The Portland daily press., 1886-12-08
SOME POINTS OF THE MESSAGE.

The President would cut down the tariff In
ssch way as not only not to injure the pro-
Queer or consumer, but to bless both. If he
can construct bill warranted to do thes.
things undoubtedly it win go through boti
branches of Congress with rush. Possibly
Mr.. Morrison and few others of the ex-
IRENE free traders who seem to be anxious
to do as much damage as possible, might OPP
pose it, but the great majority of the repre-
sentatives would undoubtedly vote for it.
But unfortunately the President does not ac-
company his recommendation with bill
guaranteed to produce the results which he
and everybody else would like to see. And nc
doubt it is very lucky for him that the consti-
tuition does not compel him to be any more
specific, for it is hardly likely that he has
discovered the solution of a problem which
wiser and more experienced men have puz-
zled over long while without any very sat
isfactory result. As far as he makes any
definite recommendations they are that the
tariff on the necessaries of life and on raw
material be taken off or reduced Yet he
must know that all attempts to put sugar,
which is one of the necessaries of life, on
the free list have been opposed by the Demo-
cratic majority in the House and that
they are bitterly opposed to it to-day. If
the raw materials the President alludes to are
such as are not pro dueed in this country
then his suggestion in regard to them is a
good one. Senator Dawes advocated that
policy some time ago and so have other Re-
publicans. But to take eff the tax on raw
materials which enter into direct competi-
tons with raw materials produced in this
country would kill at one blow many indus
tries from which great many people get
their living-conspicuous among them the
business of wool growing which has reached
vast proportions in some of the States. Be-
sides policy that would protect the man.
ufacturer and remove all protection from
the farmer or miner is utterly indefensible.
The passage of the message that relates to
the fishery question indicates that the gov
eminent is engaged in negotiations with Great
Britain on the subject, but their nature on
the particular point which it is sought to
settle are not disclosed. All that our fisher
men want or ask is that their vessels be
granted the same commercial privileges in
Dominion ports that Dominion vessels are
accorded in our ports If the government
can secure from Great Britain recognition
of this claim it will do the fishermen good
service and be entitled to their thanks. The
Presidents characterization of the treatment
our vessels have received from the Canadian
government seems 20 show gratifying
change of sentiment. There was a time
when the administration appeared inclined
to saddle all the responsibility for the I'M
pleasantness between our fishermen and the
Dominion upon the former. Apparently it
now thinks that Canada may be somewhat
TO blame.
The President renews his recommends
ton OF year ago relative to the silver coin
age. 1t is absurd, as he says, for the govern
ment to be building vaults to store coin in
which the people do not want, and which is
a constant and increasing menace to the
soundness and stability Of our currency. But
the tone of his recommendation shows that
he feels that it is destined to pass unheeded,
as beyond all doubt it is.
The President renews his vow of allegiance
to the principle of civil service reform. I'm
der the circumstances it was quite necessary
TO 90 SO, for 1t was only few days ago that
he greatly staggered the faith of the public
in his devotion TO that reform by restoring
to office Democrat, who had been guilty of
the precise offence for which he finally and
irrevocably removed Republican from Of
fee. The President evidently finds it much
easier to talk reform than to practice it, a
state of things due largely to the fact that
the Democratic party have not the slightest
objection in the world to his doing the for
mer, while they have very strong objections
TO his doing the latter. Fora time the Presi-
dent strove manfully to rise above his party
on this subject, but the effort made him look
very tired, and latterly he seems TO have Civ
en- it up altogether.