Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-05

WEDNESDAY, EvENrNo. DEC. 8. 1873
An Ante.IiectIon Message.

An Ante.Electi0n Message
The very general and well merited
criticism upon the presidents message is
that IL is a very dull document, not
enliyened by any original recommends
tions, and consisting mainly of the com.
pilatlon OF the reports of his secretaries.
It is better, of course, for president to
say nothing than to talk nonsense, but
from the one VITO sits at the head Of the
table in the executive council the country
Is accustomed to look for something fresh
IL not startling, though 1t is by no means
certain that what is novel is always
meritorious. Mr.. Arthur being poll
tician, by instinct and training, rather
than statesman,it Is not to be expected
of him that he would go much further
than he does, nor that in this message
on the eve OF another presidential eisc-
tion, In which he Is candidate-he
would commit himself with much te-
merity on the questions which agitate
the country and divide his own party as
much as any other.
Our foreign relations being entirely
amicable and devoid Of sensational inter
eat. both in the review of the past year
and in immediate prospect, the president
could easily devote nearly one.half of his
message to our foreign relations without
saying anything of great Importance or
challenging contradiction.
As usual, interest in the message CEN
tres in its exhibit of the financial opera
tlons and condition of the government
1t shows that our receipts last year were
one hundred and thirty-four millions of
dollars in excess of the expenditures and
that most of this was applied to the
payment of the national debt, the rapid
extinction of which threatens contrac-
ton of the currency, an unsettling Of the
national banking system and imposes
undue burdens upon the generation that
has already borne most Of the war bur-
den. Besides, the fact that very soon all
the national debt that is matured will be
paid makes it certain that at the present
rate of taxation and revenue there would
accumulate within the next ten years
from three hundred and fifty to -four
hundred millions of dollars in excess oi
the requirements of the sinking fund and
the payment of all matured bonds. To
meet this exigency there must be re.
duction of taxation enacted or new
schemes Of expenditure projected. The
president tries TO avoid this issue he
retreats from the position he took last
year in favor Of reduction OF taxation
aud intimates that the surplus money
might be proftably applied to strength
ening the sea coast defenses and the re
Mobilization Of the navy. As the country
has been sickened by the profigate
expenditures upon naval affairs daring
many years of Republican maladminis
tration, this recommendation of the
president will likely meet with little
favor 1t will only recall the fact that
Mr.. Arthur's naval secretary is Vim E.
Chandler and that he is ''sly."
The presidents recommendation of a
reduction In postage on drop letters, in
accordance with the reduction on other
matter, is sensible, and there is little in
his treatment Of the minor subjects Of
his message to excite special cOmmenda-
tion or criticism. He handles the civil
service reform very gingerly and like
wise the civil rights question. Hi
appeal for anti polygamic constitutions
amendment is a confession Of the failur
of all previous Utah policies, and ma
suggest a sentimental issue for discussion
10 Congress and in the next presidential
campaign.