Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-12-11
Presidents Message.

decided on all points. Long it had TO be to
touch even cursorily upon the governments
relations TO the many interests, domestic
and foreign, of fifty-five millions of people,
but 1t is nowhere diffuse and everywhere
sensible and practical.
After feeling reference to the sudden
death of Vice.President Hendricks, the
President brings into review the information
al interests of the United States, and is able
to make the gratifying announcement that
the relations of the United States with all
foreign powers continue to be friendly. No
questions of grave difficulty are pending
with any foreign government. The Argen-
tine government has revived the long dor
mant question Of the Falkland Islands, and
Austria Hungary has based objections to
receiving Mr.. Kelley as the representative
of the United States at Vienna on grounds
that the President pronounces wholly mad
missible. These are not, however, incidents
Of a character TO imperil greatly our rela-
tons with these governments. The inter-
ference of the United States to quiet dis
turbances at Panama and Aspinwall en-
HANGED the cordially ofour intercourse with
the United States of Columbia, and our
successful INSTANCE upon the American
citizenship of Julio Santos has but ncreas-
ed the respect in which we are held by the
government of Ecuador. The Nicaragua
treaty, as looking TO the acquisition of the
territory through which the proposed Mo
aragua canal would pass, is PRONOUNCED
impolitic and inconsistent with q proper
Observance of the precept of Washington,
which dscourages entangling alliances with
foreign states. or the routes of interoceanic
communication thus far discussed the Presi-
dent prefers the Tehauntepec but whatever
route may hereafter be opened, he wishes
it to be consecrated to the common use of
mankind. The recent attacks in Wyoming
and Washington Territories by persons not
citizens OF the United States upon inoffen-
sive Chinese laborers are regretted as jeop-
ardizing domestic peace and the good rela-
tionship we have always striven to maintain
with China The just attitude taken by our
government in regard to the Interpretation
of treaties of naturalization will, it is hoped,
lead TO satisfactory solution of the ques-
tons raised under this head by the recent
action of Germany. Our relations with
Great Britain have during the past year
been specially marked by good will. The
question of the North American fisheries
will soon demand settlement, and the fish
ing interests of Canada and the United
States being intimately related to other
general questions dependent upon contigui-
ty and intercourse, it Is recommended that
| Congress appoint commission to act with
representatives of the British government
in effecting an arrangement that shall be
mutually satisfactory. Our intercourse with
Mexico is becoming closer every year. Rail
roads have been built across the Rio Grande
and much American capital is invested in
Mexican enterprises. The periecting Of leg
islation needed TO make the lately conclud-
ed commercial treaty with Mexico effective
is therefore recommended. The projected
treaties with Spain and Santo Domingo do
not SO favorably impress the President by
reason of their covering only part of the
traffic with those countries and involving
the surrender of large revenues by us fol
inadequate consideration.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
showing surplus of revenue ascertained
and estimated for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1886, of about $40, 900, the President
advises reduction of the amount exacted
from the people," His words on this point
are few but explicit. "rhe proposition
he says, with which we have TO deal is the
reduction of the revenue received by the
government and directly paid by the people
for customs duties. The question of free
occasion for the general discussion of thu
wisdom or expediency of protective sys
tenn" He opposes such action by Congress.
as would tend TO ruthlessly iniure industrie:
and interests which have been encouraged
by the protective features of our presen
tariff, nor does he look with favor upor
changes inconsistent with the interests O
American labor, but "within these limta
tons u certain reduction should be made il
in our customs revenue" AS respects th,
classes of articles that should first be freet
from excessive taxation, the President SAYS
81 think the reduction should be made il
the revenue derived from a tax upon tn
imported necessaries Of life. We thus di
rectly lessen the cost of living in every famil,
of the land, and release TO the people in ever
humble home larger measure of the re
wards of frugal industry"
The silver problem is discussed at SOM
length, and with great clearness. The RICH
OF Congress to purchase silver to coin int
dollars is questioned but granting the right
the necessity Of making further purchases Il
add to the 215,759, 431 silver dollars in exist
ence to-day is assumed TO be negatived b.
the fact that up to the present time but So
100000 of silver dollars have been gottel
into circulation, leaving over 165,000000 q
them in the custody of the government
Every month" says the President, puttin
the absurdity of the Bland act in a stron
light, "two millions of gold in the publ
treasury are paid out for two millions o
more OF silver dollars, to be added TO the idl
mass already accumulated" From man
points of view the continued coinage of tn
standard dollar is shown to be not only use
less, but inexpedient and dangerous. Tn
Presidents very able discussion of the mat
ter is closed with a recommendation tina
"the compulsory coinage of silver dollars,
directed by the act of February, 1878, b
suspended.
The irregularities found TO exist in Tn
bureau Of the coast and geodetic survey ar
referred To, and it is recommended that il
work be limited by statute to definite OF
lects, and its functions be performed in sub
ordination TO the head OF the Navy Depart
ment In discussing questions affecting tn
army the TACT that in a force of 24705 en-
listed men and 2, 154 officers there were IA
III trials by court-martial last year Is ad
verted to without commentator, and tn
remark is added that if the ideas of iustic
presented IN some of the cases examined ar
the ideas that generally prevail in thes
tribunals, the honor and honesty of tn
army uOAiohu sudt tuty W TciOIineu. IL
The signal service, il is suggested, Shout
be separately established and transferred
from the War Department to some one a
. the civil departments.
The President subscribes heartily TO Sec
rotary Whitney's recommendations in re
spect TO reorganization Of the navy. Oh
this topic he is very emphatic "If we de
/ sire to build ships for present usefulness in
stead of naval reminders OF the DAYS that ar
past, we must have department organizes
for the work, supplied with all the talen
: and ingenuity our country affords, prepares
to take advantage of the experience of othe
, nations, systematized SO that all effort shall
unite and lead in one direction, and full
imbued with the conviction that war YES
, sells, though new, are useless unless the
! combine all that the ingenuity of man ha
, up 10 this day brought forth relating /
their construction"
0 The Indian problem receives sympatheti
J, treatment, and 1t is recommended that
\ commission be appointed to suggest meas
ures suited to the varying needs Of the sew
eral tribes
The invasion Of the public domain is ais
discussed in line with the Presidents acto
# some months ago in respect TO the vast area
A appropriated by cattlemen and Others in III
West, Northwest and Southwest.