The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Yesterday our columns were swelled
with the full report of the presidents
message, sent over the wires by the
Western Associated Press, which now
serves the STATESMAN with its daily
press reports. 1t was a vast amount
of matter to come over the wires
twenty-five thousand words in all
and upon sober reflection we are not
prepared to endorse its substance, as
either vastly intellectual or very
statesmanlike. There is nothing
marked in his suggestions as to for
eign policy, except, perhaps, in his re-
ference to the Chili-Peruvian war
and the conditions of Perus subjuga-
ton. These are very hard, as every
body knows, and yet the Peruvians
rushed into the trouble, and having
sown the whirlwind they have reaped
the tempest, and now can be left,
without much conjunction, to their
fate. He is opposed to the United
States interfering, backed by its
navy, to enforce the future recogni-
ton of Peru's independence, and in
this he shows signal discretion. 1t
would certainly not do for us to
enforce Peru with a navy not more
than one-tenth as powerful as that
of the pretentious little re-
public of the Pacific coast.
In this the president is even wise.
There is nothing particularly Roticea
BILE under the head of foreign relations.
The treasury, his next theme is an in
teresting one, in the abstract, but the
president throws no additional light
upon IL. The commerce of the coun-
try comes in for its usual share of OBJ
servation, merely a fashion establish
ed by his predecessors, but not credita-
BILE in its foreign aspect, when COM
pared with a series of years, from 1876
to 1882. The president dwells, under
this head, with apparent delight upon
the fact that in the year just closed
there have been organized Ill nation
al banks, there being now of these in
situations 1859, "a larger number than
ever BEFORE" and yet he fears a seri-
GUS contraction of the currency of
these banks. He declares against sill
yer coinage, and is guilty of an unnec-
essary reflection when he asks con-
gress to "free the treasury of its ex-
cess of assets" The powerful lobby,
now organized at Washington with
the presidents friend, Gen. Grant, at
its head, would have seen to
this trifiing matter without
his making so glazing a reference to
IL ridiculous. But he warns up to
the Republican standard when dilat-
ing upon the question of taxation.
He wants reduction of taxation, of
course, and urges that it be given
through the curtailing of internal
revenues, retaining that portion of
the system least Objectionable to the
people" Here let us call attention to
the fact that the president becomes the
special advocate of reducing the tax
on WHISTLES and tobacco, thus show
ing his estimate of what is
of most vital Importance to
the people. After urging
cheaper whisky and cheaper tobacco
however, he advises congress, in pop
ular vernacular, to then Ego Slow"
as the country must be prepared to
pay over $1OOOOOOOO annually on &C
count of pensions. In discussing Gus
toms dues he makes the old appeal in
favor of domestic labor" even after
It has been demonstrated, thousands
of times, that this domestic labor
is simply used as the cats paw,
gathering chestnuts for the protected
monopolists. He would go as far as
possible towards making free whisky
and free tobacco, but would perpetuate
protection for the manufacturers, who
supply the consuming masses with all
necessities, the farmers with all i'm
plements, artisans with all tools
housekeepers with all utensils, the
masses with clothes. Such is the sys-
tenn of taxation the president
would perpetuate. 1t is one con-
demned by all honest men,
q departure from which is demanded
by at least five-sixths of the people of
the United States. There is nothing
startling in any suggestions made as
to the conduct of internal affairs.
The Indians have about ceased to be
very disturbing element; sea coast
defenses are at a discount, in face of
the fact that Republican admininis-
trations have spent vast sums avow-
edly for sea coast defense; the
militia, he suggests, needs better arm
ing, and the navy, "Sir Joseph" Hunts
late pride, Is the most worthless OF
any first-class power in the world,
though more money has been drawn
from the treasury, in pretense for
naval expenditures, than has been ex-
pended by Great Britain in making
the most powerful navy in the world.
In discussing the navy the
president is forced to enlarge
upon the service of the
Jeanette crew to present any record
whatever worth relating. AS to the
postal service, it is admitted that it
has been quite well administered, but
a machine which is laying up cash
balance on carrying the mail matter of
the people ought to be in fair condi-
ton of service. 1t is thought the jul
dietary is equal to thestar route emer-
gency, but the country really fears
it is not, and hopes any effort
to convict the thieves may meet with
success. He wants bankrupt law
established, and so do a few starving
lawyers throughout the country. OF
course the president want civil service
reform. The Republican presidents
have been talking about civil service
reform for twenty years, and all this
time reform has been going back
wards. The civil service re
form, for instance. which Leo
to Mr.. Arthur being removed from
the New York custom house, culmi'
~,otos II, ,,,olrincr this aan,a Mr. Arthu1