Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-12-06

4
| ing of the strong arm of the federal
/ government with the object OF con
| trolling Southern elections, Is
urged with partisan zeal The mes
SAGE opens with the usual review OF
our foreign relations, which are de-
! scribed as in ali cases amicable and
\ cordial. The presence at Washington
ut our invitation of representatives
| of thirty-three nations in attendance
upon the meetings of the Maritime
| and Pan American Conferences Is ap-
propriately recognized. Canada
1 conduct toward our fishermen dur
! ing the past year is referred 70 IN
! complimentary terms, and il Is recon-
mended that a treaty with Great
! Britain, enIarging the list OF extradi-
table offenses, be ratified. This
/ changed attitude since the repubh-
/ can party's acquisition OF power Is
| emphasized by further recommends
! tions looking to more harmonious re-
| lations with our northern nelghEor.
! Claims of our citizens in Peru and at
Lisbon are mentioned As having the
strong sympathy of the administra-
\ ton. The important announcement
\ i made that our recognition OF the
/ Brazilian republic Is TO be deferred
until the majority of the people OF
/ Brazil shall have signified their assent
/ 10 its establishment. Returning
I within the sphere OF domestic con-
Germs. the President finds a general
! condition of prosperity prevailing in
/ the United States. The excess OF re-
/ ceipts ever expenditures in the past
| fiscal year, after provision for the
/ sinking fund, was S51, 40, l29. In the
present fiscal year the estimated sur
I plus is S43, 61S, SS3. In the fiscal year
/ ending June 80, 1891, there will be, IL
! j. estimated, surplus of receipts
I over expenditures of S43, 569, 522, with
| a prospect of even larger figures.
! This actual and prospective excess OF
receipts requires, says the President,
the attention of Congress, with a
/ view TO reducing the receipts Of the
/ treasury TO the needs OF the govern
ment." \ reduction of taxation Is
/ not urged, a. il Is practicable 10 re
! duce receipts by increasing tariff
/ taxes 10 the point of prohibiting i'm
ports that compete with our favored
/ industries The President does not
| adopt Mr. Clevelands phrase, I'm
necessary taxation Is unjust taxation,
but puts it more mildly. The collec-
| ton of moneys not needed imposes,
/ he saws, IAN unnecessary burden.
| \ change in his opinion as 10 the
proper use TO be made of treasury
/ SURPRISES is manifested in the state
ment of his message that I'VE should
not collect revenue for the purpose
| of anticipating our bonds. During
! the presidential campaign of 1888 he
! held in numerous speeches that the
purchase of bonds with the surplus
/ was the best possible use TO be made
| Of the money, and that reduction
| of taxation was therefore entirely
unnecessary. Mr.. Clevelands device
! to put the money raised by unneces-
| sary taxes back into circulation by
! loaning il TO the banks in various
sections of the country Mr.. Harrison
still condemns, though he does not
tell how, in default of anticipating
our bonds" a dearth of circulation
was to be averted. The deposits still
with the banks, after so long an in
| terval, will accordingly, it is amour
ced, be gradually withdrawn. To re
duce receipts" the President recon-
mends "a revision of the tariff law,
| both in its administrative features
! and in its schedules. 1t does not
appear that he favors a reduction Of
| tariff taxes. The inequalities of the
| law" he SAYS, should be adjusted,
| but the protective principle should
| be maintained. There should be, ii
seems, a leveling up rather than a
| cutting down Of taxes. Tin-plate,
wool and woolens, for example, pre-
sent inequalities, according TO pro
| tectioniSt views, by being taxed too
little under the existing tariff. The
| specific changes recommended are an
| extension of the free list by putting
/ on it classes of articles not made in
! the country. and the removal of the
| internal tax on tobacco and on whis-
| ky used in the arts.
! With respect TO silver the President
| is rather non committal. He affirlns
that no harm has come Of the large
! coinage of silver dollars since 1878,
| but thinks I'VE should not tread the
dangerous edge" Of the peril that
| may come of ANY considerable in
crease of the present rate of coinage"
! Upon the whole, however, he is dis
posed TO think favorable of Secretary
Windoms plan for the issuance of GER
tificates upon the deposit of silver bull
dent is evidently indisposed TO tread
the dangerous edge in politics by
taking a decided course on question
having so equivocal a future. He is
more explicitly favorable TO large
appropriation for forts, ships and
guns and for the improvement of our
rivers and harbors. A few large
works at a time is, he thinks the wiser
plan. The question of drastic legisla-
ton for the South is approached
through a recommendation, suggest
ed by the Terry Field case, that fed
eral officials be withdrawn from the
jurisdiction of the States courts.
Events" he continues, happening
in other parts of the country" suggest
that laws should be passed to protect
witnesses from intimidation or from
injury on account of their testimony
in the United States courts. The sa
credness of government officials here
proposed and contempt of local opin-
ion of witnesses would be approved
doubtless by the present regime in
Ireland, but We can hardly desire
that a section of this country of the
extent of the South should be con-
verted for party purposes into anoth-
er Ireland. Such unquestionably
would be the result of the legislation
the President recommends in a true
ulent tone for the supervision and con-
troll of elections in South. The color
ed population of that section, he al
leges, is deprived of any effective ex-
ercise of their political rights and Of
many of their civil rights. This is in
ferred, it appears, from the fact that
the negro of the South does not send
republican representatives TO Con-
gress to support the protective policy.
This neglect on his pert the President
terms a fragrant evil, calls it a prob
lem" and asks rhetorically when is
he TO have those full civil rights which
have so long been his in law?' Con
gress is earnestly invoked" to use its
powers wisely but firmly TO protect
the colored man lin all his relations
| IN the federal onyermant whether as