Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-06

In the president bnhuh Vvinh"''"
ton to congress the condition OF the coun-
try is mirrored. The condition is peace,
and studious attention to the business OF
conducting the internal affairs OF great
nation at peace with all the world and trou-
bled by no internal disturbances. No Sc
rious issue divides the American people.
They have vast inheritance here in this
western hemisphere. The terms upon which
they hold their inheritance have become
reasonably well settled, and to that settle
ment willing concession is yielded by the
diverse elements of the heirship. On all
the distinctive features of internal policy
there is substantial agreement. Tariff re-
vision and reduction, reorganization OF the
civil service and kindred matters, find &C
cording champions among the differing
shades Of political belief The differences
which exist among those who represent an
honest purpose and the best thought OF
the country relate largely to detail. The
presidents message is fair expression of
enlightened views upon leading national
subjects. The partisan may labor to cheaper
the chief executive in the estimation of the
people by impugning his motives, and theo-
rists and doctrinaires may assail his meth
DDS and his recommendations, but men of
candor, men who are not slaves to consum-
ing craftsmanship, must grant that could the
presidents ideas of financial policy, of civil
appointments and of other matters which
he treats prevail, the occupation of the pro-
fessional politician and reformer would be
gone.
The president devotes considerable space
to the subject of tariff revision and tax re-
duction. He shows that the surplus reve-
nue. for the last fiscal year was one hundred
and forty.fve million dollars and anticipates
that it will be greater for the current year.
He portrays the danger to the country from
an overlooking treasury. Swollen revenues
lead to extravagant expenditures, and he
earnestly recommends the adoption of such
measures as shall bring the taxes down to
the rigid requirements of an economical adj
ministration of the government. He recon-
mends as one means of reducing the reve-
nue. the abolition of internal revenue taxes
excepting those upon tobacco in its various
forms and upon distilled spirits and fer
mented liquors, and the special tax upon the
manufacturers of these articles and dealers
in them. This recommendation must COM
mand the approval of the people. The enor-
nous and increasing tax the present tariff
imposes upon the people is shown by the
fact that in 1879 it yielded a revenue of
s137 100000 which in the last fiscal year
had swollen to 1920 100000. The amount
now taken from the pockets of the people in
excess of the needs of the government
amounts to three dollars to every man,
woman and child in the country. This is
no new revelation, and it is to the everlast.
ing discredit of the present congress that at
its second session the chief executive is
again obliged TO direct its attention to the
matter of removing the outrageous burden
from the people and to withdrawing from
the government this fruitful source of ex-
travagance and corruption. The president
re-enforces his position on the river and har-
Dor bill, and the figures he presents must
bring a twinge to some members of each
branch who have either lost their seats or
are trembling for their safety by reason of
their vote for the great steal. The recon-
mendation for the reduction of letter post
age to two cents per half ounce is warranted
by experience drawn from previous reduc
tions and by the fact that the revenue of
the postofIice is now in excess of its expen-
ditures and that the excess will grow in the
future if some measure is not taken to keep
it down. The burden of maintaining the
service falls most unequally upon domestic
letters and the presidents recommendation
is certainly wise and reasonable. Cavilers
may sneer at the presidents hearty endorse
ment OF a measure for civil service reorgan-
ization and his condemnation of political
assessments, but all good citizens will trust
him and bid him God-speed in the work of
accomplishing a practical but an exceed
ingly difficult work in administrative re-
form. The message is plain, straightfor-
ward business document, devoid of buncombe
but full of sense, and as such the American
people will read and approve it.