The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-10
nmE PnrslnnNp.s mEssAGn.


SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1884,
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1HE PN sIOENp's mIssAGE.-I
The Presidents message is we'll written,
busness.lke document, marked by the
characteristics that belong TO Gen. Arthur
himself 1t is free from novelties and sur
prses, bat is full Of i'rcts and suggestions.
President Arthnr nust have been devot.
ing his days and nights, with sindefatigable
industry, to the study Of the foreign md do
mestic business OF the Government during |
tile eleven weeks that have passed since he |
became President. In this very long mes
1ase, he discusses many of the most intricate
questions of foreign policy, and all the chief
questions OF domestic policy, with remark
able fulness of information. or course he
had the assistance Of heads Of departments;
but yet his own hand is visible throughout
the message. --r.
Our relations with the powers Of Europe
are, in, this review. all satisfactory. Our
Hebrew fellow citizens will be glad to know
tbat energetic retnonstrances have been adj
dressed to Russia concerning the treatment
Of those Of them who may visit that empire.
Our Protestant fellow citizens will be pleased
to know that steps have been taken to se-
cure the better protection Of American mis-
sionares in the Turkish empire. Our Ger
man.born citizens will be bsppy to know
al 4 a. LII ~ it,r
the treatment of those Of them who visit
the German empire. Our Swiss fellow citi-
gems will rejoice TO know Of the protest
against the eimportation OF Swiss criminals
and our Spanish fellow citizens will be sat-
isfed to learn that the Spanish Government
is doing its duty respecting the awards OF
She Claims Commission. -.
With the powers of North and South
America, also, our Govern ment is on be-
Coming terms. We have promoted com
nercial intercourse with Mexico, prevented
a rupture between Mexico and Guatemala,
taken an interest in the boundary arbitra
tion between Costa Rica and Colombia, sent
q special envoy tn promote pence between
Chill, Bolivia and Peru, maintained warm
friendship with Venezuela, and aided in es.
tablishing the boundary vi Patagonia. The
President speaks pleasantly also of China
and japan. Legislation by Congrcss is need
ed respecting the new Chinese treaty, atten-
tiou being paid Chinese interests and suscep-
tibllitics in deali.g with Chinese immigra-
tion the President especially approves that
part of the treaty lorbidding American clti-
Seus and vessels from engaging in the de-
noralzing and destructive opium traffic
with China. 1t is wonderful news that Ja-
pan is about to establish fully constitution
al government, the Emperor having already
summoned u Congress for that purpose; and
the President recommends the return to. ia
pan and China of the indemnity fund now
in our hands
Having thus touched upon the Govern
ments of the world, President Arthur reach
es its waters, and recommends the adoption
Of the new code of International rules for
the prevention Of collisions on the high seas.
Reaching our domestic business, President
Arthur offers an elaborate discussion of
questions in finance and revenue. The
Treasury is in a satisfactory condition, and
the surplus of the present fiscal year is esti-
mated at $3.50 900 900, which is by far the
largest surplus since the year 1857, when il
was three millions higher The recon-
mendations Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
respecting the retirement of silver certfi-
Gates and the Limitation of silver coinage are
sustained by the President. 1t is estimated
that the entire debt of the country can be
paid in ten years; but, in view Of the pres
cnt heavy taxaton,th President holds that
the revenue might wisely he reduced, even
il the payment of the debt be delayed, and
he therefore advises the abolition OF all in
ternal revenue taxas, except those rprE to
bacco and lcoholic liquors, and the revision
Of the tariff laws. These important ques-
tions Of public economy will doubtless be
fully debated in the present Congress
The President holds that the strength of
the army should be increased tn 30 ,O00 en-
listed men, that the navy should be "thor-
ougly rehabilitated," that the Notifications
and coast defences should be improved, and
that the efficiency of our torpedo system
should be increased by strengthening the
engineer battalion. Tic postal service ia
growing in efficiency, and the attention Of
Congress is again invited to postal savings
banks: the President, in referring to the
Star route business, calls for the vigorous
prosecution of those guilty of fraud. Legs.
lstive action is needed upon the Indian
question, which the President thinks is now
in the way OF being finally solved. 1t is the
duty OF Congress and the Executive to array
against the bar6arous system Of polygamy
nil the power which they can WELD. The
Government should sustain the work o
education, and such aid for its promotion al
can he constitutonally afforded should be
given. Claims for pensions under the Ar
reaS act have lately been very heavy, and
the President would give the Commissioners
OF Pensions such additional assistance as /:
needed for their speedy settlement. There
Is long passage ofthe message in which
the President discusses civil service reform
and offers his views upon its various fea.
tures. The decline Of our merchant marine
is deplorable, and the President would give
to our navigation interests that kind of and
and protection which has Leen bestowed
upon our manufactures.
The President cofes his message Will
some remarks upon the question recently
before the country of Presidential inability
10 which he hopes Congress will speedily
give consideration.
s--E-----a----~@
--Sub-TTeasurer Hillhouse, of New
York, has resigned his position to acceIt
the presidency Of a new Trust company
which has been organic ID with a capita
OF 81, 600, 600.
1T is rumOred ON the best possibl,
A., L. II. 4 - -.