Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-10


to it is such as must command the
respect of the country. -.
With the Executive III this decidedly
favorable mood, the work of reform
may, and should, be promptly taken
UP by Congress. We have doubt
that the objections of the Presi-
dent to competitive tests, combined
with probationary appointment,
can be met by a more careful exam
nation of the subject, since Ameri
can experience, wholly apart from
that OF England, affords ample
ground for demonstration that these
objections are without serious foun-
dation.-New York Times.
The message of President Arthur
is admirably written, calm and dlgnl
fed in style and tone, and advises
Congress, as it is his constitutions!
dutyto do, on many important sub
iects with wisdom and sound judg
ment which will win for hila the public
confidence and for his recommerda-
tons the attentive consideration OF
both Houses. Mr. Arthur S recon-
mendations concerning the finances
and revenue are cautiously made and
| strike US as eminently sound. We
are glad that while he shows himseI
strongly disposed to any real meas
ures of reform in the civil service,
The President has treated the ques
ton cautiously and with due regard
to the greatest public interests
/ New York Herald.
The message of yesterday is a we'll
written, business-lke document,
marked by the characteristics that
belong to General Arthur himself.
! 1t is free from novelties and sur
prises, but it is full of facts and
suggestions-New York Sun.
!. On the civil service the Presidents
expressions will be generally under
stood as indicat 'ng disbelief in COM
/ petitive examinations, dislike of per-
manent tenure, and disposition TO
| submit to as tile as possible in the
programme of the Civil Service Re
| formers" The suggestions as to cur
Indian policy are i'll line with the re-
concentrations long made by the
wisest and fairest students of the In
| dian problem. The message is
strongest on foreign relations and f.
nance but it is not weak anywhere,
and it will be generally accepted by
! the country as a judiaous, moderate
aud. in most respects, satisfactory
document.-New York Tribune
+ Everybody will admit the Presi-
dent message to be a business-like
paper. That, however, is the faint
praise which people are accustomed
to bestow upon messages which are
I entirely pointless, and as President
Artb,rs message is by no means
pointless, The stock phrase fails TO do
Justice to it. In fact, its distinction
is that it is pointed. There is indeed
all aggressive individuality about sew
eral portions of the message as far as
possible removed from the oracular
and impersonsl tone which has he
come as customary in Presidents
messages as in speeches from the
J throne. The message, in word, is
full of views, and the views are not
pretended to be the views cf the
country, on even OF q party, bnt only
the personal opinions of the author
of the message, which are to be taken,
as the saying is, for what they are
worth.-New York World.
The style of the message, it may
be added, is exceedingly unpreten-
tious and utterly devoid of rhetorical
fourishes or mere writing for effect.
It is not probable that it will take
rank with the illusions of higher
order of craftsmanship, but it will be
recognized as the production of at
least tolerably clear headed and
common>sense matter of fact man of
business.-Commercial Bulletin.
! President Arthur's- first annual
message will stand with the best of
n'nety-one which have been made by
his predecessors. Presidential mess
sages have lately come to be mere
summaries of department reports.
President Arthurs is not, and he has
thrown about the entire instrument
dignifed consciousness of his posi-
ton as the head of great nation,
which is commemorate as it is rare
IN these annual State papers. Right
or wrong in his recommendations be
is nowhere commonplace; and il
dealing with the foreign relations OF
the Government, topic on which
his predecessors have been too often
either barren or laundering, Pres
ident Arthur is at once suggestive
and Observation-Disclosures Press
Rep)
Whatever may have been the past
opinions of men as to the capacity
the fitness, the partisanship of Mr.
Arthur, it must be allowed that a
man who can thus, coming from what
, IS regarded as the EXTREMIST wing OF
his party, catch the spirit of the
times, adapt himself practically to
the prevailing sentiment of the
country, seize upon and present its
leading themes and the points up
permost in the public mind, has in
the act given indications of possess
ing that practical craftsmanship
| which is now SO much needed
When this is the case, considering il
as an established truth that the
country is more interested in what
it receives than in the CUES ton from
whom it may receive it, carping, and
narrow partisan criticism would be
out OF place.
Thorough discussion is an essen
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