The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1878-12-07
The Presidents Message.

President Hayes inflicted his Annual
Message upon Congress and the country
On Monday last. It is very ordinary
'namby- pamby sort of document, viewed
either as i state paper OF literary pro-
duction; but, like Fourth Of July and
Christmas, it was expected and looked
for. The country naturally feels in
terested in learning the make up OF q
Presidents Message, and il is only natu
raj 10 expect that the Chief Magistrate
would positively assert something, even
though it were only that two and two &C
tually make four, and might not be- ocn'
strued into three and.a half or FIVE. Tbs
Presidents Message was looked for will
more than ordinary interest, because
many observing men contend that we ars
on the threshold of new and exciting
political epoch.
There are very grave questions which
may soon become topics of discussion al
over the land. The Financial question
unsettled as it now is, may become more
go by inju.licious legislation, and is, IL
the opinion of many, of the gravest I'M
portance. The question of the power o
tile General Government TO enforce the
mandates of the Constitution and the ie
quirenlents of the Law, 10 another impor
lant question of the hour.
1t was expected that President Hayes
would give some decided expression
on these questions, but the impression,
given upon reading his second message
is his careful avoidance Of committing
himself to any thing definite.
Upon the Southern question he is still
conciliatory, though he is obliged to con
fess that his policy" has been failure
yet his inherent gentleness' prevents
his denouncing even outrageous wrongs
lie describes the ravages of the yellow
fever, and holds that Congress should
adopt measures 10 protect the country
against the same. He chances at foreign
business, and refers to the Paris Exposi
ton, the Monetary Conference, the Hall
fax Fishery award, the proposed new
Treaty with Japan, the Chinese Embassy
and our Mexican relations, which at one
49, .oox,o.I - Iva j., q doouaro,,o ~ ii,
but which are now more pacific. lie sus
tains Secretary Sherman's recommends
ton that ten dollar certificates of deposit
be issued, SO that small sums may be in
vested in Government securities through
the Post Office, and says that Congress
should not refrain from making any radi
cal change in the existing financial sys
tenn. lie does not set forth just how
the Army has been employed during tll,
last year, but recommends appropriations
for it, and urges the repeal of the Poss'
cOmitdtWs act. The navy, also, requires
more money, which he recommends be
ing appropriated. The President detaiIl
how the Post Office Departments re
ceipts has run millions behind its ex
penses. More money is asked for the In
dians; according to his theory the Ban,
mock war was mainly ewing to the made
quacy of the appropriations, and he rec
emmends that sufficient fund should
be placed at his disposal for the use O
emergencies. He holds that reliance
must be placed ON humane and ciyiliEinl
agencies for the solution OF the Indian
problem. He recommends efforts t.
stimulate old and introduce new agri
cultural industries.
The message. taken as a whole, lis pc
culisrly temperate i'll language and cor
rect in statement, as far as it goes, but il
falls very short of what the times and ths
emergency demands, and lacks thai
ringing, resolute tone which should
peryade it.