The Cecil Whig., 1881-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

e surrenl1R, this week, our usual
editorial space to the Presidents Mes
sage, because VIC believe it will be posi-
aly more generally read than any recent
state paper. 1t is an admirable docu-
mcnt, comprehending scores of import
ant statements. suggestions. and recon-
inendations, and yet withal so clear. terse
and sensible, that those who begin the
eading Of it will be interested from one
0aragraph to another. until the end is
cached, and will feel that their knowl-
edge Of the administration of the gov
2rnment, and of the multifarious mat
;crs that come within it's scope. has been
.argely increased.
The tone of the Message prevcs that
ne President. feels himself equal to the
He>ponsibilities that have been forced up
OF him. He writes with an evident feel
lng of confidence in his ability to perform
lis great trusts: with mastery of the
details presented in the department re-
ports; with no apparent desire to initiate
new policies, but with an evident pur-
pose Of being as much President as
;.Yugil lie had been elected to the place
He Low fills.
u hat will strike NEST careful readers
y the general framework of the message
IS he large space given to our foreign re-
l3tI0ns and affairs. This is an important
feature. 1t shows that our greatness
3g,n.S with it varied and difficult foreign
questions to deal with.
i careful review of the references of
he message to our foreign affairs will
cn!aigo our conceptions of the extent to
which the attitude of the Great Republic
mas become important to all the other
ircat Powers of the world. Beginning
.,.th our g kin beyond sea- we have no
-ruublcs with Great Britain. In place of
segious controversies we have record OF
.1ecnt perfect reconciliation aud good
viii. The illusions to the English gov
-ruTnent and people are rightly and feel
llsiy coupled with the international SYM
1GtAicS OF separated !iinSmen over the
r'ierings and death Of Garfield. The
go nations are as near one as they can
'n and their relations with each other
.gl such as neither holds with any other
Iit Great Britain is respectfully notified
al the C!ayton-Bulwer Treaty must be
modified as 10 such clauses as ''dO not
import with the obligations of the
l1nroe Doctrine The complications be-
,FCcn Peru and Chill present another oc-
sion for the maintenance of the same
nnI +bn pyaClIaHtt az n1ain
and st"cided III his expressions concerning
suS mediation, which is to be made ef-
.se.utl BIZ the especial envoy sent to
ttaightcn out the deplorable misunder-
landings between our Representatives to
TO those States.
From Russia to China, by the way of
.3r3pe. our relations with foreign gov
.GnmCuts. as alluded to i'll the message,
@lc those of a government which is zeal
.1s and watchful in the protection of its
citizens and commerce.
There are some of the fe1 lures of tho
message as to domestic affairs that are
sprrially important:
TIE sound and conservative policy of
ha Treasury Department. Of this the
svi;ences are plenty and cheering.-
ira discontinuance of the coinage OF
liver, to he locked up in vaults. and the
uslStaHce on cessation of the rapid re-
.uction Of the debt are all in the right
aHe.
The views of the message on the Nor
ann question. cur coming great problem,
-rs sound and energetic, so far as they
re. We wish he had gone farther. Taken
. whole, the message has excited more
aneraiiy favorable comment than any
10 can recall.