The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-10
THE MESSAGE

a. OlDl L ltCluCiIbiui iuCoohSt' 4 i' AN"'AsJ ,
however. is one of disappointing length.
And its length is not its only remarkable
feature. Its comprehensiveness is such AS
almost to excite wonder that it is no longer.
There IS hot foreign nation from China
to Patagonia of winch brief survey IS
not taken, and there is hardly topic OF
domestic Government upon which he has
not given us a paragraph. He seems not
only to have faithfully studied and epito-
mized the reports of the various depart
ments as made to him, but to have been
an assiduOus reader of the newspapers,
giving us a complete summary OF all the
current topics OF the month, after the
fashion of the Penn Monthly, or in the style
of the Mere Mention" of the New YORK
Mutton.
But while there is scarcely limit to the
range Of his topics, his views and opinions
thereanent are exceedingly scarce. He
dashes off his paragraphs in perfume
tonary sort of way, like an Industrious
gatherer of current news for some city
daily, and then turns them over TO Con-
gress with "There-you have the ground
work of the facts: it is your business, not
mine, to discuss and act upon them if you
think proper
But while the President is thus chary of
his views and opinions to an extent to in
dictate that he has no policy" of his own,
and can therefore keep on amicable terms
with all the discOrdant elements of his
party, it would be unfair to say that he has
noopinion on any topic whatever. There are
ii few exceptions In regard to the great ma
tional question of polygamy, for instance,
he expresses decided opinion that the
twin relic of barbarism" ought to be sup
pressed, especially as practiced by the
Mormons, and as the great trouble the
courts now find in enforcing the anti
p,lygamy laws of Congress arises from
the difficulty Of procuring evidence tOprove
the guilt Of the polygamstS, he recon-
mends an amendment of the law 81 that
the wife can testify against the husband.
1t does not seem to have occurred - him,
however, that as the proof of the hus-
bands guilt will also establish that of the
wife, the latter might be as unwilling 10
testify as the former.
In regard to the Panama canal the Pres.
ident also seems to have an opinion. lie
thinks the Monroe doctrine ought to be
fully asserted in regard To the control OF
the isthlaus by our government, and as
the Clayton ulwer treaty manlfestly con-
nicts with that idea, he thinks that treaty
ought to be abrogated.
In regard to the decline of American
shipping he also ventures to throw out an
idea, which apparently embodies his idea
likewise III regard to the tariff and revenue
question. AS he favors leaving the pres
ent tariff untouched, proposing as the only
means to cut down the present enormous
surplus revenue, the looping of OF inter
nal taxation, SO he ignores the only sensi-
bic means-the amendment of the tariff
laws-by which ship. building in this COun-
try can be revived, and, "regretting that
the commercial interests between the
United States ana Brazil have suffered
from the withdrawal of the American
lines of communication with that country"
he is apparently of opinion that the only
means of restoring our carrying trade is for
congress richly to subsidize John Roach S
and other steamship lines.
There IS a good deal of palaver on the
subject of civil service reform, but as the
nrooiiant b,c pntbipy bafpita IN oupn.o,
and all he says must be taken in view of
and held to be consistent with his selling
ont all the Virginia offices to Malone to
help him carry that state In November for
the Republicans and repudiationists, it is
evident that no professions on the part of
the present administration in favor of hon
est civil service reform, can be otherwise
than hollow and hypocritical.
really definite views only on the questions
of currency and finance, and in these he
exactly reflects the ideas of Wall street
md the national bankers In regard to
further reducing the interest on the public
debt, he thinks the 81 per cents into viii b
a large proportion oil the bonds has been
converted, is about rs low as the national
banks care them to go. Then the coinage
of silver ought to be stopped, as the banks
don't like that kind of currency; and the
silver certificates ought to be withdrawn
They now add some S50,OOO.0O0 to the ma.
tional currency, displacng to that amount
bills of the national banks, which the lat.
ter would be only too glad TO issue. IL
short, the currency, and especially the sill
yer question, is the only one on which tht
| President has dared 10 venture a square
decided opinion, and il is Of all Others III,
question which he and his party will find
particularly troublesome.