The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

this morning the last annual message of
Rutherford b. Hayes, whose occupancy of
the White House will cease March 4, 1881.
The document has no remarkable features;
it gives expression to no commanding
thoughts; it is somnolent state paper; it
deals in platitudes; it is wanting in vigor.
and in all regards is Characteristic of Ruth
erford Il. Hayes. The message congratulates
the members of the Senate and House of
Representatives ION the continued and in
creasing prosperity of our country" and
credits "Divine Providence" with bestow-
ing the blessings of health, abundant har-
vests and profitable employment" The
Government of the United States is
at peace with all the Nations of
the earth. Mr.. Hayes points with
special pride to the fact that the late Presi-
dental election passed off quietly. He be-
lieves there is no necessity for Solid North
or a Solid South, aud that as soon as the
Fifteenth Amendment is obeyed everything
like the sOlidity of sections viii disappear.
Mr.. Hayes renews his recommendations
upon the subject of Civil Service Reform,
and urges legislation upon the subject with
considerate emphasis. AS matters now
stand, Mr.. Hayes is of the opinion that the
stability of the Government is in danger.
He wants Congress to enact law establish
ing fixed rules for the regulation of ap
pointments promotions and removals, es-
tabishing uniform methods having ex-
clusively in view in every instance,
the attainment of the best qualifica-
tons for the position in question" 1t is
to be hoped that Congress will at once
proceed to give Mr.. Hayes law that will
meet with his approval. Mr.. Hayes takes
strong ground against polygamy, and recon-
mends aggressive legislation against the
Mormons. He favors .wipIng out the pres
ent Territorial Government of Utah and the
establishment of Government analogous
to the provisional Government established
for the territory northwest of the Ohio by
the ordinance of 1884," If that will not do,
then he recommends that the right to vote,
hold Office and sit on juries in the Territory
of Utah be confined to those who neither
practice nor uphold polygamy. Aside from
these things, the message is devoid of special
interest, and is chiefly made up of rehash
of Department reports. Mr.. Hayes favors
like John Sherman, a bigger silver dollar
and the retirement of the greenbacks He
mildly refers To the Monroe doctrine with
reference to the Darien Ship Canal. He
fayors granting subsidies as means of
extending the commerce of the country.
Such policy would draw largely upon the
Federal Treasury, and whatever might be
the result in a commercial point of view, it
would largely benefit the private gentlemen
who pocketed the money. The subject of
education is touched upon, with few flour
ishes of the pen designed to impress Con-
gress with the importance of educating the
ignorant who reside in States where school
funds are not sufficient to meet the educa-
tiOnal demand. In such cases. Mr.. Hayes
would draw on the Federal Treasury.
The message will create no excitement and
precious little interest anywhere, the only
recommendation calculated to create
ripple on the smooth surface of political
puddles being that relating to Civil Service
Reform. In some regards the message is
suggestive of reflections. 1t Is the last that
Mr.. Hayes will issue. In less than three
months Mr.. Hayes will retire from an
office to which he was elevated by means
which will grow in colossal responsiveness
as the years roll on-and in the future as
often as his name shall be mentioned it
will call up record that no American citi-
zen can contemplate without experiencing
sense of deep humiliation. But Mr..
Hayes has made money by the operation,
and has managed, it is believed, to save at
least $4,000 of his salary, and to hand
somely reward out of the Federal Treasury
the men who contributed directly to enter
upon the the duties of an office which, by
the fiat of the American people, belonged to
another citizen.