than the preset
he gold coinage of the country. 1t would
3? unfair to the president TO withhold Il
of praise which he deserves for this expliC
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