The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

lions TO congress-
The message, read in both houses Simu
taneously on Tuesday, is not only the hr'
message sent by President Cleveland
congress, but it is the first that has emaf
ated from Democratic Executive IN
quarter of century,
OF all the messages of late years not on
was so looked forward to or so CAREFUL
scanned when it made its appearance.
Not less anxiety was manifested by thos
who bitterly opposed the president, as I
what 1t would contain, than by those "h
were during the contest and are nov
stsunchly his friends
To those who thus opposed HIM itreveai
President Cleveland as wise and prudeh
statesman, and TO those who were and ar
his friends it Is but a continuation OF thei
wisdom in supporting him.
II shows him to be as purely business
man in public affairs as he was In the con
duct of his own private interests, and tina
in discharging the duties of his office he il
not laying aside all business rules and prin
ciples to indulge in vargaries and theorlz
ing.
Every line and every word in the mes
sage but strengthens the belief that with
him "public office is public trust" held
for the benefit of the people and not for
purposes of private gain and personal ends
1t is Thoroughly Illustrative of his integrity
of character and strength Of purpose to 50
administer the affairs of government as to
have all the people benefited by its proper
conduct and not a favored few.
BY this message the President has COM
pletely allayed all fears that may have BEEN
honestly entertained by the business inter
ests of the country and completely refuted
those who wickedly taught that change
in administration meant ruin to the com
mercial affairs of the country. In all its
parts the message is wise and conservative
determined in the suggestion of needed
reforms but counselng the wisdom of
moderation in bringing them about.
The parts of the message that have at
tracted the most attention and called forth
the greatest comment are those devoted to
the Tariff" the Silver" question, the
M ormon" question and Civil Service"
Whilst we would have preferred to have
had the president more explicit upon the
subject of tariff reform, yet We are content
as the presidents utterances In his message
taken In connection with those contained
In the report of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury, show determination on his part to
bring about II possible reduction in the
amount of excess of revenue annually &C
cumulated from our false and lily adjusted
tariff system.
Upon this subject the president says tina,
the fact that our revenues are In excess of
the actual needs of an economical admins
ratiOn of the government justfies reduc.
ton In the amount exacted from the people
for It's support" and that government "is
never better administered and its true spirit
Is never better observed than when the
peoples taxation for its support is scrupu.
lousy limited to the actual necessity of ex.
penditures and distributed according to a
just and equitable plan"
His remedy is to reduce ''the revenues
derived from tax upon imported necessa.
ries of life," and thus directly lessen the
cost of living in every family in the land,
and release to the public in every family In
the land, and In every humble home
larger measure of the rewards of frugal
industry"
Upon the subject of the suspension of
further coinage of "silver" dollars, the
message Is very explicit and Is in accord
with the sentiments expressed in the War
ner letter of February. The reasons given
by the president fully justify him In advis.
ing such suspension. The continued and
compulsory coinage of silver without either
the means or the disposition to circulate II
must inevitably bring financial disaster
upon w. The fact that 1t has not already
created marked financial disturbance he
says has resulted from good fortune and not
because no harm can be wrought by unlim-
tied and continued coinage. As the presi-
dent very tersely says;
We have now on hand all the silver dol
lars necessary TO supply the present needs
of the people, and 20 satisfy those who
from sentiment wish to see them in circu-
lstioR, and II their coinage is suspended
they can be readily obtained by all who
desire them. If the need of more Is at any
time apparent their coinage may be re-
newed. That disaster has not already over
taken US furnished no proof that danger
does not wait upon a continuation Of the
present silver coinage. We have been
saved by the most careful management and
unusual expedients, by combination of
fortunate conditions and by confident ex.
pectstion that the commerce of the govern.
ment in regard to silver coinage would be
speedily changed by ali action of congress
Prosperity hesitates upon our threshold be.
cause OF dangers and uncertainties sur.
rounding this question. Capital timidly
shriRks from trade, and investors are un
willing 70 take the chance of the question.