Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-12-07
Aancaater f1ltelllqencer.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. DEC. 7. lss

WEDNESDAY EVENING, DEC. 2, 1881.
The Presidents Message.
The president has sent to Congress
long and able message that will be
read with interest and willrepay perusal )
which is something that in these latter
days is not often to be said OF presiden-
tial messages. Upon our foreign reia-
tions much is said, but not not much Of
significance. Where information is
specially looked for as to the government
policy, in our relations namely with
Chilli and Peru, we do not learn any
thing save that it is the president S de
sire that those nations shall become
friendly: and that to secure that end he
has sent out a special envoy accredited
to all and each of them and furnished
with general instructions which will"
he trusts, "enable him to bring
these powers into friendly rela-
tions." What these instructions are
we do not hear, and cannot judge how
the presidents desire is supported by his
judgment. The fact appears, however,
that he considers it the business of the
United States to interfere in these South
American imbroglios, and to impress its
views upon the governments. 1t follows
naturally that he proposes to sustain
them with the power Of our country, and
that l,c would not shrink from involving
us in war on their account. The same
policy is indicated in the position taken
in regard to the Panama canal, the view
stated 10y Mr.. Blaine in his recent mani
festO being sustained. and the adj
ditional information being given us
that the state of Colombia in whose ter
ritory the canal lies had itself sug-
gestcd to the European powers that they
should join in Il guaranty of the neu-
trality of the canal. Mr.. Arthur pro-
poses that we shall have no partners in
this guaranty, Notwithstanding Colon
bia herself desires them. He considers
that the junction of the European
powers in the guaranty would be in
direct contravention of our obligation as
to the sole guaranty of the integrity Of
Colombian territory and of the neutrality
Of the canal ITSELF" 1t seems 4 tribe
odd to object to assistance in the dis
charge of our obligation, as Il contraven
ticn of it; and it might have been more
frank to have used the word privilege"
instead of obligation" when the obliga-
tion is SO manifestly treated as a privi-
lege. We consider it very debatable
whether the position taken is sound in
its policy it is not clear that the inter-
ests of this country are so intimately
connected with those of the South
American continent as to make it ad-
vantageous for us to set UP protector
ate over it, and warn off all European
intruders from the premises. The cbli-
cations assumed may be SO onerous as to
make the whistle too dear.
| The president wants an increase in the
army and navy, as might be inferred
from the favor he shows to our interven-
tion in the affairs of our neighbors. He
also wants authority TO use United
States troops in the suppression of dis
turbances in the territories, where white
men, and not Indians only, are to be
coerced. This suggestion seems to be
unobjectionable. lie considers our pre-.
sent Indian policy wise and thinks that
Indian schools, the conveyance of plots
Of land to Indian families, ,inalienable for
twenty or twenty-five years, and the ex.
tension of the laws of the states and
territories over the Indians within their
borders, to be the essential clements in a
proper Indian policy. So far as these
recommendations 60 probably they are
wise but they do not embrace all the
features that 90 to make up a successful
solution of the Indian problem. II Gen.
Miles should he made commissioner OF
Indian affairs, with full powers to in
trOduce and execute his very correct
ideas of Indian policy, the country might
we'll be content to await the results.
OF civil service reform the president
speaks sensibly. He says tnat lie would
apprOvea a measure that would include all
the features of such a policy, introduce
ing men ut an early age into the system,
by competitive examination, promoting
them for efficiency, retaining them for
life or good behavior, and retiring them
on pensions. But he will notapprove of a
system which omits any of these ele-
ments to the perfection of the system.
And he manifestly doubts whether even
the perfected system is adapted for use
in this country. Certainly there are grave
objections to it, as there are great advan.
tages. We cordially agree with him
in his distrust of competitive ex-
aminatiOnS as Il successful means
of selecting successful men. There are
many other things needed in the perfect
man that are more essential than book
knowledge or even Intellectual capacity,
which in examination into a candidate s
knowledge does not detect. The presi-
dent enumerates some of them in "pro-
bity, industry, good sense, good habits,
good temper, patience. ardor, courtesy,
tact, self-reliance - and he might well
have added as not less important, deci-
sion, promptitude, quickness, judgment
and activity. In short, character is more
important than knowledge to the sue
cessful man, and the disastrous failures