Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

The Presidents Message is the longest State paper ever sent by him to Congress It is so long that it will frighten away from it's perusal many who would read shorter document. Nevertheless, those who do wade through it will find much to compensate them for the effort,
 After commenting upon the continued and increasing prosperity of the country, the peaceful and happy outcome of the presiden- tial election, the improvement visible in the state of affairs in the South and the duty of the government to maintain the constitution al rights of all the citizens of the country, the President takes up the subject of popular ed- ucation, and recommends that 'sCongress, by suitable legislation and with proper safe- guards, supplement the local educational funds in the several States where the grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship have been devolved upon uneducated people, by devoting to the purpose grants of public lands, and, if necessary. by appropriations from the Treasury of the United States''
 Civil service reform is next discussed. The President has not seen any reason to change his mind concerning this matter, and seems to be better satisfied with what has been &C., complished than some others who believe in and are working for the reform, and more hopeful for it's future. He recommends an appropriation of $25,O ,O0O per annum for a commission whose duty it shall be to devise a just. uniform and eff cient system of competitive examinations and to supervise the application of the same fTro11 rr1,O o,, kl. government. He also recommends such legislation as shall enable every public officer to feel as safe as any private citizen in refus- ing all demands upon his salary for political purposes, complete divorce between Con- gross and the Executive in the matter of ap- pointments, and the repeal of the provisions of section 1767, and of the sections following comprising the tenure of office act of March ?, 1867 It will probably be some time be- fore these recommendations receive the at- tention to which they are entitled
 Upon the Mormon question the President uses plain language, and urges Congress to adopt such measures as will secure the speedy abolition of the evil of polygamy and the sec- tarian political power of the Mormons He recommends that Congress provide for the government of Utah by a Governor and judges or commissioners, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate-a government analogous to the provisional government established for the Territory northwest of the Ohio by the ordinance of 1787. If, however, it is deemed best to con- tinue the existing form of local government, he recommends that the right to vote, hold office and sit on juries in the Territory of Utah, be confined to those who neither prac- tice nor uphold polygamy.
 In that part of the Message which treats of our foreign relations there is little of special interest The President refers to his special message in March last concerning the propos- ed canal across the Isthmus of Panama, and declares that subsequent consideration has but confirmed the opinion ''that it is the right and duty of the United States to assert and maintain such supervision and authority over any inter oceanic canal across the 18th mus that connects North and South America as will protect our national interest,"
 For the further development of our for eign commerce the President would have the country follow the example of Great Britain and establish regular steam postal communi- cation with the markets whose trade is sought. He would also like to cable laid from San Francisco to the Sandwich Islands, and thence to Japan at the north and Australia at the south.
 The attention of Congress is called to what Secretary Sherman says in his annual report concerning the refunding of the national debt the retirement of the legal tenders is recommended and the coinage of an honest silver dollar
 Other recommendations are: Legislation for organizing, arming and disciplining the actt0e militia of the country attention to the report of the chief of engineers upon the condition of our national defences improve ment of the Mississippi and it's tributaries and the Columbia that the office of Captain General of the Army be created and General Grant placed in il; ; some form of civil gov ernment for the people of Alaska that an in termediate appellate court be established in order to help the transaction of business in the federal courts; an increase of the num- Der of Indian schools; the passage of the bill providing for the allotment of lands in severalty to the Indians and attention to the general interests of the District of Columbia