Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-12-11
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents message, an abstract of
which we published in last weeks issue.
is an able public document of which the
country may well be proud. Calm in its
utteTances and dignitied in its tone, it APP
peals to the sober thought of the Ameri
can people, and must, it seems 10 US.
strongly influence public opinion. Posi-
bly, there are some things which President
Harrison may rot be able to do well, but
certainly the preparation of official docu-
ments is not one of them
This message, it must be remembered.
followed closely on the heels of various
State elections many of which were more
or less disastrous to the Republican party :;
but the message was as quiet and conf
dent as If there had been no election since
that memorable one in 1855, when the
President and his party were deliberately
entrusted by the people with the charge of
the Government. Without any reference
10 the recent elections the President makes
ii clear that he does not regard the neglect
can voters any reason for supposing that
the people have abandoned the convictions
which were registered in the fun vote of
1855
The message casts no blame on Con-
gress. Its great measures are warmly COM
mended with confidence that they will win
full appreciation from the people 1t is,
however. urged, and justly urged, that the
workings Of the Silver and Tariff acts
have not been in operation a sufficient
length of time to enable the people to
judge them in the light of experience: and
in these measures, it would therefore, be
unjust and unwise TO undertake radical
changes until the recent legislation has
been fairly tested
such message, calm in spirit, dignitled
in tone, broad in sentiment, seeing no par
~ but one great country. must recall the
Republican voters of lsss to a sense of
their responsibility, and remind them that
the national measures for which they then
declared deserve their unwarering sup
port
Without hesitation or reserve, President
Harrison expresses the belief that the new
tariff act is wise, beneHcent measure, in
harmony with the declared will of the
people and with the pledges given by him
self and his supporters in lsss He shows
that some of its most important provis-
ions have not yet gone into effect. that none
If lis provisions have been in operation
long enough for the people to Judge of
their results. and that the intent and iufu-
ence Of the act have been greatly misrep-
resented But every week and month add
ant viii add TO the convincing proof that
tins measure does not impose increased
burdens upon the people or enhance the
cost Of nece>saries of life, as has been
pretended. and the President shows that
returns Of foreign commerce already prove
that the act does not prohibit or material
ly diminish imports, while the exports of
domestic products during the first month
q it, operation were in value larger than
those OF any other month in the history Of
the country. Il !, most gratifying TO find
the President strongly urging that there
J. neither wisdom nor justice in the sug-
Se>tIon that the subject of tarit revision
shall be again opened before the law has
bad q fair trial"