The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The first message of President Cleveland
to Congress a submitted to that body
yesterday, and is this morning laid before
our readers in full. 1t is just such a docu'
ment as was to be expected from SO care
full, studious and conservative a man as
Mr.. Cleveland. It is an able, dignitied and
statesmanlike paper, and bears the I'M
press OF honest thought. While it is in
some respects disappointing to the people
OF the West, it will be closely read. 1t Is
the one great item OF news OF the day, and
we offer no apologies for the space given up
to it in this special edition.
The President pays q deserved and fell
ing tribute. to the late Thomas A. Htnd-
ricks. and then briefly adverts to the COM
ity of relations that should exist bel ween
Congress and the Executive and defines the
duties and powers Of each.
Our foreign relations are spoken OF at
great length and prominence Is given to the
South and Central American states. The
ship railway across the Isthmus, proposed
by Eads. receives a black-eye. The Ameri-
can hog is defended and the Santos case re-
ceives considerable prominence.
The subject of naturalization is treated
OF at length, and in no uncertain manner.
There is d true American ring about this
portion of the message that will lind q
hearty response in the heart OF every true
patriot.
The Kelley case is referred to at length,
ard the course OF the Administration is
defended. In this case, as in that OF a new
treaty with Turkey, the good and tenabIe
doctrine is held that 1.-THE United States
must hold in their intercourse with
every power that the status oil their citl-
zens ia to be respected and full civil priv
ileges allowed to them without regard to
creed" Austria's right to decline receiving
Mr.. Kelley solely on religious grounds is
denied.
The President speaks in no uncertain
tones upon the Mormon question. He
insists that polygamy must 60, and that ii
the present laws are not ample to accom-
plish this, others more stringent should be
enacted.
Our relations with England are specially
referred to, the question of a new extradi-
ton treaty with that power is raised and
an International copyright bill, upon the
mended. Closer relations with Mexico are
suggested.
Much space is given to the public debt
and to the excessive revenues of the Gov
eminent. The tariff bugbear is cleverly
avoided. Protection of American indus
tries is advocated and a reduction OF duties
on the necessaries of life recommended.
The Chinese question is not viewed from
a popular, but from a statesmanlike stand
point. The discharge of our treaty obliga-
tions and the maintenance of law and
order are insisted upon. He boldly takes
the position that we can: as a Nation, bar
out from our shores objectionable immi-
grafton, and says that if the existing re-
striction act is not satisfactory that a new
and more stringent one should be enacted.
The one subject to which the greatest
amount OF attention is given and with
which the people of the West will take issue
is the further coinage OF silver. The Presi-
lent makes an elaborate and exhaustive
argument against silver, and this part of
his message will bring general disap-
pointment to the people of the
Rocky Mountains. The message is
very clear and explicit upon this point,
and the reader is referred to it. The Pres
mind upon this subject has been
biased by bad counseliors. We have, this
morning, neither the time O the space to
the message fully, but shall recur to
the subject at some future time.
While there are some things about the
message that are disappointing to us there
are many that are to be %applauded and adj
mired. It is, as we have already said, an
able paper. characterized by a broad and
craftsmanship and reflects credit
upon the author and the Nation.