Middletown transcript., 1878-12-07
THE MESSAGE.


President Hayes second annual
message was transmitted to Congress
on Monday 1t is not a lengthy doc
ument for Presidents message, but
like the boys butter, "it is mighty
good what there is Of it, and there is
enough Of it such as it is"
After the customary mention that
we are at peace with our neighbors'
our abundant harvests are attended
to and it is believed that general pros
perity is at last within our reach"
The yellow fever epidemic is reviewed |
and Congress invited to give quaran-
tine matters early and careful consid-
Grafton. The freedom Of elections in
the South is discussed at considerable
length and the records of the elections
in South Carolina, Louisiana and some
Congressional districts in other States
"seem to compel the conclusion that
the rights Of the colored Evoters have
been over-ridden and their participa-
ton in the elections not permitted to
be either.general or free" Congress
Is asked to look into this matter, but
only the mildest measures are recon-
mended. Returning Boards are not
alluded to, as the President no doubt
feels it too licateTsubject'' to dis
cuss. After review Of our foreign
relations the public finances are taken
up, but no financial legislation is
recommended. On the contrary, he
thinks the welfare Of legitimate bus
mess will be best promoted by abstain
ing from all attempts to make radical
changes in the existing financial legis-
lation." Resumption will take place
at the appointed time and will be fol-
lowed by "healthful revival Of busi-
ness prosperity" The Army iistouched
lightly and several recommendations
of the Secretary Of War are appended.
After going through with the remain
der Of the departments, the President
turns his attention to agriculture and
urges upon The attention of Congress
and the people the Importance Of an
increase Of our agricultural productions
and quotes a passage from Washing
toms eighth annual message. He tells
us that about one-half the population
of the United States are engaged in
agriculture and that the value OF the
agricultural products Of the country
for the year 1878 is estimated at three
thousand millions of dollars. Our ex-
ports Of agricultural products in 1877
were fattering, yet. Notwithstanding
our advantages Of soil, climate and
intercommunication, we import an
nuafiy from foreign lands many mil
lions Of dollars worth Of agricultural
products that we could raise at home.
On agriculture the President is sound,
and his good suggestions under that
head hel to make up for his silence
on civil service reform. Upon the
whole, the message has little in it that
any one can object to, but on many
things that received careful attention
a year ago the President is now as
silent as a grindstone. Perhaps q
years experience has taught him the
value of saying little when he has lit
tie to say';;-iff,s say7';-iff So he has-11earned more
in one year than Grant did in eight
None can object to his condemnation
of election frauds but he should have
directed attention to other sections o
the country as well to the South. Thc
message glides along from one head t
another as smoothly as an old time ser
mon and winds up with District o
Columbia affairs" :" a subject in whicl
no one is interested save the President
Congress, the lobbyists and residents
The message is by no means an az
gressive document; rather, it is a
mild as boys first composition oI
temperance, and neither Democrat
nor Republicans will find much in
TO condemn.