The daily gazette., 1880-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

| lubltldL6S budI III MS opinion q
double monetary standard is not
merely permitted but is required by
the constitution of the United States.
Though his language on this subject
is somewhat hazy that seems TO be
its falrest construction, and it GER
tainly is an Interpretation Cf the
constitution which cannot be accept
ed. Both as to the disposition of
the greenback currency and as to
the light weighted silver dollar there
is some discrepancy of Views be-
tween the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury. The Presi-
dent recommends not merely the
withdrawal of the legal tender
quality from Treasury notes, but
their total withdrawal from circula-
ton, while the Secretary would keep
them in circulation shorn of the
legal tender quality. The President
also refrains from recommending the
| absolute cessation of silver dollar
coinage, which the Secretary pre-
| sents as one of his alternative modes
| for the treatment of the silver ques-
ton.
In respect to civil seryice reform
the President advises a multitude of
remedial statutes. But he makes
no allusion to his celebrated "Civil
Service Order, No. l." dated June
%, 1877, which forbade all civil
officers "to take part in the manage
ment of political organizations,
caucuses, conventions or election
campaigns" and declared that "no
assessment for political purposes on
officers or subordinates should be
allowed"
With regard to what used to be call
ed the Southern question, inasmuch
as President Hayes course concerning
1t has been signalIZed by more up
rightness and consistency than his CON
duct touching the civil service, so his
recommendations will carry greater
weight. No just exception can be
taken to hls appeal to Congress TO see
that every case Of violation of the
letter or spirit Of the fifteenth amend
ment of the constitution is thoroughly
investigated, and that no benefit from
such violation shall accrue to any per-
son or party" As to his proposition
for liberal grants of public lands and
appropriations from the federal Treas
ury to assist popular education in the
Southern States, il is premature to
give assent 10 t. The idea was first
broached in a speech of President
Hayes in Ohio only few mouths ago,
and although Congressional land
grants to all The States proportionally
for educational purposes are not novel
yet the sectional character of the gifts
which n YapAyAgaA aud IL
scale on which they are suggested, as
well as the relations Of the project to
the federal homeslead laws, all forbid
hasty acquiescence in such a plan
without sight of the details by which
1t is proposed to be carried into execu-
tion. The same may be said with G.
gard TO the Presidents vague outliae
sketch of an immense scheme of inter- |
nal Improvements in the Valley OF the |
Mississippi, comprising not only that |
stream bu, all its tributaries.
IL is satisfactory TO know that the |
President heartily approves the new In |
Il an policy which contemplates as its |
ultimate purpose the dissolution Of tr- |
bal relations and transformation of the |
Indians into citizens. The too brief |
approval of legislation TO institute postal |
-
main;enance of the army at Its full legal |
strength is exhorted and large appropri-
ations are advised for sea coast de.ences
as well as generous federal aid toward |
making the active militia powerful |
force. The need of legislation TO insti- |
tute civil government in Alaska and to |
modify the Territorial government OF |
Utah Is pointed out. Great public works |
IN the city of Washington are advised
81 ch as tue redemption Of the Potomac |
Hats, tho enlargement Of the aqueduct, |
The purchase OF all the land around Laf- |
ayetLe square and its occupation with |
buildings for executive uses, new |
building for the Congressional library |
and the completion of the Washington |
Monument at federal expense. A relief |
of the calander of the Supreme Court
of tue United States is advised, not OIL
the "ehamber" plan, which would in
volye an Increase Of the number of the
Supreme Court
A new suggestion to honor General
Grant is broached by proposition to
institute the officer Of "eaptain general"
Of the army.
Finally the current diplomacy Of the
United States is extensively reviewed
| by tue President, aud the variety of our
iptSlSh auaiio - SAEststeu Dy mention
| Of The fishery uouUles with Great
| Britain; the maritime search troubles
with Spain; The negotiations with Ger
many concerning naturalization and
military service, with China concerning
! commerce and immigration, and with
Morocco concerning religious perseclI-
ton and consular jurisdiction; our
| proffers of mediation between Chile aud
| Peru; the prospects of railroad com
| muHication with Mexico; our duties
concerning the surplus Of the japanese
and Chinese indemnity funds; our
thanks to Egypt for the obelisk, and
numerous more of our international re-
lations, touching which the most inn
| portant utterance Of the President is his
reafirmaticn OF "the right and duty Of
the United States TO assert end main.
such supervision ald authority over any
interoceanic canal across the isthmus
that connects North and South America
as Will protect our national interest"
READINGS EXPENDITURES.
| From the Reading Eagle.
Reading is about size, in population
of Wilmington. The expenditures are