New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-04
high state of efficiency, and viii satisfy the


TUE NESSiGF.
The Grst Annual Message OF President Hayes
is strongly marked 10y some of the traits OF the
personal character of its author. The same
buoyant disposition, the same propensity 10
look upon the bright side of THINGS, the same
| frankness and good humor, united with teh'c-
ity of purpose, which have been by turns the
admiration and the despair of his irehds
at Washington, appear IN almost oF
cry paragraph on this interesting uocu-
ment. MIR. Hayes stands forth ms something
of a curiosity-an obstinate man Nilh WIN"
| il is difficult to quarrel, an oplnionateu nian
with n sunny temper, positive man VINO II
not combative, staunch upnolder on the TX
ecutiye prerogativcs, with cheerful respect LOT
the prerogatives of Congress He has taken
his policy very much 70 heart, and yet he realizes
! that the Solar system Is not built upon IT,
| He seems TO be perfectly well satisfied with It's
theory and its results and yet he betrays neither
! bitterness nor even Impotence with those VINO
denounce the one and deny the other. Such Il
man may lack the gifts OF great statesman;
vet il is evident that he has many of the
| oualities OF an able administrator. Where lie
has failed, the fault is generally to be attrib-
uted to an unfortunate choice of instruments,
rather than to mistakes in his original plans.
The Message begins with an indirect apol-
ogy for the Southern policy. So far as that
policy consists in disseminating the use OF the
army for the purpose Of setting up ana slS-
tanning State government which has not VI
| tally enough to stand alone, it needs no de-
| fence it Will be approved by history; it is
approved already by majority of the Presi-
idenfs Couutrymcn; it is too late 20 discuss
It. We applaud the Presidents vehement as
surance that he will do all that ne can
under the Constitution to maintain the rights
of the Col0red people, and we strongly COM
mend his appeal to the Southern whites TO
give the liberated bondman the full privileges
and fair play of an American citizen For our
selves we have never doubted the devotion OF
Mr.. Hayes to the principles of the party that
elected him; but this earnest protest IN
behalf of the negro may relieve some
uneasy brethren who nave become 80 ac-
customed to the bayOuet variety OF
Republicanism that they distrlst every other
kind. In congratulating himself and the conn
try upon the effects of the Southern policy, the
President is perhaps rather hasty. IN the
long run, of course, the effect OF obcyin2 the
the right thing is often done in the wrong
way and we cannot say that the rayishing
prospect which the eye OF Mr. Hayes beholds in
the South has yet opened in its full brightness
to other observers. We hope; but let US not
hurrah till we are ont of the woods.
From the Southern question the President
passes directly to the finances. On this para
mount topic ne speaks in clear and positive
tones. He stands manfuy mp TO the doctrine
OF his Inaugural Address. He takes precisely
the ground in relation TO resumption and re-
moneiZatiOn which was described IN the special
dispatches Of THE TRIBUNE yesterday He IS
unatcrably opposed to any pOstpon"ment OF
the date Of resumption, to any "wayerng
" in purpose or unsteadiHess in methods" III
dealing with this great measure which involves
the prosperity and honor of the Nation. Moth
ing cOuld be more fOrcble, more reasoning,
more dignified more sati-factOry IN every way
than his utterGnce. 1t viii greatly Strengthen
the party Of hard money and fair dealing,
and go far in counteIacting the bad effect
abroad of the recent vote of the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES. Still more etIcctuai perhaps
in mcnding our shattered credit will be his
explicit statement of views on the Silver ques-
ton. Although he is in favor of keeping sill
yer in circulation on equal terms with
gold he would not have it made nm unlimited
lccal-tendor, even in private commercial trans
actions, while he rejects altogether, as incon-
sistent with good faith rs well as a sound
financial policy, the idea &C making it apDlic-
able TO The aynent O. the interest or pcincpai
of any part OF the public debt. lie bases This
declaration upon a high sense OF National duty.
and q clear perception Of the moral aspects Of
the case. 1t is quite inConccyahle, after this,
that he should ever be shaken in his resclu-
ton we may take It to be certain what he
will do in case any OF the pending silver
schemes pass Congress.
The Civil Service trcads close upon the heels
of the coinage. anu the President repeats, with
an earmeSiness unchecked by the disappont-
ments Of the past year, the principles OF Re
form which he has so often stated, and so
often allowed his Secretaries to violate Moth
ing is said about certain incidents Of Reform
which have recently occupied great deal of
space in the newspapers; and indeed we are in
clined to infer from the Message, that Mr..
HAYES believes Reform TO be getting on splen-
didly. He asks for an Appropriation to dig UP
General Grants defunct Civil Service Commits
sion.
The Mexican troubles are referred to some
what briefly, and the usual summary is made
of the Department reports, which have been or
will be treated separately in TIE TRIBUNE.
The Message ends with recommendations for
the establishment of a National University at
Washington, the foundation of National
Museum under the supervision of the Smith