The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-09
THE MESSAGE.

reforms in various branches of the Government
It NAV be found in full in Tuesdays OregOnian
We give but a meager synopsis.
After mentioning the ready acquiescence with
which the defeated party accepted the result of
the late election, and noting the impression made
on the thoughtful people of other nations to the
advantages of republican government by the
peaceful manner in which power is transmitted in
this country from one administration to its sue
eessor the President proceeds to coOly and ration
ally discuss the frauds perpetrated the ballot
box in the South, and hopes Congress will nvesti-
gate and destroy the effect of all outrages, that
no benefit shall accrue to any persons or parties
through the violation of "that right preservative
of all rights, the right of suffrage"
Under the division of Education" the Presi-
dent says 'the best and surest guarantee of the
primary rights of citizenship is to be found in
that capacity for self-protection which can belong
only to people whose right TO universal suffrage
is supported by universal education" and recon-
mends that, as means are not adequate in all
States for the free education of all who need it,
Congress supplement the school funds of INDECENT
States by grants of public lands and appropria-
tons from the United States Treasury if necessary
In commenting on the "Civil Service" the
President again calls attention to the evils that
accrue from allowing Senators and Representa-
tves to claim the power Of controlling the Federal
appointments in their States Districts, and
recommends that all appointments and promo
tions be subject to competitive tests without re-
gard to partisan influence He says that in the
two years past this method has been tried in the
larger cities and found to work admirably.
In discussing the Mormon question, the Presi-
dent shows that all laws against polygamy have
been pOwerless in Utah because the "heads of the
intoerant and immoral sect exercise the local po-
litical power of the Territory" Control the grand
and petit juries" and possess a large influence
over the administration Of justice" He hints
that il will be impossible to rid the country of the
Mormon ulcer while the enforcement Of the laws
against polygamy "depends on those who practice
it and uphold the crime" and recommends that
Congress provide Utah with government analO-
gous to that established for the territory north
west OF the Ohio by the ordinance Of 17s7;" or, if
Congress deems il advisable to continue the pres
ent form of government, he recommends that 'the
right to vote, hold office and sit juries in the
Territory of Utah be confined TO those who neither
practice nor uphold poygamy." In his remarks
on this subject, he improves the opportunity to
say that religious liberty and separation of
Church and State are among the elementary ideas
of our free institutions, interests and principles
lied"
The subject of "foreign relations" occupies a
large part OF the message; but we will pass over
this portion, a the Government is on terms Of
friendship with all powers, and the matters men
toned have all been detailed in the press of the
country.
The aggregate revenues Of the Government from
all sources during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, are shown to have been 1888 526,6l0, an in
crease over the preceding year of about six mil
lions, while the total ordinary expenses were
S267 642 957 leaving surplus of s65 ,653 which,
with s. OS4 434 from the treasury, ,0S7 i'm
all, applied to the sinking fund.
The message points out the necessity of stop
ping the unlimited coinage of the present silver
dollar, and says that "the longer the law remains
in force requiring the coinage Of a nominal dollar
which in reality is not a dollar the greater be-
comes the danger that this country will be forced
to accept single metal the sole legal standard
of value i'm circulation, and this is a standard of
less value than it purpors to be worth in the rec
ognized money of the world" The President
recommends that Congress 'authorZe the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to coin silver dollars of
equivalent value in bullion with the gold dollar"
The remarks military matters and Indian
affairs based the reports Of the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary Of the Interior.
Recommendations are made for improvement
of the channels of the Columbia and the Mississippi
Rivers. That the President gained much knowl-
edge of the country tributary to the Columbia,
and the need for improving its navigablity, is
proven by the fact that it is coupled with the
Mississippi and is justly regarded as water
course of equal Importance.
The President suggests the proprety of creating
/ the Office OF Captain-G General of the Army-oi
course, to afford position for General Grant.
Public lands postal affairs, United States Courts
the report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, the
condition Of the District Of Columbia, and other
matters, are discussed, but we can give no more
space to the message. Altogether, it is an excel
lent State paper. Though it contains nothing Of
] Yital imnnrtance x.nranr, ,Iso Of tha