The Dillon tribune., 1884-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The annual message Of President Ar
thur to Congress is a document Of cxtraor-
binary length, and it is not entirely devoid
of interest. Our readers will find Il full
text of that portion Of the message rela.
ting to foreign affairs on the first page Of
to.day's paper. The occupanto of the White
House has fed his independent subjects on
a mess Of message too long for our col.
umns, and so we can not do better than re.
fer in brief ~ the features in the Presi-
dents paper relating to the domestic affairs
Of the country. Much Of the message in
treating of the affairs Of the country is
quotations from the reports Of secretaries
and other officers of the government mich
have heretofore been given to the public
through the columns of the TRIBUNE and
hence will not be new to Our readers. The
President exhibits the finances of the ma
ton in a favorable light and recommends
the immediate suspension Of the coinage Of
sil> or dollars. The army and the Indians
receive some attention, and the fact that
the country has heen comparatively free of
Indian raids during the past year is credit
ed to the score of the army. Our coast
dcfences are discussed and appropriations
are asked to guard against attacks of for
eyn foes. The Arctic expedition is touch.
ed and praise is bestowed on the manage
rnent Of the relief expedition that succorte!
the survivors. The postal system is allud-
ed to a. considerable length. While the
$, stem is found not to be self-sustaining, it
is shown that i: has invariably been the pol.
icy of the Government to supply the PEG.
pie with the most efficient s:stem Of mail
service that with due regard to it's best
interests can be furnished. The Mormons
in their plurality practices are condemned
and Congress is urged to assume absolute
political control Of the Territory OF Utah
and provide for the appointment of a com.
mission clothed with such power as in its
judgment may safely and justly BE- placed
in its hands. He next urges commercial
improvement, assigning as an incentive
that we are people much interested in
mechanical pursuits and fertile in invrn.
ton. The President thinks that beneficial
results will flow from retaining protective
duties without making them burdensome.
In speaking Of the civil service commission
he says that it has fully answered the an
ticipations Of its friends in securing compe-
tent and faithful public servants. After
referring to the local affairs of the District
Of Columbia, which are shown to be in a
purer condition than heretofore, President
Arthur closes his message with the fol.
lowing graceful acknowledgment Of the
courteous cooperation Of Congress and
the people in aiding hin, i" performing his
official duties:
"As the time draws nigh when am to retire from
the public service. can not refrain from express
Ing 10 the National Legislature with whom have
been brought into personal and official intercourse,
my sincere appreciation Of their unailing courtesy,
and Of their harmonious cooperation with the Elk.
ecutive in 40 many measures calculated to promote
the best interests Of the Nation; and to my fellow
citizens generally acknowledge deep sense ol
obligation for the support which they have accorded
me in my administration Of the Executive Depart.
mcnt of the Government"