Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-12-07

upon subjects of great public Importance hut It
yolving no special private or partisan interes
should arrest attention aud lead to reformation.
A Quotation From Andrew Inckson.
What has been said is deemed not inappropriat
/ at time when from centurys height we viei
| the way already trud by the American people. an
| attempt to discover their future path tn
| seventh President Of the United States the so
der and statesman, and at all times the firm an
| brave friend of the people in yindicatiOn Of hi
course as the protector of popular rights and ia
| champion Of true American citizenship. declared
| The ambition which leads me ON is an anNiOu
desire aud fixed determination to restore 10 tn
people unimpaired the sacred trust they have con
hded TO my charge to heal the wounds OF tn
| Constitution, and preserve II from further viola
| ton, to persuade my countrymen 50 far as | ma,
| that II Is not in a splendid government supported
10y powerful monopolies and aristocratic establish
/ ments that they will find happiness or protection
OF their liberties but in plain system void o
| pomp-protecting all and granting favors 10 none
dispensing It's blessings like the dews Of heaven
unseen and unfelt save In the freshness and beaut,
| they contribute to produce Il IS such a govern
| ment that the genius Of our people requires sucl
a one only under which our states may remaii
| for ages 10 come united prosperous and free" ."
Peace with All the Nations.
In pursuance Of a constitutional provision re
quirng the President from time to time TO give {,
the Congress information of the state Of the Tn
ion, have the satisfaction to announce that the
close Of the year fluids the United States IN the en-
Joyment Of domestic tranquility and at peace with
All the nations Since my last annual message
our foreign relations have been streugt hened and
improved by performance of international good
Offices and by new and renewed treaties of atnity
commerce and reciprocal extraditun of crimi
mails. Those international questions which still
await settlement are all presumably within the
domain of amicable negotiation. and there is no
existing subject Of dispute between the United
States and any foreign power that is not siscepti
bic OF satisfactory adjustment by frank dpo
matte treatment
The Fisheries QuestiOn.
The questions between Great Britain and the
United states relating to the rights Of American
fishermen, under treaty and international comfy,
in the territorial waters Of Canada and Newfound.
land regret to say not yet satisfactorily ad.
Justed repeat. as applicable 10 the present time,
the statement which will bc found in my message
TO the Senate Of sept II last That since March
. lNN', no case has been reported 10 the depart
inent of state wherein complaint has been Inad.
Of uniricndly or unlawful treatment Of American
fishing vessels on the part Of the Canadian atl-
thpritrs, ia which reparatiOn was not promptly
and Satisfactorily obtained by the United States
consul general at Halifax"
Having essayed in the discharge Of my duty to
procure. by negotiation, the settlement Of a long
standing cause Of dispute. and to remove a con
slant menace to the good relations Of the two
countries, and continuing to be- of opinion that
the treaty OF February last, which failed to ie-
ceive the approval Of the Senate did supply "a
satisfactory, practical and final adjustment upon
a basis honorable and just to both parties Of the
dlhcult and veNed question TO which it related, "
and having subsequently and unavailingly recon-
nended other legislation to Congress, which |
hoped would suffice TO meet the eXigpncy created
by the rejection of this treaty now again invoke
the immediate attention of the Congress to the
condition of this important question as it now
stands before them and the country, and for the
settlement Of which am deeply solicltOus
The snckviIIe-West Incident.
Near the close Of the month of October last. oc-
currences Of a deeply regrettable nature were
brought to my knowledge, which made it my
painful but imperative duty to Obtain. with as lit
Tie delay as possible, "A new personal channel of
diplomatic Intercourse in this country with the
government Of Great Britain. The correspond
ia IA HuUatl1
be laid before you and will disclose the uuparlOn
able conduct Of the official referred to m his inter
ference by advice and counsel with the suffrages Of
American citizens IN the very crisis Of the Presiden
td election then near at hand. and also in his sub
sc'luent public declarations to Justify his action
superaddiug impugument of the Executive and
senate of the United States in connection with i'm
portant questions now pending IN controversy b-
tween the two governments. The offense thus
committed was most grave. involving disastrous
possibilities 10 the good relations OF the United
states and Great Britain constituting a gross
breach OF diplomatic privilege and an invasion OF
the purely domestic affairs and essential soy
ereignty Of the government To which the envoy was
accredited. Having first fulfilled the just de
mands of international comfy, by affording full
opportunity for her maiestys government TO act
III relief oi the situation, considered prolOngatiUn
OF discussion TO be- unwarrauted and thereupOn
declined to turthur recognize the diplomatic char
acteT of the person whose continuance in such
function would destroy that mutual confidence
which is essential to the good understanding of
the two governments, and was inconsistent with
the United States. The usual Interchange of com
municatiun has since continued through her mai
eSty : legation in this city.
Foreign Relations.
