The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-12-08
THE MESSAGE.

ninth Congress began on Monday at
2 o'clock p. m. The reading of the
Presidents message was about all the
business transacted. The Pittsburgh
Com. Gazette thus sums up that docu.
ment:
The second annual message of Pres.
ident Cleveland is so much like the
first that it must be accepted as dec.
laratiOn on the part of the Admins
tration that the policy outlined at the
beginning, however it may strike Con.
grsss and the country, is going to be
adhered to. Ia the discussion of our
foreign relations there is an optimistic
vein which bespeaks the confidence of
Secretary Bsyard in the ability of the
State Department to settle all existing
difficulties through the peaceful chan.
nels of diplomacy.
As regards the Fisheries question,
the President confesses that although
disappointed in his efforts to secure q
settlement, by reason of the adverse
action of the Senate, negotiations are
still pending with reasonable hope
that an acceptable conclusion will be
reached before the close of the present
session Of Congress.
Mexican affairs are represented to
sbe Of a very pleasant and satisfactory
character. The upexecuted reciproci.
ty treaty of 1888 is again referred to,
and the President makes known his
intentions to enter upon negotiations
with Mexico for new and enlarged
treaty of commerce and navigation.
The position of the Administration as
respects the Cutting incident is stated
from the standpoint of Mr.. Bayard,
and the declaration is made that the
admission of the claim of jurisdiction
over American citizens set up by the
Mexican Court would be evasive OF
the Jurisdiction of this Government
and highly dangerous to our citizens.
For this reason the principle is denied,
and it is hoped that in the interest Of
good neighborhood the Mexican statue
will be modified so as to avoid conflict
between the two countries.
The tariff question is discussed in
much the same vein as it was a year
ago. The revenues must be reduced
so as to correspond with the future
wants of the Government, and the
way to accomplish that is to reduce
the tariff. The President proceeds up.
on the freetrade theory that the peo.
pie are being unduly taxed by the
tariff; that the workingmen and farm.
ers are not getting their share of pro.
lection, and that the time has come
for revenue reform" Manufacturer
are given to understand that they have
been receiving the lions share and
that they must hereafter get on with
out relying upon the leading strings
of protection. The problem which il
thus presented to Congress is how tc
reduce the tariff without injuring bus
iness, lessening the volume of work OIL
reducing the wages paid to labor.
In referring to the rebuilding of the
navy, the hope is expressed that the
Government will not be compelled tc
go abroad to purchase armor.plates oil
steel for guns. 1t is intimated tha'
this course may be forced upon tb,
Secretary of the Navy, and 10 obviatC
1t suggestion is thrown out that tbs
. army and navy, by uniting their con
! tracts, might offer such inducements
as would result in securing the dOmes
tication of these important interests
There is a CLEAN of hope that tht
foreign mail service may be stimulates
by Government assistance above mer
compensation for carrying the mails
1t is recommended that lines be estab
lished to the Argentine Republic anC
to Brazil, with a view to extending
our relations and increasing trade Will
those countries. 1t does not mattel
much whether the assistance is called
Subsidy" or Legitimate compensa
ton" SO that the object sought is ac
complished.