Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

questions except the two which are
of paramount and almost vital interest to
Utah are treated in wise, clear-headed
and statesmanlike mander, we opine will
be generally conceded. The DEMOCRAT
admits its disappointment, in common
with the entire law.abiding people OF
this Territory, that no direct reference
was made to the Utah issue. The omis-
sion was unexpected, and will have a
tendency to cause temporary feeling OF
distrust in regard to the Administrators
present attitude upon that question. 1t is
a matter OF National Importance; will be
one OF the prominent matters considered
by the present Congress and should not
have been ignored by the President in
his reference to the important measures
to be acted upon by that body. While
deprecating Mr.. Cleveland's silence,
however, the DEMOCRAT harbors no APP
prehension that he has changed his
views upon the subject, as expressed in
his message OF a year ago, or that he will
swerve from the course foreshadowed at
that time. This is the same Congress,
and composed OF the same members as
that addressed by him last year, and the
President doubtless considered reitera-
tion OF the recommendations in his pre-
vious message unnecessary and super
fluous. While this is the most encour-
aging, it is also the most reasonable con-
struction that can be placed upon
his silence. Had he changed his
views he would unquestonably have
given some intimation OF the fact prepara-
tory to such executive action as
would correspond with the change.
While good, ringing paragraph would
have thrilled with pleasure the loyal
hearts of Utah, and perhaps added some
strength to the cause in Congress, its
omission in our opinion will make no
practical difference in the general result
of the proceedings OF the present session
upon the Mormon question. His veto OF
the Tucker BILL should it pass, is not to
be feared, and his signature to that Act
is all that will be necessary to complete
the work which it is almost certain will
be accomplished by Congress.
Upon the silver question, the Presi-
dent, while making the most disastrous
recommendation and drawing the most
startling conclusions, presents an array
OF facts and figures which more than
establish the folly OF both. He states
that there were coined during the last
year 20, ,S39,S4S silver dollars, the metal
used costing $23, ,44S,960. This gives the
Government IL profit, less the cost OF
coming, OF $5,391,8S The total amount
OF such coinage, under the compulsory
law OF 1873 was, on the first day OF De-
cember, $24S, l31 $40. The difference
between the par value OF the whole num-
ber OF dollars coined and the cost OF the
bar silver, gagged by last years coin
age, is over 5l,000,00O, which less
the cost of coinage, is clear
gain to the Government. Outside
OF the silver dollars in circulation, and
those held in the Treasury for the re-
demption OF certificates in actual cirCula'
ton, there rcmain but $40, ,464, ,345. Oh
this large amount will be required in
the shape OF silver certificates OF small
denominations, which cannot be engraved
and issued fast enough to meet the de-
mand. Now deduct from this pitiful sum
OF silver coin held as reserve by this
great and prosperous Nation and the
crankiest gold bug ought to blush to LISP
a whisper or a complaint over our unused
demonetized silver would be alarmed at
holding SO little in reserve. And yet the
President groans in spirit because new
vaults are required to hold this small
amount, together with the increase held
for the redemption OF the circulating GER
ti6cates. Cannot enough he drawn from
the $5l 100000 OF the profits in purchases
and coming to hold the balance in net
gains? Ii there had been no discrimina-
tlon against silver by the Secretaries oi
the Treasury, from John Sherman down
there would not have been even the pitt
full surplus in the Treasury which we
now find. The President seems annoyed
that this surplus cannot be brought into
circulation. Let him follow the policy
OF the party by which he was
elected, and he will experience
no trouble on that score. The pay
ment OF silver for custom dues and
the use of a reasonable proportion in the
payment OF the National Indebtedness
would solve that question by creating
such demand for silver coin that the
maximum rate Of coinage under the pres.
ent law would fail to supply.
There are other portions OF the message
to which we shall probably allude in the
future, and in more approbatiye terms
than We have been compelled to adopt in
our references to the two matters OF the
greatest importance to the people OF this
section.
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PR0P0SFn CANAL