National Republican., 1881-12-07
The Presidents Message.

for the Nice-Presidency |
which says that "the rules which shouid
be applied to the management OF the pub
lie service may properly conform in the
main TO such as regulate the conduct OF
private business" 1t is faith
ful compliance with the requirement OF
the Constitution that the President shall
from time to time give to the Congress
information of the state of the Union,
and recommend to their consideration
such measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedicnt." The affairs of the Gov
ernment and the condition of the Nation
are stated with more detail than is usual
in such documents. The recommends
tions are clear, and the reasons for them
stated with simplicity and directness.
There is not passage in 1t which will find
its way into any school-book of declama-
tory extracts, nor one which could be left
out without Withholding information or
marring the statement Of opinions. In
short, the message is plain and simple
communication on every branch of the
public business,
The most interesting feature of that
portion of the message which refers to
foreign affairs is the statement to the eff
feet that the President has proposed n
modification ofthe Clayton-Bulwert treaty
of 1850 with England, to secure the main
tenance of the American doctrine of nom
interference by European powers with
the affairs of the countries in the Western
Hemisphere. The statement is made in
no words or tone of menace, but If there
are intrigues on foot for subiecting CO.
lombia to transatlantic influence the
message will furnish food for reflection.
The President will be sustained by the
whole people in standing by the treaty of
1916 with Colombia, which makes the
United States the sole guarantor of the
integrity of that republic and of the neu-
trality of any waterway across its terri
tory. 1t is not likely that the English
government will stand in the way of con-
forming the Clayton-Bulwer treaty to the
friendly policy thus proposed.
Mexico will not fail to appreciate the
Just and energetic manner in which the
President refers to the border raids into
her territory by desperadoes from our
jurisdiction, and Congress will probably
heed the suggestion for remedy against
u continuance of these outrages. 1t is
the highest assurance yet given our
neighbor across the Rio Grande of our
friendly disposition, and harmonizes well
with the illusions to the nearer relations
into which railroad enterprises are bring
ing the two republics.
The peace-makers sent to Chilli and
Peru will be able to give us clearer un-
derstanding than we have yet had of the
war between our Ministersto to those coun-
tries. The language of the President
raises no apprehension that there is to be
any departure from the public law or tra-
diton in dealing with the battered Re-
public of Peru or her victorious enemy
The powerful influence of the great Re-
public in composing the differences be-
tween these two nations will of course be
exercised with due regard to the rights
of successful belligerent in war to in
demnity for the past and security for the
| future. The nations of the earth saw,
without remonstrance, Germany seize
| Alsace and Lorraine after the Franco
Prussian war, and it is not likely that
Minister Hurlbut will be sustained in too
ready an attempt to fix the Chilian lines
in Peru during the state of war which
continues until the terms of peace are
made. The special envoy has delicate
duty to perform, and it is to be hoped
that he will be ambitious to distinguish
himself only AS pacifcator.
The financial recommendations are inn
portant, embracing the abolition of all
internal taxes except on tobacco and
liquors and commission to propose tariff
revision also modification of the silver.
dollar legislation, to remove the require.
ment for the coinage of fixed amount
per month, and the retirement of the sill
ver-dollar certificates. The President il
New York and Ohio have long We'd with
each other. The phrase includes resist
ance to all new theories concerning cur
rency.
The message advocates the adoption o
General Sherman's recommendation fo
an increase of the army to thirty thou
sand.
The nearest approach to enthusiasm il
the document is in the earnestness will
which the rehabilitation of the navy il
advocated. 1t will evidently be one o
the Presidents favorite projects to Sc,
the work started on a comprehensive,
plan for this object. The surplus reve
= nues need not embarrass nation o
fifty million people, which has the great
est sea-coast'of any power and no navy
The Indian problem, polygamy, Missis
: sippi River improvements, and the pos
tai service are all given due attention
and the Presidents treatment of then
will be the basis of abundant commen
and discussion,
His discussion of the ciyil service an,
the various projects for its improvement
will be liberal education to some of tn,
most pretentious and least intelligent o
: those whose hobby il long has been. i
is breezy and refreshing review of tn
advantages and objections connected
with the various measures proposed, AM
at times runs into most exquisite satire
, 1t clearly shows that the subject is on
which has greatly occupied the Presi
dents mind, and that he is prepared T.
Join earnestly in all rational efforts fo
securing the best service. He repels tn
; charge that our public servants are gen
orally unworthy, and in so doing state
; what every man familiar with publ
affairs knows to be- true, How do tn