The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-04

erection OF new public buildings.
Repeated recommendations nave been
submitted for the amendment aud change
Of the laws relating to
ore PrBLIc LANDS,
so that their spoliatlop and diversion to
other uses than al homes for honest set
Tiers might be prevented. While n
measure To meet This conceded necessity
of reform remains awaiting the action OF
Congress many claims TO the public
lands and applications for their donation
in favor OF states and individuals have
been allowed
THE INDIAN PROBLEn.
A plan In aid OF Indian management
recommended by those well Informed, IA
containing valuable features in further
ance of the solution OF the Indian prob
lem has thus far failed Of legislative
sanction, while grants OF doubtful ex-
pediency to railroad corporations, per
hitting them 10 pass through ln-
dian reservations, have greatly multi
piled
The propriety and necessity Of the
erection of one or more prisons for the
and a pOstoffce building in the National
Capitol are not disputed, but these needs
yet remain unanswered while scores OF
public buildings have been erected where
their necessity for public purposes Is not
apparent az revision OF orr pension
laws could easily be made, which would
rest upon just principles and provides for
every worthy applicant But while our
general pension laws remain confused
and imperfect, hundreds OF private pen.
sion laws are annually passed which are
the sources Of unjust discrimination and
popular dem Olall2atiOn.
PRIVATE INTERESTS IN PUBLIC Bills
Appropriation bills for the support Of
the Government are defaced by items
and provisions 10 meet private ends, amt
It Is freely asserted 10y responsible and
experienced parties that bin sppro-
priaiing money for public Internal i'm
prOyements would fail 10 meet with
favor, unless II contained items more for
local and private advantage than for
public benefit These statements can be
much emphs Used by an asccItainment Of
the proportion OF Federal legislation
which either bears upon its face is phi
yate character on which, upon examina-
ton, DEVELOPS such u motive power,
and you, the people, wait and expect
from their chosen representatives. such
patriotic action as will advance the vel
fare OF the entire country; and this eX-
pectatiOn can only be answered by the
performance of public duty with unset
fish purpose Our mission among the
nations OF tie earth, and our success N
accomplishing the work God has given
the American people to do, require Of
those inlrusted with the making and
execution of our laws, perfect devotion,
above all other things, to the public good
This devotion will lead US 10 strongly
resist al impotence of constitutional
limitations of Federal power and 10 per
sistently check the increasing tendency
TO extend the scope Of Federal legisla-
ton into the domain of State and local
jurisdiction upon the plea of subscribing
the public welfare. The preservation OF
partitions between proper subjects OF
Federal aud local care and regulation IS
of such Importance under the COuslitu-
ton, which is the law of our very exist
ence that no JnsideT .tlOn Of eXpediency
or sentiment shout ltCmpl u to enter upon
doubtful ground re have undertaken
to discover and proclaim
THE RICHEST BLESSINGS OF A FREE
GOVERNMENT.
With the Constitution as our guide, lei
us follow The way it points Out; il will
not mislead US. And surely no one who
has taken upon himself the solemn obi
CATION 10 support and preserve the Con-
stituiOn can find justification or sOluce
for dlslOyalty In the excuse that he
wandered in search Of better way 10
reach the public welfare than the COnsti
tuition offers.
A CENTURY RETROSPECT.
What has been said is deemed not in
appropriate at time when from a cen
tury's height we view the way already
trod By the American people and at
tempt TO discover their future path. The
seventh President of the United States,
the soldier and statesman, and at all
times the firm and brave friend OF the
people, Ia yindicaIion of his course as
the protector of popular rights and the
champion Of true American citizenship,
declared The ambition which leads
me on Is an anxious desie and
fixed determination TO restore TO the
people unimipared The sacred trust
they have contided 10 my charge to heal .
the wounds the Constitution has received
10 protect Ii from future violence, TO
persuade my cOuntrymen as far as | may
that ii is not in a splendid Government
supported by monopOlies and aristocrat- .
ic establishments that they will find hap
piness, or their liberties protected, but in .
plain system, void OF pOmp, protecting
ali and granting faYors to none; dispens-
ing its blessings like the dew OF Heaven,
unseen and unfelt save In their freshness
and beauty they contribute to produce
lt Is such government that the
genius OF our people requiEe such
one under which our States may re-
main for ages 10 come, united, prosper
Gus and frec.
In pursuance OF constitutional pro-
vision requiring the President from time
to time TO give the Congress information
OF
THE STATE OF THE UNION,
have the satisfaction to announce that
The close of the year finds the United
states ia the enjoyment OF domestic tran
guilty and at peace with all nations.
since my last annual message our foreign
have been strengthened and i'm
proved hy performance of international
good offices, and by new and renewed
treaties OF amity, commerce aud reciprO-
cal eXlradilion of criminals
These international questions which
still await settlement are all reasonably
within the domain of amIcable regula-
ton, and there Is no existing subject Of
iispute b,tween the United States and
any foreign power that is not susceptible
Of satisfactory adjustment by frank di-
plOmalic treatment.
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
The questions between Great Britain ,
and the United States relating to the
tights OF American fishermen, under
reaiy and international comfy in {
he territorial waters OF Canada and New q
oLnd!and, regret TO say are not yet sat
sfactorily adjusted. :