San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-12-16
6 l.
NO.. j..
The Presidents Second Annual Message.

The Presidents Second Annual Message.
The present message. ~ compared with
It's predecessor, has one striking distinction
In It's tone Of sympathetic response TO the
most urgent of the political exigencies Of
the hour On the subject Of excessive rev.
enuo and unnecessary taxation the president
enlarges and eaborates in manner denot-
ing that he Is deeply impressed with the in
tolerablo nature OF q great aad constantly
increasing evil. II is an evil Of such mon-
strous potency aB to make q cruel mockery
even Of positive administrative virtue. As
tho president shows, the very economy
which reform administration has infused
into collection OF taxes Is made to aggravate
tho curse Of vast accumulation of idle
treasure and ceaseless drain OF the cur
rency resources of the people. He points
to the only just and adequate remedy. IL
Is to relieve the people OF q needless burden
and get rid OF useless and barren surplus
by cutting down unnecessary taxation,
which IL In the essence Of extortion and
robbery, TO the actual needs Of economical
government maintained for the comprehen-
sive purpose Of protecting the citizen In the
greatest liberty consistent with the good Or
der Of society, and in perfect security for the
enjoyment of his earnings, with the least
possible deduction for public requirements.
The alternative is to continue 10 pile up the
hoard, and continue to force and enlarge the
drain, or 10 plunge into n sea Of wasteful,
corrupting and demoralizing extravaganza.
Politics would reek with conspiracies for
public plunder and the halls of Congress be
resolved into unmitigated dens of jobbery.
The president does not exaggerate the claims
OF the mass Of workingmen and the mass Of
farmers and agriculturists to large measure
of Legislative consideration for their inter-
ests with respect to taxes, direct or indire,t.
affecting the price which they pay for the
necessaries of life. He could have spared
himself good deal of labor or disquistion
by Jumping together the workingman, the
farmer, the agriculturist, and the honest.
industrious citizen Of every vocation and ev-
cry condition, and defining their relation to
taxation rs that of the average consumer.
This is the forgotten man in the system Of
class legislation and legalized spoliation.
When his interests are rightly considered
and effectively guarded, justice will be done
to all classos-Ynot before. On the subject
of civil service reform the presidents voice
is not uncertain. In decided terms he in
ssts on carrying out the civil service act to
the full logical extent of the principle which
II embodies. He does not mistake when he
holds the destiny of the republic TO be in
volved in the final maintenance Of this prin-
ciple. The spoils system which 80 long
made the president q murky fountain of
patronage, congressman first of all and last
Of all Office brokers, and politicians like SO
many bowling wolves, whose gospel is
their maw," must go root and branch, or
the duration of the republic con not be as
sured. Civil-service reform Is vital neces-
sity, because political service reform is VI
tai necessity, and the latter can not be had
without the formsr.
FEATURES OF THE MESSAGE.
The presidents message to Congress
shows that no foreign relations exist to en-
danger peace. The administration did not
abandon the position which was taken when
Mr.. Cutting was imprisoned In Mexico, and
can never admit O foreign government 10
have jurisdiction over offeuses consummated
in the United States. Itfavors maintaining
Hawaii as independent of any European
government. Congress is recommended to
the reciprocity treaty with Mexico. The
also proposes IN make new
treaty of commerce and navigation with
Mexico, The president hopes to finish ne
gotiations about the Canadian fisheries and
lay the history OF the case before Congress
during the session. He recommends inter-
national copyright, and the free admission
of foreign works Of art. The message shows
that imports have increased during the year,
and the treasury surplus Is increasing In
amount, and speaks strongly Of the injus-
tice of thus taxing the people when the
money is not needed for any proper pur-
pose. In nlluding to silver coinage the
presidents message goes upon the theory
that such coinage was designed to enhance
the value of silver bullion and has failed to
do so The large number of suits growing
out of obscure an1 complicated tariff laws
furnish plea for some enactments to make
the laws more distinct in meaning. The
general reorganization of the federal courts
Is recommended. with additional judges to
get through the work of courts now crowd
cd with business. Fortifcations for impor-
tant coast cities (not named) and the build
ing of war ships are urged, with a prefer
ence for domestic construction. Liberal
approaching to subsidy of Amer
lean steamships for carrying the mails to
South America are advocated rs means Of
our export trade. The message
favors building federal penitentiaries and
Iuelr management bO hh NV w cihpiog ooh-
yict labor in distasteful competition with
free labor II Is recommended that the In
iians be given land in individual ownership
md brought into citizenship with the rest Of
he people. Congress is advised 10 repeal
he pre-emption, timber culture and desert
and laws. and make the homestead law
more strict. A paragraph feeliDgly bespeaks
he demand for comprehensive but strict
pension law, under which disabled soldiers
nay claim relief as right. The regulation
" interstate railroads Is recommended. as
.lso provision for arbitration IN labor trea-
,les. The president expresses his conf
lence that the efforts made TO purify the
iyil service are having good etfect.-Gal-
eston News.
There is more Catarrh in this sec
ion Of the country than all other dis