The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-09
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

PRESIDENT CleNe1and,S nrSt message to Con-
gress has not the merit of brevity. 1t is a
good many years since so long document
has been sent to Congress by the Executive.
A little condensation would have secured for
it a more general perusal. Ten columns of
solid nonpareil type are certain to prove very
repulsiye to the average reader.
Following the custom of his predecessors
for many years back the President first con-
siders our foreign relations, which, he says,
in general, are satisfactory. There are ques-
tons pending between our government and
foreign governments, but they are not such
as threaten a disturbance of the peaceful
and amieable relations now existing. At
present'we are not represented, except by
charge dGfdires, at the Austrian court, no
successor to Mr.. Kelley having been appoint
ed. The Presidents refusal to withdraw
that gentleman's nomination at the request
of Austria, was probably right. The mis-
take was his appointment in the first place.
The President reviews the rebellion in the
United States Of Colombia, and highly COM
pliments our officers and marines for
their conduct in that crisis The treaty
with Nicaragua pending in the Senate at the
last session has been withdrawn because if
ratified it would lead to an entangling al
lance with foreign nation which the Presi-
dent believes is contrary to the well estab-
lished and wise policy of our government.
he is inclined to favor the Eads scheme for
aship-railroad across the Isthmus by the
Tehauntepec route in preference to a ship
canal The troubles growing out of the
presence of the Chinese on the Pacific slope
the President dwells upon at considerable
length and strongly condemns the recent
raids upon the Chinese in that locality. He
believes, however, in the right of the govern
ment to prevent the influx of elements hostile
to its internal peace and he thinks that if
our laws on the subject are insufficient to ac-
complish the end sought they should be
strengthened by new legislation. The con-
troversy with Germany concerning the status
of naturalized citizens of the United States
making their temporary residence in that
country will be settled, the President be-
lieves, by the acceptance by Germany of the
views of our government on the subject. The
fisheries question between this country and
Great Britain he recommends be turned over
to a commission, to settle upon some
just and equitable basis, but he does
not specify any of the provisions
that such settlement should or should not
contain. The American fisherman will not
be likely to look with favor upon this sug-
gestion. He has been taught by bitter ex-
perience to regard commissions with distrust'
The commercial treaties before the Senate
at its last session he does not regard with
favor, and consequently has withdrawn them
oil He fbiplye I
be much improved by the payment of ade-
quate salaries, and that many abuses now
existing might be prevented by instituting
system of consular inspection
What the President says in relation to our
currency and coinage is in every way admir-
able, and we wish his recommendations in
regard to them were certain of receiving the
attention from Congress that they deserve
He points out clearly and forcibly the dan
gers to which the continued coinage of the
short weight silver dollar is exposing us,
and comes out fat-footed in favor of the
absolute and unconditional repeal of the
Bland law. The silver fanatics and the be-
levers in cheap money can get not particle
of consolation out of his treatment of this
matter.
On G1e question Oh Iu6 IdI1H lie taxes q DllQ-
die ground, supporting neither the views of
the freetraders nor those of the extreme pro-
tectionists. If the tariff is to be reduced he
recommends that the reduction be made upon
the imported necessaries Of life.
Deserved compliments are paid to the ma
rine hospital service for its successful efforts
in protecting the country from an invasion
of cholera and small pox; and to the life
saving service for its success in saving life
and property He recommends that the
signal service be divorced from the War De-
partment.
In his treatment of the affairs of the Navy
Department he follows very closely Secre-
tary Whitney's report. The Importance OF
the building of a navy adequate for the pro-
lection of our sea coast and our commerce Is
vigorously urged, and the plan of reorganiza-
ton of the department recommended by the
Secretary of the Navy is approved.
The refusal of the Postmaster General to
distribute the appropriation made by Con-
gress for the carrying of the foreign mails is
endorsed, and it is predicted that with re-
yival of business the present low rates of |
postage ON domestic letters will be found