The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-09


en- to such notifications of the treaty
as may be deemed necessary to the
interesty of our people, while pre-
serving the commercial relations
which he considers it important to
preserve. The war between Peru
ana Bolivia on one side and Chilli on
the other is referred to at some length
but while the disposition of Chill to
exact such rigorous conditions Ofpeace
is deplored, the President believes
that forclbe interference on the
part of our government would
not be in keeping with the spirit OF
our institutions nor the temper of
our people. The project for an inter-
national peace conference in Wash
ington is recalled, and a willingness
expressed to support any measures
which Congress may deYise for set
Element of national differences with
out resort to arms. The President re-
news his Recommendation for such
legislation as will place the United
States in harmony with other powers
in respect to the prevention of COLI
sions at sea, and expresses himself as
cordially in favor of the reorganiza-
ton of the consular and diplomatic
service on salaried basis. The dis
cussion of questions of domestic con-
Germ naturally forms the greater part
of the communication, and the inter
esting and important subjects ola re-
vision of the tariff and a reduction in
internal revenue taxation are treated
at some length. Referring to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury
"as to the necessity of providing by
treasury Of an excess Of assets" the
President says he heartily approves
The secretary's Recommendation of
immediate and extensive reductions
in the annual revenues Of the govern.
ment. The surplus revenue for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1881, was
500, 000. 900, and for the fiscal year
ended on the Both of June last was
more than one hundred and fifty-five
millions. Although this surplus has
been largely applied to the payment
of the national debt, the President
reneWs the expression of his cOnvic-
ton that such rapid eXtingnshment
of the national Indebtedness as is now
taking place IS cause for serious APP
prehenSiOn, rather than for COngrat-
ulatiOn. If the swollen revenues of
the government lie idle in the treas
ury they will become the tempta.
ton to corrupt and eXtrayagant eX-
penditure. The President, therefore,
suggests that unless it shall be found
that the probable expenditures of the
government for the coming year have
been underestimated, all internal
taxes except those which relate to
distilled spirits. can be prudentIy ab-
rogated. This would diminish the
cost Of collection 81, 500, 600 and retire
from Office from | 800 to 1900 persons.
He does not think, however, that
the time has arrived for the total alb
clifton Of internal taxes, for the reas-
on that it is doubtful whether the
duty on imports would alone be suf-
ticient for the needs of government
and because, m )reOyer, a total abOli-
ton of excise taxes would prove a
serious obstacle to "a thorough revision
of the tariff. The present tariff sys-
TEN is, the President frankly admits,
in many respects unjust, and if the
tax on domestic spirits is to be re-
tanned. he is clearly of the opinion,
judging from the revenues derived
from customs during the last few
years, that large reductions in the
customs revenue are entirely feast
bic; and this may be accomplished,
he believes, without abandoning the
protection of domestic labor by equal
izing the public burdens among all
closes and occupations. The PreSi-
dent refers to his veto of the river and
harbor bill of last session, and recon-
mends to the consideration of Con-
gresS the ACCESSIBILITY of the passage
of an amendment to the Federal con-
stitution which would permit the ex-
ecutive to disapproye Of any item or
items in an appropriation bill with
out being under the necessity of con-
demning the entire measure. Refer
ring to the report of the Secretary of
War, the attention of Congress is in
vited to the propriety of making
more adequate provision for arming
and equipping the militia, and to the
conflicting legislation with reference
to the retirement of army officers.
The condition of the navy, as shown
in the secretary's report, is comment.
ed upon, and the attention of Con-
gress called to the intimate connec-
ton and interdependence of the navy
and the commercial marine, and to
the continued decadence of the latter
and the transfer of orr growing pou-