Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-12-10
4 MASTERLY MESSAGE
PRESIDENT HAYES LAST Of
FICIAL DOCUMENT.
The Conclusions Reached After Four
Years Service-..The Country in
a. Prosperous Condition.
A General Review.
THE DOCUMENT.

is exceptional, and that is the fact that it
is one of the few messages delivered to
Congress without first having been pub
lished to the world. For years past the
annual message of the executive has been
the annual anxiety Of newspaper row in
Washington. To obtain surreptitiously.
or otherwise, and publish the document
in advance Of the convening of Congress,
has been considered a piece of ofnewspaper
enterprise. Notwithstanding the extra
caution taken to prevent its being prema-
turely disclosed, in most cases it has been
captured bodily by the bohemians of the
press. ta...-.r.
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
This year, in somewhat lengthy dis
course, the President first recapitulates
the position of the negro in the south, and
shoulders the responsibility of the virtual
disfranchisement of the colored popula-
tion upon the southern people, who by a
disregard Of the constitutional amend
ments regarding the rights of their sable
brethren, have prevented the betterment
of their condition, socially and politically,
for the past sixteen years. He states that
as long as the south shall disregard the
statutes on the negro question SO long will
the north be firm in their determination
to have them respected To give the COL
ored race their proper position among
humanity, the free school system must
educate the masses Of them and the peo
pie OF the south must show a disposition
to encourage the improvement, rather
than discourage it.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The first executive order issued during
MI. Hayes admin istration has obtained a
place in history and will ever be famous
for the total disregard paid it. "Execu-
tive order No. 1" was intended to place
the government officials above the plane
of political wire pulling and to prevent
the subverting of their positions to their
political advancement and tenure of OF;
tice Government clerks we're warned
the presidents endeavor to make merit
the administration. In this the president
was al one, not even having the support
of his own cabinet 1t was so much a
part of the ''red tape" system that it could
not be disentangled, and the order itself
stands only as a record of good inten-
tions. Mr.. Hayes in other ways endeav-
ored to reform the civil service. In his
message he recommends the appointment
of commission who shall establish Il
uniform system of examinations for those
who may be applicants for positions
and which commission shall be held res
ponsible for the just application Of the
system. Twenty-Five thousand dollars is
suggested for this purpose.
POLYGAMY.
Since the unfortunate birth Of Nor
monism in this country, it has ever been
the subject of presidential messages, and
year after year, as little legislation has
been had upon the pelygamous subject
as the national congress could have and
prevent criticism Nothing but forcible
execution of the criminal laws agalnsl
bigamy Oh the part of the department of
Justice will meet the requirements OF the
case. The presidents visit to Utah this
last fall has firmly convinced him that
the obliteratlon of this crime against
God and man is a national necessity, and
recommends that an entire new system of
government be organized for Utah, It's
Judges, governor or cOmmiss toner's to DC
appointed by the president; tn at laws be
passed disfranchising polygamists, con-
sidering them in the light of social out
laws, rather than as citizens. Such Wig
orous and effective remedies for this dis
graceful evil is recommended That will
wipe this disgraceful tester from the his
tory of the country. 1t certainly will
render famous the administration that
carries out the presidents suggestions,
should congress stop "dilly- -dallylng'
with the important topic and subject tito
some healthy legislation such as recon
mended III Mr.. Hayes message.
t. INTERNATIONAL QUIETUDE.
/. The accustomed slice OF 'speacc with all
the world" and its conventional ct ceteras
is given its stereotyped position III the
message The placid relations of the
country with foreign powers is always an
appropriate subject for executive mess
ages, and as q matter of international
courtesy is always dwealt upon by for
eign powers as well as the United States
in their address to their several legisla-
tive bodies. AsiGe from few minor et-
'front.' cries to the American eagle perpe-
trated upon the merchant marine by
Spanish offshoots in Peruvian and Chill
an waters, little has transpired to affect
the worlds tranquility as far rs the Uni
ted States are interested. International
expositlons are having a ccngenial effect
in bringing the different nations of tho
earth into closer relations, mOle firmly
: l. sS,>/.o rt1,
will toward men, and steadily, advan-
eng the spirit of a higher civilization
that notably characterizes the nineteenth
century The country's trade and bust
ness relations with all nations is gener.
ously dealt with in a manner commend
able to the liberal minded views OF the
executive chief.
ADIEU.
Being the last message of President
Hayes after an administration of four
wear S, marked by unusual pr0gross and