The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-12-07
The Presidents Message.

is tame and not of sufficient Importance to
lay before our readers, as most all OF the
information therein contained has hereto
fore been published.
Like all messages it starts out with the
expression of heartfelt gratitude for count
less blessings, in the way of peace, abun-
dant harvests and signs of returning pros
perity. The plague-stricken South next
receives attention, and the action of the
Executive and heads of department in sup
plying nurses, medicines and rations for
the afflicted is hoped will receive the sane
ton of Congress. The number Of cases
of yellow fever are placed at 100000,
5000 of which, it is believed, proved IA
tai. Congress is asked to give careful
consideration to quarantine subjects and
protection of our seaports, that similar
calamities may be averted or alleviated.
The alleged violations of the election laws
in the South are then commented upon,
but have not received the attention which
was predicted by Washington gossips, and
the Presidents utterances are more mod
crate than was anticipated. The last three
amendments to the constitution, says the
President, gave the Southern States greater
power in Congress and in the Electoral
College, and the results of extending the
elective franchise were anxiously watched
by the people. The records show that the
results were not what was anticipated
Exactly, and the President but echoes the
voice of his party in that statement. The
negroes were emancipated, made citizens
and clothed with the rights of the elective
franchise. That was done to keep the
Presidents party in power, for it was con-
fdently supposed that the colored vote
could be always relied upon to vote the
Republican ticket. But they counted
without their host. The negroes fast
realized, by experience, that their interests
were identical with the native white popu.
lation, almost unanimously Democratic.
and Joined with them to rout out Radi-
calism, which was destroying the life and
substance of the Southern States, and was
robbing and plundering the blacks as well
as the whites. The colored voters of the
South now either abstain from voting, OF
vote the Democratic ticket, and because
of this it is claimed that the voice of the
colored people is overridden and the cleo
ton laws violated; and Congress is request
ed to inquire into it, and to vote means
for the Executive and the Judicial De-
partment to investigate these matters.
There are no interferences in the South,
which are not common elsewhere, as re-
viewed from a strict construction of the
laws, and even they pale in comparison to
the overriding of public sentiment by
northern manufacturers, who make voting
the Republican ticket a prerequisite for
their employees to maintain their positions,
thus forcing them, out of their necessity,
to vote against their convictions.
The President says:
alt is the right of every citizen possessing
the qualifications prescribed by law to cast
one unintimidated ballot, and to have his
ballot honestly counted. So long as the ex-
ercise of this power and the enjoyment of this
right are common and equal, practically as
well as formally, submission to the results OF
the suffrage will be accorded loyalty and
cheerfully, and all the departments OF govern
ment will feel the true vigor of the popular
will thus expressed"
This comes with i'll grace from Mr..
Hayes, who sits in the White House and
exercises the functions of President against
the will of the people, as overwhelmingly
expressed at the polls. Their ballots were
dishonesty counted by State canvassing
boards, by an 8 by commission uncon-
additionally organized, and by Congress
oYerawed by federal bayonets drawn to the
capital by Grant for no other conceivable
reason, except to intimidate that body.
Foreign relations are next considered,
and are represented to be peaceful with
all nations. The American exhibits at
the Paris Exposition are said to be cred
table in scope and character, and good
results are expected to follow in promoting
commercial intercourse with other countries.
The international commission, which
met at Paris for the purpose Of establish
ing common ratio between gold and sill
yer and securing Gxity Of value between
them, in which this government was re-
presented, reached no definite conclusion
The general opinion prevailed, however
that silver as well as gold should continue
to perform monetary functions.
On the Halifax fishery award duo from
this government to great Britain, which
is simply certain sum for the privilege
Of our fishermen to catch fish in Canadian
waters, responsibility the government
should not have assumed, for yankee fish
ermen have no more right to governMepl
assistance than any other set of men, the
President says he has deemed it his duty
to tender the $5,5OO,0OO award, under
protest, because of the misunderstanding
concerning the treaty between the tvs
governments.
Our relations with Mexico, Spain, ia
pan, China and other countries are dwell
upon, but nothing new is made known
and that part of the message is uninterest
ing, as is also the parts referring to thu
reports of the heads of departments, whicl
are merely summaries Oftheir transactions
and pertain to dry details of business.
The money question received buta pass
ing notice, and is as follows:
With views unchanged with regard to thu
act under which the coinage of silver proceeds
it has been the purpose of the Secretary faith
fnIlv IN axecnte the law and to afford fai