Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-10

year than usual, and the topics which it
discusses are treated with the terseness
and directness which characterize most
of Mr. Hayes's public utterances. The
yellow fever epidemic is the first subject
of which he speaks. He describes Its ex-
tent and results, and the aid extended by
individuals and the Government,and urges
the necessity of national sanitary adj
ministration, not only with power to con-
trol quarantine, but to have the sanitary
supervision of internal commerce IN times
of epidemic, and to hold advisory rela-
tious to State and municipal authorities,
The next topic which he discusses Is the
civil and political rights OF the colored
people in the South. The Congressional
elections lately held were looked forward
70, he says, as constituting direct and
Trustworthy test Of the advance made IN
the establishment of the right of suffrage,
but the result has not justified the expect
atoms. In the States of louisiana and
South Carolina, and in some particular
districts outside of those States, the rec
ords of the elections compel the conclu-
sion that the rights of the colored voters
have been over-ridden. He declares that
the Executive and judicial Departments
in the Government will DO everything 10
their power to investigate and punish vio-
lations of the laws of the United States
which have occurred He renews his
appeal TO the local authorities and the
people Of the States where these wrongs
have been perpetrated to assist In bring
ing the guilty parties to justice, and he
calls upon Congress to make spproPrlR-
tions adequate to enable the Executive
Department to enforce the laws. he puts
the philosophy and ethics Of the whole
question into a single sentence when be
says, 1T Is the right Of every citizen pos
sesaing the qualifications prescribed by
law To CAST ONE UNISTISIDATED BALLOT AND
TO HAVE Ills BALLOT HONESTLY COUNTED.
He shows, moreover, that as these frauds
have been perpetrated In elections for
Congress, they become matters OF nation
al concern, particularly as the country Is
50 bound together that the prosperity OF
the Uaion is impossible without peace,
security and prosperity IN the several
States. In spite Of these indications that
the work OF Cancellation and pAcihcatiOn
Is not yet complete, he considers that the
tendencies are strongly in the direction OF
unity OF feeling and reciprocal confidence
between North and South.
The President refers briefly to the
Paris Exposition, the Monetary Confer
euce, the payment Of the Halifax award,
the termination Of the Cuban insurrec-
ton, the ra.if cation Of treaty with It.
ally, the negotiations for new treaty with
Japan, the reception Of the Chinese En-
bAssy. the improvement OF our relations
with Mexico and the better protection OF
the border aud other minor points IN our
foreign relations. He summarizes the re-
port Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
aud dwels upon the gratifying condition
of the national credit, the reduction of
the debt and the successful progress Of the
refunding at four per cent. tie depre-
Gates any radical change in existing dnan-
cial legislation, and considers that If busi-
ness continues undistarbed by Govern
me ital interference, the resumption OF
specie payments will be easily maintained
and will be followed by hesithtul reviv-
a Of business prosperity. Passing to the
reports Of the other departments, he IN
dOrses certain recommendations OF Secre-
tary McCrary, passes over those of Sec
rotary Thompson and presents briefly the
questions TO be determined in connection
with the postal service. tie urges action
tor the relief Of the business Of the Su-
preme and Circuit Courts; and he concurS
10 the recommendations Of Secretary
Schurz, particularly as regards the organ
izauou OF corps OF mounted Indian
alxiharies. tie speaks hopefully Of the
educational experiments now IN progress.
and Of the general measures for the civil
iza,iou of the Indians, and deprecates any
change in these directions He urges the
need of legislation to protect the timber
on public ands, adveIts 10 the Importance
Of the agricultural interests, and COM
mends the efforts Of the Department Of
Agriculture TO promote them. Among
other recommendations in the report are
the grant Of national aid to supplement
local systems OF education, the extension
of the accommodations of the Congress
iOnaI Library and Of the Smithsonian In
stitute, the improvement OF the river front
Of Washington, and other District mat
ters.-Portland Press.