Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-07
~ far,faster 1ntellisenfss
LANCASTER. DECEMBER I. Isse.
The Message.

ts 4uoIo ~ uotulDS esptCidlly lONtI III lut
topics Of the message or their treatment.
The presidents views are well known and
1hero was no opportunity for surprises. He
quietly and strongly maintains all his posi-
fions and makes somewhat elaborate ar
gument on the vexed question of the tariff,
which ever affords SO much food for words
and yet really calls for so little action. The
president is in thorough sympathy with
revenue reform. He believes that the
taxes are heavier than the needs Of the
country require, and that the import du.
ties should be lowered. The ardent pro-
tectionist, who bawls at every suggestion of
= lowered duty, will find red flag in the
message. The president decided position,
I slongside the secretary of the treasury's,
oareeing with the known views OF the ma
jority Of the Democratic representatives
laAves no doubt of the Democratic position
on the tariff, and assures some reduction
"a the tariff revenue at this session, though
It may be only in the wool duty, which the
party can well unite in voting.
The president reports us at peace with
III the world, the Mexican and Canadian
disputes being hardly big enough to rustic
the national equanimity. Mexico's pre-
tensions, however, to judge crimes COM
mitted on our territory, needs to have
quietus put upon it, which doubtless can
be done by negotiation.
1t is well we are at peace, because we
have hardly any navy and no army to
speak of. Over in Europe the great states
have their standing armies up to such size
That they have to go to war to get rid of
them. They lack the dollars to endure the
drain. Here we are troubled with too
many dollars. Financially we are wonder
fully strong; though the ideas upon
finance might be stronger. The suggestion
that there is no need to coin silver dollars
30 store them, and no decency in putting
OF at hundred cents dollar worth about
seventy, should be able to make an impress
sion ou Congress that will stop the fraudu-
lent folly. The more silver we buy and
coin, and store away, the cheaper it
seems to get. Our efforts to bull the mar
ket, is a failure and one would think that
even the silver statesmen would be discour.
aged by the result of their undertaking to
dump their constituents silver mines into
the treasury Of the country.
The presidents views on ocean mail SER
vice cannot be taken to favor subsidy as
( that term is generally understood. The
only excuse for subsidy is the encourage
ment of certain line of business in the
hope that it may be so strengthened as to
be able to stand eventually without gov
6rnment support. 1t is an advanced form
OF the doctrine Of protection that has re-
ceiyed but little favor in this country be.
cause 1t is so open to abuse.
Asa motive for government support Of
ocean steamship lines the president gives
the securing Of postal service, necessary
and proper and not otherwise obtainable. :"
TO this no exception can be taken. for the
postal service must be rendered as efficient
- possible, but the question most naturally
arises: is there any land with which postal
service is necessary, and therefore proper.
and yet not obtainable without paying a
price for it that would reach subsidy pro.
portions
The message indicates the Argentine
Republic and Brazil as fulfilling these con.
ditions, the mail to both countries passing
By way OF England, and therefore occupy.
ing about double the time really necessary.
The mail between these countries and our
OWE may not be very large, but if there
vas . direct exchange, with the United
States of the products Of South and North
America-instead of being largely through
the medium of English houses-it would
reach most respectable proportions. The
president rightly says that a wise exten-
non OF our postal service " may lead to
snmuiating intercourse and become the
harbinger OF profitable traffic" This is
. principle that has long been recognized
In the establishment of postal routes in the
( far West, where many mining camp and
settlement owes large share of success To
the government postal service.