Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-08
TIE pRzsrornrs MESSAGE.

OCCUR emit. It embraces so many subjects /
that it is in fact condensed review of all
the departments of the Government. Moth |
ing could be more unlike the elaborate argu-
mentative state papers which were formerly
issued by the Presidents on these occasions.
And next to its comprehensiveness must be
remarked its conservatism. The President
has apparently refrained as much as possible
from the expression Of decided opinions,
though where he has done SO his views are set
forth with satisfactory clearness and force.
As literary composition the message is de-
cidedly praiseworthy. The style is at once
simple and lucid, and sufficiently dignifed.
In regard to most of the subjects treated of
the President indarses the recommendations
OF the various heads of departments He
approves the suggestions OF the Secretaries of
War and of the Navy, looking toward the
increase Of the army and the rehabilitation
of the navy. On the latter head he expresses
himself with commendable decision, plainly
believing that it is impossible for the country
TO maintain vigorous foreign policy unless
it is in position to enforce whatever reso-
buttons it may come TO. 1t is not necessary
to follow him in his comments On our foreign
| relations, ell of which are peaceful and salts
factory. He holds out hope that the Chilean
difficulty viii be adjusted by the special
Envoy who has been dispatched to Santiago
for that purpose, and he shows a proper de-
termination to maintain friendly relations
with Mexico, despite the recent efforts of
certain adventurers to foment a quarrel be-
tween the two countries.
No doubt President Arthur's views on
civil service reform have been looked for with
interest and curiosity. On this subject he
expatiates at some length. While declaring
himself in favor of whatever measures will
put the civil service on satisfactory basis he
intimates doubts whether the methods which
have proved SO successful in England can be
adopted here without such changes as might
materially alter their effects. AT the same
time he earnestly approves the law (latterly
become dead letter. which provides for the
maintenance of Civil Service Commission,
and he calls on Congress TO make the neces-
sary appropriation. It is not very easy to
define the Presidents position on the whole
question, for though he is careful to avoid all
suspicious of hostility to civil service reform
he seems to have gone rather out of his way
to suggest difficulties. some of which will not
bear analysis. Thus bis apparent indorse
ment of the objection that the English sys-
4 . I :. IL
it excludes middle-aged men from the public
service, cannot be seriously defended. For
as matter of fact all American politicians
do now endeavor to the best of their ability
to make career of the public service, and a
great number succeed in this. And as TO the
apprehended exclusion of middle-sged and
elderly men from the civil service, reflection
shows that il such exclusion came about it
would really be benefit to the service, since
the presumption must be that men who only
seek in middle life to enter the public service
in subordinate positions, have failed in the
callings which they first chose, and are conse-
quently of inferior caliber. To secure the
best material for the public servics the re.
WaruS VI tudb seffiCS inuSt NC Hdue aue-
quate, and there is no reason why it should
be made place of refuge for incapables.
The President approves the idea of reduc.
ing the internal revenue taxes, except those
or distilled liquors and tobacco. He thinks
that even il the debt is not paid off SO rap
idly as heretofore no harm will be done, and
no doubt many will agree with him. Yet We
think he ia wrong in this. The best time to
get rid of the national debt is when pros
perity makes the people willing and able to
bear the burden. At present the American
public are in very satisfactory frame of
mind on this subject, and if the present rate
of payments is kept up, the entire debt will
be cleared off in less THAI ten years. always
provided that the Pension Arrears bill does
not absorb the surplus revenues. But we
cannot be sure that our present prosperity
will last. A succession Of crop failures would
destroy the aiacrity with which the psople
now meet their fiscal obligations, and in such
an event we may be sure that the spirit of
reputation, which has recently received
so unfortunate a stimulus under Republican
auspices, would become active and danger
Gus again. Besides. the demand for the re-
duction of internal revenue taxes comes from
the Protectionists, who desire to checkmate
all attempts at modification of the Tariff.
The President touches the Tariff question
very lightly, merely suggesting the desira-
bility of new Commission to examine
into it.
His views on the Panama Canal question
are in complete accord with those already ex-
pressed by Secretary Blaine, and which may
be said to be the prevailing or national posi-
ton on the subject. It is, however, obvious
that the reconstruction of the navy must be
indispensable to the proper maintenance of
this policy, and that the latter without the
former, can amount to nothing more than
blank discharge. The United States can
control the Panama Canal when it possesses
the necessary ironclads, but it cannot do SO
without better navy than it now possesses.
Iu this connection the Presidents observations
on the increase Of the navy will be found
pertinent and forcible. The business of the
Pension Bureau is summarized, showing the
enormity Of the demands made upon the
Treasury under the Pension Arrears bill, bat
the President contents himself With state
ment of the facts, and makes no recon-
mendation on the subject. twill take nearly
900 clerks three years to settle the claims
already on file, and it is estimated that $685.
100000 viii be taken out of the Treasury be-
fore the work Is completed.
The President is strongly of opinion that
polYgamy ought to be extirpa.ed, bat he only
suggests the propriety Of providing by lsw
that all persons performing marriages in Utsh
shall be called upon under heavy penalties to
file certificates, and that plural wives be al
lowed to testify. As polygamous marriages
are celebrated in the Endowment House, and
in secret, it is difficult to see how any new
law can force the Mormon priests to make
public what they do. they are well aware
that their proceedings are concealed, and it
is to be feared that they would pay as little
attention to such law as they have to former
statutes. We regret to find the President
fayoring the extravagant and inequitable
ship-subsidy policy, SIS a means of restoring
our merchant marine. This is perhaps the
most indefensible point in his message, and