Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-12-08
The Message.

Inc message OF Ifresluenti hayes presents
many gratifying facts to the people of the
United States. Itrepi 3sents great coun-
try in which the people enjoy the largest
individual freedom and possess higher
degree OF prosperity than any other nation
on earth. The message in its whole
length and breadth speaks of no severe
want or suffering in this land. 1t is
picture of thrift and happiness. And best
of all the reality is equal to the repre-
sentation.
One of the most pleasing features of the
message is that which shows our peaceful
relations with foreign nations. We are
Mt peace with the world around us. We
take no part in the wars of other countries.
cultivate peace with all. Our ambition is
satisfied with trying to improve our own
domain, and seeking to spread our COM
merce by friendly means into whatever
parts desire our products in return for
theirs. Our position among the nations
is favorable to such policy and we have
thus far had no desire to depart from it.
Another pleasant topic in the message
Is that in relation to our finances. We
have. so gained the mastery over the pub
lie debt that it no longer troubles us. We
are steadily reducing the principal, and at
the same time have reduced the rate of in
terest so that our burden on that account is
greatly lessened. Our ordinary receipts
over our ordinary expenditures the past
fiscal year were over seventy million dol
lars. Besides this our currency is now
based upon specie. Our legal tender
notes and bank bills are as good as gold.
Resumption is success. No steps back
ward have been taken since il was initia-
ted. Instead of gold leaving the country
or going into retirement there has been an
increase in the amonnt and coin can be
mad at every bank in exchange for bills.
The increase in coin and bullion in the
United States since January 1. 1879 Is
estimated at 1927 .399. 42s-a fact which
does not look much as though the resump-
ton Of specie payments were going back
wards. The silver dollar is in sickly
condition, but if the recommendation of
President Hayes that its weight he in
creased until it equal in value the gold
dollar be adopted it would undoubtedly
aid very materially its circulation.
There are few subjects in the mes
sage which wear different aspect from
those just mentioned. There is the Solid
South, resting upon defiance of the SUI
preme law of the land. upon violence and
fraud at the ballot-box. and adhering to
the ideas that led to the rebellion against
the government. This is menace to our
government. but the election of Garfield
will have healthy influence upon the
South we believe and tend to bring that
section into better relations with the rest
OF the country. Polygamy is an evil that
threatens mischief in the future, The
President recommends heroic treatment
But in spite of all that has been done to
check the growth Of Mormondon it in
creases and appears to flourish. A mat
ter OF less Importance than these but
nevertheless one Of national concern is
tho lack Of steam postal communications
with other countries and the fostering of
our commerce abroad. It does not speak
we'll for rs that our mails to and from
other countries are carried in foreign ves-
eels, and that even our ambassadors to
nearly all parts Of the world have to de-
psnd upon foreign steamships for trans
porsaaion.
While the message upon the whcle Is :