The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-08
THE MESSAGE

The message of President Arthur to
the foriy-scventh congress is issued to
the readers of THE NEWS to-day and is
worthy of their careful pcrusaI. The
document is able and comprehensive,
and embraces careful review of our
foreign relations and home affairs, show
ing undIsturbed relations of smity and
peace with all nations, a highly prosper
Gus condition OF the business interests
of the country, and the effective opera
ton Of the machinery of the govern
ment in all departments of its service.
The appropriate and pathetic tribute
to the memory of his lamented prede-
cessor with which President Arthur
opens his message is in grateful harmony
with the dignity with which he has
borne his unsought honors aud will tend
to strengthen the claim which he has cs-
tablished upon the confidence Of the peo-
pie since his accession to the chief mag
istracy.
The message sets forth the fact that
despite the calamities which have char
acterized the year which is just drawing
TO close, the nation has been blessed
with plenteous harvesis, IFS industries
have tbriyed and general era of pros
perity prevails thTO ughout the land. The
satisfactory condition of our foreign re-
lations has stimulated commerce between
this country and the lands beyond the
sea, and the rapidly increasing demand
abroad for American products IL prov
Ing fruitful source of revenue To the
artisan and husbandman.
The report of the Secretary of the
Treasury represents a steady and rapid
decrease in the national debt. and shows
highly gratifying condition of the pub
lie finances The President, among
other recommendations, thinks that the
time has come when the people may
Justly demand some relief from their
present heavy burden of taxation and
that by the exercise of prorer economy
in the departments of the public service
this may be effected. A revision of tho
tariff law is suggested, though the most
interests involved in such a step is coun-
seled.
In reviewing the report of the secre-
tary Of war, President Arthur very prop
crly suggests measures for promoting
the efficiency of the army by increas-
ing the number of enlisted men
to $4,000, the maximum allowed by law,
step which he regards necessary to
preserve peace and suppress disorder on
the frontier. He recommends legislation
to prevent intrusion upon lands set
apart for the Indians, and thinks there
should be u penalty of imprisonment in
such cases.
The message strongly urges upon con-
gress the great importance of thorough
rehabilitation of our navy, a step which
II declares every consideration of ma
tional safety, economy and honor imper-
atiyeiY demands.
The PRECEDENT declares that the suits
instituted for the punishment of persons
accused of defrauding the government
in the matter of the star route cases
will be pushed with all possible dis
patch, and that 1t will be the aim of the
present administration to protect the
government from a repetition of such
,disgraceful swindles in the future.
The development of the resources of
the south by means of the industrial in
terests which are being so successfully
prosecuted in that section are noted
with apparent satisfaction IN the mes
sage, and the President congratulates
congress upon the era of good feeling
that has succeeded the spirit of hostility
which for so many years disturbed the
relations between the north and the
SOUTH
The President concludes his excellent
message with the wise recommendation
to congress TO observe judicious econ
OmY in the matter of Its appropriations
and expresses the hope that the present
session may he fruitful of results which
will promote our natiDnal prosperity,
and unite the whole people in the
achievement of the highest and best pos
sibilities attainable under the encourag-
ing auspices of republican form Of
government