, 1883-12-06
The Presidents Message.

President Arthur's message to Con
gress is as able and conservative a
document as might have been ex-
pected, Judging from his past efforts
in the line of public utterances. Al
though unable to present the mes
sage in full, owing to limited space,
We can insert some of the most i'm
portant parts.
The President urges prompt at
tention to our fishing and sealing in,
terests, and the renewal of such
treaty arrangements as will be adj
vantageous. He treats Of foreign re
lations in a candid, manly way, that
indicates a determination to protect
our dignity and welfare. His tinan-
cial statement discloses a very favor
able condition of affairs, and his
recommendation -faHnrs thea-Rat tiasaa
banking system. He also defends
the consolidation of revenue districts
as being necessary in the interest of
economy. He urges better coast de
fences and enlarging the navy. The
dostal affairs he finds in a healthy
condition. He opposes governmental
control of the telegraph. He also
urges careful attention to the rights
of the people, as against the encroach-
ments of railroad monopoiies. The
following in reference to the Nor
mon question, and the subject of
Alaskan government, shows that he
is playing the right tune on those
strings:
THE GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA.
I trust that Congress will not fail
its p,sis Mt session to put Alaska
under the protection of law. It's
people have repeatedly demonstrated
against our neglect to afford them the
maintenance and protection express
ly guaranteed in the tern IF the
treaty whereby that Terntor0 was
ceded to TIE Is Eszitteet States. For six
teen years they have pleaded IN vain
for that which they should have re
ceived without the asking. They
have no law for the collection of debt.
the support of education, the convey
ance of property, the administration
of estates, or the enforcement of con.
tracts; none, indeed for the punish
ment of criminals, except such as of
fend against certain customs, com
merce and navigation acts. The re-
sources Of Alaska, especially in fur,
mines and lumber, are considerable
in extent, and capable of large devel-
opment, while its geographical stu
alton is one of political and CONNER
cial Importance The promptings of
interest, therefore, as we'll as consid-
erations of honor and good faith, de-
mand the immediate establishment of
civil government in that Territory,
whose complaints have lately been
neglected.
UTAH
The Utah Commission has submit
ted to the Secretary of the Interior
its second annual report of its labors
in supervising the recent election
in that Territory pursuant to the Act
cf March -, 1882, It appears that
the persons by the Act disqualified,
to the number of about twelve thous-
ana, were excluded from the polls.
This fact, however, affords little cause
for congratulation, and [ fear it is
far from Indicating any real or sub
stantial progress toward the exter
mination of .polygamy All of the
members of the Legislature are Nor
mons, aud there is great reason to
believe that they are in sympathy
with the practices that this govern
meut is seeking 10 suppress" The
President further recommends abo!-
ishing Utah's government an! sub
stituting 4 commission with direct
authority from the United States.