The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

and verbosity. Mr.. Cleveland was introduced
to the country by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
as man with genius for government, but it
is certain that he has not genius for writing
| messages to the Congress. Last ycar he ap-
palled the country with 90, 900 words; this
year it requires more than 10000 words for
him to Communicate information and recon-
mend certain measures" The first 4, 900 words
may be summarily dismissed. The relations
of this government with foreign nations are
not so varied or intricate as to require much
general consideration. But in reading this
opening section of the message thought nat
uraly reverts tc the disgraceful episodes
of the fisheries disputes and the Cutting
case, which are presented in the best light
possible for the administration. On the ques
tons |of tariff REFORM finance and revenue
Mr. Cleveland has not shifted his position.
He is in harmony with the views of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury on these topics, but be
does not state his opinions So radically or so
forcefully as does Mr.. Manning. There will
be surplus of about 500, 600, 0OO What
shall be done with it? He advocates naval
construction and coast defenses-Mr. Tilden
being dead, Mr.. Cleveland speaks plainly
upon these matters now-but the surplus is to
be decreased by decrease of the revenue,
and this by modification of the tariff All
parties are practically unit upon
this proposition, but the difference
arises when the principle is to
be determined upon which this tariff
modification shall proceed. Both Mr.. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Manning do not conceal their
hostility to the American system of protec-
ton to industry, and their tariff modification
would be upon basis ini,nical to the pro.
tective idea. This is one of the fundamental
differences between the parties; and so far as
it has been developed in any election of recent
times, the majority of the people have de-
clared against the Cleveland Manning Carlisle
Morrison programme. The administration is
at-foosed against the continuance of the
compulsory coinage of silver.
In reviewing the departments the President
is quite prolix. The encomiums he passes upon
the Postofice Department are insufferable in
localities where the postal service is simply
darnnable, as it is throughout Indiana. In
stead of being bettered by time and expert
ence, it is steadily growing worse. But aside
from this, there is no sense in the everlasting
effort to make the postal department self-sus-
tanning. The people do not complain
of the postal deficiency, if the
expenses are fairly incurred for
competent and comprehensive service.
Government is not intended to be selfsus-
tanning. What is needed in the Postal De-
partment is thatethe service the government
has undertaken, and which it has prevented
private enterprise from assuming shall be we'll
and faithfully performed, with all reasonable
economy. Mr.. Cleveland renews his recon-
mendation for one or more national peniten-
tiaries, and in that connection says that the
labor of the convicts who may be confined
therein should be used for the production of
presumably, are now produced by free labor.
The Presidents views on the Indian ques-
ton, and respecting the public lands, will
meet with general favor and Endorsement. He
utters a self-evident truth when he says there
is mo such thing as the Indian frontier" and
the attempt TO keep up one by maintaining
the barrier of great reservations against the
advance of civilization and white settlement
must be abandoned-the sooner the better.
The tribal relation and the treaty humbug
with Indians must be done away WITH and
the Indians absorbed into the population, put
on lands in severalty surrounded with the
busy labor and homes of white people, and
compelled to obey the laws of the country.
as possible, and a speedy end put to the pres
ent system of pauperizng the red man. One
thing in connection with the public lands dis
cussion will be noted, and that is the wide
discrepancy between the amount of land really
restored to the public domain and the claims
of Democratic campaign literature. Weprefer
to take the statements of the Presidents mess
age rather than the assertions of the platform
Makers but whether much or little, the
country will approve of whatever is done to
preserve American lands for American settlers
The Presidents twaddle about ciyil-service
reform is not worth notice in view of the dis
graceful farce into which that has been turned
by Mr.. Cleveland himself. His long and la
hor;one attanont m defand and anoloo;za Gov