Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-12-10
Ths Presidenf' 5 Measage.
.[FFoni AZ Baltlmore snn.l

From the Baltimore Sun.l
The Presidents message to Congress Is adj
mirable in form and comprehensive in scope
referring in dignifed. and we'll chosen phrases
TO all the topics of domestic and foreign con-
Germ thatnoW occupy the public mind. In sub
stance 1t Is, for the most part, q paraphrase of
the Chicago platform. Protective tariff views
are presented in uncompromistng language
aud a strengthening of the strong arm of the
federal government, With the. object of con-
trolling Southern elections, Ia urged with par
tisan zeal. Inc message opens with the usual
review OF orr foreign relations, which are de-
scribed as in ali eases anieable and cordial
The presence at Washington, at our invitation
of Representatives of tiIifth- three nations in
attendance npon the meetingsof the Maritime
and Pan Atherican Conf rences is appropriate
lY recognized. Clnada,H conduct toward our
fishermen during the past year Is referred to IN
complimentary terms, and It Is recommended
that treaty with. Great Britain, enlarging the
list OF extraditable Oifenses. be ratified. This
changed attitude since the Republican party's
acquisition of power is emphasized by further
recommendations looking to more harmonious
relations with onr northern neighbOr. Claims
OF our cttizens in Peru and at Lisbon are mem.
toned as having tho strong sympathy of the
administration. The important announce
ment Is made That orr recognition of the Bra
lillian republic is to he deferred until the ma
lority of the people of RSAZil shall have signi-
fled their assent to its establishment Return
ing within the sphere of domestic concerns,
the President finds general condition of pros
PSINy pIeNAIlinR IN tne united states. The
excess of receipts over expenditures in the
past dscal year. after provision for the sink
ing fund. was S47,4T0. 1879. In the present ifs
cal year the estimated surplus is S4S. 67S. SSS.
In the fiscal year ending June so, 1891, there
will be, it is estimated. a surplus of receipts
over expenditures of $43, 500 522, with a pros
pect of even larger figures. This actual and
prospective excess of receipts requires, says
the President, 1.-THE attention of Congress-
with view to reducing the receipts Of the
treasury TO the needs of the government.''-
reduction of taxation is not urged, as it is
practicable to reduce receipts by iucreas-
ing tariff taxes to the point of prohibiting i'm
ports that compete with our favored indus
tries. The President does not adopt Mr..
Cleveland's phrase. unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation" but puts it more mildly
''The collection of moneys not needed i'm
poses" he says, IAN unnecessary burden" A
change in his opinion us to the proper use to be
made OF the money. and that reduction of
taxation was therefore entirely unnecessary.
Mr.. Cleveland's device to put the money
raised by unnecessary taxes hack into circula-
lation by lOaniug ii to the banks in various
sections of the country. Mr.. Harrison still
condemns. though he does not tell how, in de-
fault of, anticipating our bonds" dearth of
circulation was to be averted. The deposits
still with the banks. after so long an interval,
will accordingly, it is announced. be gradually
withdrawn. To ''reduce receipts" the Presi-
dent recommends ga revision of the tariff law
both in in its administrative features and in its
schedules" It does not appear that he faTo-s
of the law he sRys. 'should be adjusted but
the protective principle should be maintained"
There should he, it seems. leveling mp rather
than cutting down of taxes. Tin-pINte.
wool and wOoidRP. f6f eSatipie. present ''ine-
qualities. according to protectio:,ist views. by
being taxed too little ui;dcr the existing tariff.
The specific chunges recommended are an ex-
tension of the free list by putting on it clnsses
OF articles not made in this country. and the
removal of the internal tax ON tobacco and on
whiskey used in the arts With respect to sill
yer the President is rather non-committal. He
atlirms That no harm has como nj the large
coinage of silver dollars since 1878. Init thinks
1--WE should not tread the dangerous edge of
the peril that mag como Of ANY considerable
incTcns" of the present rate of coinagc."-
| Upon the whole. howeveF. lie is diSposed to
think favOrably of Secretary Wihdpni's plan
| for the issuance of Certificates Upon the de-
| post of silver DullfSn at its MarKct value
| The President is evidently indisposrd to
thread the dangerous edge" In politics by
taking decided course on question hay
ling 50 cGmivocal future. He is more cX-
pHciuy favorable. to large appropriation
for forts. ships and guns and for the Improve
iment of our rivers and harhors. few large
works at time is he thinks. the wiser plan
The question of drastic legislation for the
| South is approached through recommends
ton. suggested by the Terry-Field case. that
| federal officials be Withdrawn from the jurisdic-
tion of the State courts and be tried only in the
limited States courts. 'Events. " he continues.
| 'happeuing in other parts of the country" sug
l
| nesses from intimidation or from injury on ac-
| count of their testimony in the United States
| courts. ThesacrGdness of government officials
hire proposed and the contempt of local opinion
ICfsWitncSees would be approved doubtless by
the present regime in Ireland. but we can hardly
1 desire that section of this country of the cX-
tent of the South should be converted for party
i PURPOSES into another Ireland. Such unQucs-
| ttonably would be the result of the legislation
| the President recommends in a truculent tone
! for the supervision and control of elections in
| the Sonth. The colOrcd population of that
section. he alleges. is ''dppriVCd of any effec-
| many of their civil rights" This is inferred.
it appears. frotn the fact that the negro of the
South does not aend Republican representa-
l tives tn Congress to support the protective
| policy. This neglect on his part the president
I terms a'''iagrant evil" calls ''problem" and
| asks rhetOrically when is he to have those
full civil rights which have so long been his in
| law2" Congress is "earHestlY Invoked" to use
| its powers wisely but firmly" to protect the
\ colored man Sin all his relations to the federal
1 government. whether as litigant. juror witness.
| rlGctOr. for members of Congress or as n trav-
fcler on our interstate Railways" From the
tbInody shirt question the message proceeds to
the question of subsidies. and it is recommend
J ed that such appropriations be made for ocean
| mail service in American steamships between
1 our ports and those of Central America. South
i America, China and japan "as will he liberal
| ly remunerative" and will encourage Ameri-
1 can ehip-owners. To aig fnrtheT this artificial
4
ing ships. it is proposcdt that we shall also give
| subsidy to all steamers constructed in such n
manner that. in case of war, they can be con-
verified into cruisers. Other measures recon-
Emended to tue favor of congress are the Blair
| education bill. the civil-scryicc comTission's
appeal for more clerks. appropriation to
promote the worlds fair of 1899, separation
| of the weather service from the War Depart
ment and its incorporation with the Agricul-
tural Department. bill to pension every OK
| soldier who is dependent on his own eXertions
for support and is for any reason unable to
earn it, neutrality-suspicious. for Oklahoma
| and an investigation into the jurisdiction of
the federal government i'll relation to trusts
tits also recommended that intermediate conrts
/ having final appellate Jurisdiction of certain
classes of cases be created for the relief of the
Supreme Court, which is now overwhelmed
with business. The message is. upon the
whole. clear and concise discussion of the
matters treated, but of the breadth of Tiew and
national spirit it betrays the less said, per-
haps, the better
ANZA