The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-12-06
The Presidents Message.

The first message of President Harrison was
read in both houses of Congress ON Tuesday.
1t is well written but thoroughly Republican
10 its tone.
1t first reviews our foreign relations and
recognizes the importance of the Pan Ameri-
can Conference with the representatives of
thrty-three nations.
A treaty with Great Britain charging the
list of extraditahle offences is recommended.
The recognition Of the new republic of
Brazil is said to be deferred until the people
ofthat country have given their complete as
sent thereto.
The President says that a general condi-
tion ofprosperily prevails within our borders,
promising Il successful season TO the merchant
and manufacturer and general employment
Of our working people.
He estimates that the receipts over expen-
ditures for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1901 will be over forty three million dollars
or even more He calls the attention of Con-
gress especially to this fact, as showing the
necessity of reducing the receipts of the
treasury to the needs Ofthe government lie
goes over much the same ground taken by
President Cleveland, with this difference
President Harrison suggests revision of the
tariff by which its inequalities may be rene
died but its protective features maintained
To accomplish this he advocates higher tariff
duties on some articles, to prevent their i'm
portation and thereby decrease the amount
annually collected by the Government lie
does not recommend any reduction whatever
in the war taxes still paid on the necessares
of life by the people of this country.
President Cleveland on the other hand, re-
commended such revision and equalization
of the tariff as would reduce the cost living
without materially impairing the profits Of
our manufacturers or prevent them from
competing with foreign-made goods.
President Harrison recommends the put.
ting on the free list classes Of articles not
made in this country and the removal of the
tax on tobacco and on whisky used in the
arts. This is merely a repetition of the Chica
go Republican platform, demanding free
whisky and tobacco, rather than cheaper
clothing and tin
His views on the silver question are rather
misty and calculated to give offence to no one. |
He is somewhat indisposed to any considera-
bic increase in the present rate of coinage, and
thinks fayorably of Secretary WINDOWS plan
to hold silver in bulk in the treasury rather
than coin, the conversion of the silver into
coin being expensive, and the coin not need
ed for circulation.
He urges large appropriations for coast de
fences.
He recommends that protection be given |
to federal officials and witnesses in federal |
courts.
He alleges that the colored population in |
parts OF the country-meaniDg especially the |
Southern States-"is deprived of any fec
tive exercise of their political rights and of
many of their civil rights" He asserts that
the general government has the power to |
take the whole direction and control ofthe |
election Of members of the House of Repre-
scntatives This is dar gerous doctrine and |
will be resisted to the utmost by a united |
Democratic party. 1t would utterly destroy
the rights OF States to control their own af |
fairs, and result 10 the end in substituting a
tyranncal supervision of elections by federal
officials, protected by bayonets, which would |
restore the worst evils of the reconstruction
period, and destroy that freedom for which |
the blood ofrevolutionary patriots was shed.
1t is, doubtless, Il favorile scheme of Presi- |
dent Harrison by which the Republican party
may be kept in power indefinitely by the |
Degro voters of the South.
The message also advocates the payment
of subsidies to foreign steamship lines, rather
than encouragement to other countries to
deal with us by reason of the cheapness ofthe
goods we have TO offer them.
Taken altogether, it is the expression of
partisan, looking in all things to the perpe-
tuation of power in the hands of his own |
party and differs widely from the patriotic |
and unselilsh utterances of President Clevt-
land.