The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MBssAGB.

day, is carefully prepared and lengthy
document, but lacking the warmth
which was anticipated would char
aeterlze it, The President eongratu-
lates Congress upon the success Of the
resumption act, aud speaks with pride
Of our improved credit abroad. He
recommends the suspension Of coinage
Of silver dollars upon the present legal
ratio, for, being less in value than the
gold dollar, it is not practicable to
maintain them at par il both are coined
without limit the cheaper will become
the standard Of value.
The President desires the suppression
OF polygamy in Utah, aud wishes the
present laws against the practice firmly
executed. The Supreme Court having
decided that Congress has the power to
prohibit and punish the crime without
conflicting with the constitutional guar
antee Of religious freedom, the Presi-
dent recommends that, II the present
laws are found Ineffective, they be
amended and more comprehensive and
certain methods for preventing and
Furnishing the sin be provided.
The Executive gives considerable at
tention to his hobby OF civil service re-
form. He appears not to know that,
under our present system Of selecting
officers, the attempted reform is a
failure. Every school-boy knows that
"the tenure OF official position cannot
be made to depend on anything else
than the continued supremacy Of the
party which gives that position" His
idea of competitive examinations for
positions is fair, but the wire-pulling
politicians will not accept it.
Our relations with the British Gov
ernment in regard to the fishing
question our display at the Australian
exhibition the conditions upon which
French submarine cable WAS landed
in the United States, and the long
standing East Florida claims, are re-
ferred to, though one is at loss to know
what changes, If any, the President
thinks proper.
Our foreign relations are the cause of
much congratulatiOn. We are on
friendly terms with almost the entire
world, and in no danger OF conflict with
any power. On the question Of Chinese
immigration, we give the Presidents
brief remarks: "The Government Of
China has signified its willingness TO
consider the question of the emigration
OF its subjects to the United States with
dispassionate fairness, and to cooper
ate in such measures as may tend to
prevent injurious consequences to the
United States. The negotiations are
still proceeding, aud will depressed with
diligence" Raids on the Mexican border
arerare, owing to the judicious and ener-
getic action Of the military commanders
Of the two countries. Diplomatic rela-
tions with Colombia have been revived,
and ministers have arrived from both
that country aud China. \ naval vessel
has been sent to take possession Of the
privileges ceded to the United States by
Samoa in the harbor Of Pago Pago.
There is gratifying increase Of trade
with nearly all European aud American
countries.
Speaking Of Alaska, the President
says: "There appears to be no law for
the arrest OF persons charged with COM
mon law ofienses-such rs assault, rob-
berry and murder-and no magistrate
authorized TO issue or execute process
in such cases. a bill authorizing the
appointment Of justices OF the peace aud
aud the arrest aud detention
OF persons charged with criminal Of
lenses, and providing for an appeal to
United States courts in the district Of
Oregon in suitable cases, will, at
proper time, be submitted to Congress"
The Indian question is treated from
the standpoint Of Eastern sentimental
lists.
Educational matters receive a few
lines Of earnest atteution-enough to
show that the President is cognizaut Of
the benefits derived from our system Of
public instruction. H is strongly in
favor Of maintaining the national
library, and says "tO preserve and per-
petuate the national literature should
be among the foremost cares Of the ma
tional legislature"
Attention is called to the Washington
monument, aud au appropriation for its
is recommended.
Not a word is said about the unrepre-
sented one-half Of the people OF the
Government, unless the indefinite re-
marks under the head Of Elections,
may be construed into having some
reference to women, aud it requires a
stretch Of the Imagination to take this
view. He respectfully urges upon
Congress to supply any defects" in "ex-
isting laws aimed at the protection of
the right Of suffrage" He is fully
convinced that il the public mind can
be set at rest on this paramount ques-
ton of popular rights, no serious objec-
tion will thwart or delay the complete
pacificatiou Of the country or retard the
general diffusion Of prosperity
As whole, the message is an unsat-
isfactory aud non-committal document.