From this point the President goes ON to dis
cuss our relations with foreign countries He.
mentions the establishment of diplomatic relations
with Persia, from which decided commercial ad-
vantages are hoped. He announces with regret
the condition of disorder, bloodshed and insurrec-
ton which prevails in Hayti. The government of
President Salomon has been overthrown and he
has been friven out OF the country to France. Re
Gently a seizure of American vessels. under cover
of a blockade, has been reported, and in cons,.-
quence measures to prevent and redress any mo
leStation OF our innocent merchantmen have been
adopted. He adverts with pleasure to the spirit
Of good neighborhood and friendly cooperation
which Is manifested toward our country 10y Mcxi-
60. The empire of Brazil. in abolishlng the last
v"stlge OF slavery among Christian nations, called
forth the earnest congratulations Of this govern
ment and expression of the cordial sympathies of
our people. A comprehensive treaty Of amity
and commerce with Peru was proclaimed on No
vetnber Z, last and it is expected that under its
operation mutual prosperity and good undrrstan-
ding will he promoted.
The President next alludes to the fact that prep
arations for the centennial celebration on April
-, 1889. of the Inauguration of George Washing
ton President of the United States. at the city
Of New York, have been made by a voluntary
glnizaton Of the citizens of that locality and be
llrving that an opportunity should be afforded for
the expression Ot the interest felt throughout the
country IN this event, he recommends hitting and
cooperative action by Congress ON behalf of the
people Of the United States.
The message then goes on To discuss the finan.
cal question in ITS several features.
Our National Finances.
The total ordinary revenues of the government
for the fiscal year ended June 30, lSSS amounted
10 1919 26, ,01I76, of which S2gO9l, 63 was re-
ceived from customs duties, and Sl24, 800, Sal 9S
from internal revenue taxes The total receipts
from all sources exceeded those for the fiscal year
ended June %, 1887, by s. SG2,791 The ordinary
expenditures Of the government for the fiscal year
ended Wtra "A
surplus Of Sll9,Gl2 ll6. The decrease in these eX
penditures, as compared with the fiscal year end
ed June 30 1887 was SS,21S,22l. notwithstanding
the payment Of more than S5,OOO,OOO for pensions
in excess ut what was paid for that purpose in the
latter mentioned year. The revenues of the gov
ernment for the year ending June 30 1852, ascer-
tanned for the quarter ended September -, 1855
and estimated for the remainder Of the time
amount to S3'1, ,mOOOO; and the actual and esti-
mated ordinary expenditures for the same year
are S213,OJO,OU, leaving an estimated surplus of
SlOi,OOO,OOO. The estimated receipts for the year
ending June 30 1880, are S31I ,OOO,OOO and the
timated ordinary expenditures for the same time
are S215, 'b1 4Ss, showing surplus of SlOl 32, ,5l
The tax collected on oleomargarine was S723, g4S
for the year ending June 30, 1887, and SsGi l3g for
the following year
The Policy Of Bond Purchases.
Bonds of the government not yet due have been
purchased up to and including November 30, lSSS
amounting 10 Sgi,1OO,4OO, the premium paid
thereon amounting To Sl1,JOs6l3. The premium
added To the principal Of these bonds represents
an investment yielding about per cent interest
for the time they still had to run; and the saving
70 the government represented by the difference
between the amount Of interest at per cent up
ON the sum paid for principal and premium and
what it would have paid for interest at the rate
specified IN the bonds If they had to run their ma
turty, is about 81, $4,000.
At 'first sight this would seem to he profitable
and sensible transaction ON the part of the gov
ernment. but, as suggested 10y the secretary Of the
treasury, the surplus thus expended for the pur-
chase OF bonds was money drawn from the prO-
Pile in excess Of any actual need Of the govern
mo and Ngaa her IN IA
It to remain idle in the treasury. If this surplus
under the operation of Just and equitable laws
had been left in the hands of the people it would
have been worth in their business at least per
cent per annum. Deducting from the amount Of
interest upon the principal and premium Of these
bonds for the time they had to run at the rate of
per cent, the saving of per cent made for the
people by the purchase of such bonds, the loss
will appear to be- Sj576O,OOO This calculation
would seem 10 demonstrate that II excessive and
unnecessary taxation is continued and the gov
ernment is forced TO pursue this policy Of pur-
chasing its own bonds at the premiums which It
which il will be necessary to pay, the loss to the
people will be hundreds Of millions of dollars.
Notwithstanding the large sums paid out in the
purchase OF bonds, the surplus in the treasury
ing about SaO,OOOOOO just drawn out for the pay
ment of pensions.
The silver Dollars.
At the close of the fiscal year ended June 3D.
1887 there had been received under the compu
sory-silvercoinage act S2G6,9 80 i'm silver dol
lars, S55, $40 of which were in the hands of the
people June 30, lsss, there had been coined
S299 1OS 40 and of this Sh5 SO BOB in Circula
tion in coin, and 5000 81 .3Ib in silver certificates
for the redemption of which silver dollars TO that
amount were held by the government Noyem
ber 30. iSSS, of S3l2,51OHO then coined, s6O,'0
$50 Of the silver dollars actually In circula-
| tion and S23, ils,3i6 in certificates The secreta
| ry recommends the suspension of the further
/ coinage of silver, and In such recommendation
earnestly concur. For further valuable mforma
| ton and timely recommendations ask the care
| ful attention Of the Congress 70 the secretary
| report