The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-12-16

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Like all other messages which President
Hayes has sent to Congress, his last while en-
bodying many useful suggestions, and being re-
plete with interesting statistics, is remarkable
chiefly for length and the unusual prominence
of Secretary Evalts's ear marks. Indeed in
many portions of the communication it is
painfully evident that Mr.. Hayes acted mere
ly as an amanuensis for that high state Of
ficer.
That portion of the document relating to the
national finances, in which radical changes
are recommended, meets with little or no
popular approval, while the more prominent
financiers in Congress are loud in their de-
nunciation of it. 1t is the opinion prevailing
throughout the country that the question of
finance is of too delicate and important a ma
ture to warrant the proposed notifications, and
that since the business of the United States
has reached a permanent basis of prosperity
with money in its present condition, it would
be exceedingly inexpedient and unwise to
enact any further legislation in that regard.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, is preparing a pow
SiAoi SPSSNh oPpoaHS ptS lidiiCi poliCy Il-
vocated by President Hayes and Secretary
Sherman, in which, in all likelihood, he will
have the sympathy and support of The entire
Pacific coast delegation, and of their constiLu-
| ents.
On the question of ~polygamy the message
is eminently sound. The President evide ntly
has mad a careful and intelligent study of
the question, and offers suggestions which if
favorably acted upon viii! be certain to bring
about the desired result, viz: the suppression
of the barbarors and revolving institution of
polygamous marriage and the speedy and Sc
we're punishment of all those i~ncipient Nor
mon revolutionists who have deliberately and
d~etiantly violated the law of '62.
On the right Of popular suffrage the Presi-
dent is judiciously ~reticent. The question of
fair and free elections mustof necessity awak-
en- unpleasant recollections in the executive
bosom. Mr.. Hayes feels painfully aware that
it is by the notorious violation of the very
principles which he would otherwise enunci-
ate that he acquired and occupies his present
position at the head of the nation. He evil
IDENTIFY considers that the less said on that vi
tai subject. the less will Q the probability of
bringing himself into rid. e, so the matter
is dismissed with a brief paragraph.
Civil service reform is treated extensively;
but the same reason that induced brevity in
the discussion of elections should have oper.
ated in curtailinS the expression Of views on
civil service reform. The Presidents
suggestions OH his important subject are
grand and patriotic, yet from the fact that he
expressed the same opinions in his first mes
sage, it naturally and logically appears that
no improvement has occurred during the first
three years of his high official existence.
The very fact that he repeats the sugges-
lions is a definite acknowledgment of his ut
ter inability to reform civil service abuses, for
had success attended his efforts in that direc-
ton, there would have been no occasion for
the repetition. The President sincerely and
pathe,ically deprecates the plan of extorting
from government employees subscriptions to
defray political party expenses, but it should
be remembered that his Excellency was
equally concerned about this outrage three
years ago, since which time, it follows,
there has been no improvement, as otherwise
a renewal of the recommendations in that re-
gard would be totally uncalled for.
TIL Chinese question is discussed as though
it were a matter entirely too insignificant for
consideration. The very subject upon which
the welfare of the Pacific Coast is largely de-
panlapf ic dicnpcco1 In fouor fbon n do,ap
lines, no information being given as to the
progress of the negotiations, if any have bee
instituted, looking to a restriction of Chinese
immigration.
The indifference if not total disregard
which the President displays on a subject of
such vital importance to the interests of Pa
cifc Coasters may be safely calculated greatly
to diminish Western confidence IN the Re-
publican leaders, and will operate largely to
the benefit of the Democracy. In the coming
Presidential contest California and Oregon
are sure to cast their votes for that party which
will give the best assurances of a sincere de-
sire and purpose to abate the Chinese EVIL.
On the whole, therefore, it is safe to con-
clude that the message is a somewhat i'll
advised, tedious and commonplace state
paper, which would entitle its author to more
respect had he demonstrated his ability and
desire to execute aud enforce his own rec
concentrations.
In Sundays issue of the MINER there was
not space to publish the entire document.
The most important parts were selected, how
ever, and with the following interesting and