The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-12-06
The Presidents Message.

L
read in both Houses of Congress on TUESDAY,
and is Il plain, busness-ke document. The
message opens, as is customary, with review
of our relations with foreign powers of which
it Is only necessary to say here that they are
eminently satisfactory. The President suggests
that Congress create a commission to consider
the general question of our rights in the fish
cries and the means of opening to our citizens
under Just enduring conditions, the recently
stocked fishing waters and sealing grounds of
British and Russian North America. He finds
existing laws inadequate to prevent pauper
emigration and calls the attention of Congress
to the matter A paragraph is devotedto Amcri-
can pork in Europe, in which the action of
France is contrasted with the unfriendv policy
of Germany toward the great American pig.
lie repeats the suggestion of his last message,
that provision be made for the exercise of dis
cretonary power by the executive in appoint
ing delegates TO International Congresses OF
the injuries and veXatious restrictions suffer
ed by our trade in the Spanish West Indies.
he says: Brazil whose natural outlst for its
great national staple. coffee, is in and through
the United States, imposes Il heavy export eluiv
upon this product. \ like narrow policy is
pursued i'll other American countries He urges
that the rights Of our citizens abroad should not
be affected by their religious beliefs or disbc-
lief>. He insists that our Spanish claims should
not be lost sight Of and concurS with SwitZcr-
lands suggestion for treaty providing for ar
bitIation for International difficulties.
The President says the trade dollar must 90.
After referring to lie reason, for their coinage
he says they have become Il disturbing element
and should no longer embarras> our currency
system. He recommends that provision be
made for their reception by the treasury and
the minis as bullion at a small per cena@e above
the currency market price of silver of like hne-
ness. As remedy for the contraction of ma
tional banking currency he agrees with the
Secretary of the Treasury, that il will be better
to remove the tax on circulation and allow the
banks to issue notes TO the amount Of 80 per cent.
of the market value of the bond, deposited
with government The President approves Of
the recommendations of the Secretary of the
Treasury for a constellation of the customs
districts. He does not favor further reduction
OF the revenue at present, and thinks at least 4
portion of the surplus revenue may be wisely
applied 10 the long neglected duty of rehabili-
tatin9 our navy and providing coast defences
for the protection of our harbor>
Our Indian tribes are quiet and It is thought
will remain 50. The President believes IN tbp
maxim in time Of peace prepare for wars
and recommends better sea coast ,lrf,nccs. in
GLIDING heavy ordnance and the encouragement
Of the state militia organizations by The nations
al government. He also believes in improving
the efficiency of the Navy. and makes mention
Of the three new steel cruiser, now in process
Of construction.
in reviewing the Postmaster Generals re-
port be suggests the rcadoption of the uniform
single rate postage Of one cent on local letters.
He does not advise postal telegraphy. but the .
exercise Of the right the government has by I
virtue of its powers to control Interstate com
merce. 70 supervise tcIegraphy and See that the
public rights are protected both iii rate, and
otherwise. The report of the Postmaster Gen .
eral shows that the Po>t-otfrc department has .
cost 81 100000 les. than receipts Gen. (trc>-
ham recommends Z reduction in rates of tran
sient newspapers.
The report Of the Secretary Of TIL Interior i,
pronounced interesting and the attention Of
Congress is called to its rocommcl d.ttions
Il mong other. tho>" for the repeal of the pre-
empton and timber culture act. and for more
stringent legislation to prevent frauds under
the pension laws. The statutes. which pre-
scfibe the definitions and puni>hmcnt> Of crimes +
relating to pensions. the President thinks. could
doubtless be made more effective by certain
tpH add /.
out in the Secretary : report. A. to the alarm
inc state of litcracy in some parts Of the
country the President again submits for the
consideration of Congress whether some federal
aid should be extended to public primary
education, wherever dequatc provision there
for has not already been made The report of
the tab Commission is referred 10. and the
President suggests radical treatment for that .
polNgamou> Territory. He says: II am
convinced that polygamy has become 50 strong
iv intrenched in the Territory Of tab that it i, .
protitle>> to attack it with any but the ,toutr>t
weapons which constitutional legislation can
fashion. | favor. therefore, the repeal of the
act upon which the Existing government de-
pend>"
In the closing paragraphs Of the message at
tentlon is called 10 the report of the Depart
ment of Agriculture; the immediate establish
mcnt of a civil government III Alaska Territory
i recommended: mention is made of the alleged
expressions of railroad corporations and Com
gre>S requested TO look for a remedy: Iegi>El-
ton for the preservation of our forests recon-
mended; the importance of industrial exhibit
tons dwclt upon; the efforts of the new civil
Service Commission thus far pronounced ben
etclal: former recommendations with regard to
the question of Presidential succession again
urged; power asked to enable the President to
veto items in appropriation bills; and the final .
paragraph is devoted to the civil rights qucs-
ton, in which the President SAYS: ANY lcgi,-
lation whereby Congress may lawfully supple
ment the guarantees which the Constitution af-
fordS for the equal enjoyment by all the citi-
zens of the United States of every right. privi-
lege and immunity Of citizenship. will receive
my unhesitating approval"
Mr.. Blalne's Letter.
The public utteranres of Hon. James G.. .
Blaine are sure to be universally read and crit
iciSpu, and he is rs certain to have bnStiIn drill