The record-union., 1891-12-10

dlans to citizenship, giving them the pro-
lection, while holding over them the pen
alties of the law. He considers it also an
anomaly that five civilized tribes in the
Indian Territory should have no other
than treaty relations with the United
States, and no representation save in the
lobby. He predicts that "a change of these
conditions is as inevitable as it should be
just, when made-in which we take it no
unbiased mind, well-informed upon the
subject, will take issue with President
Harrison.
The President defends the tariff policy
of his administration with warmth, cit
ing ''the general prosperity" increase of
import and export trade, and the absence
of prophesied distress, as an indication Of
its wisdom. But this branch of the mes
sage must, of necessity, be treated inde-
pendently if criticism of it is to be clear
and strong.
So urgent is the President that the
Nicaragua Canal shall be pushed to com
pletion. and so great are the benefits to US
he recites to flow from it, that he advises
Congress to consentto extend its builders
aid by guaranteeing its bonds, but under
conditions that would secure the United
States control and against all possible
loss.
Upon the silver question he is en-
phatic in his opposition TO free coinage.
He gives, however, no comfort TO any
opposition to the present policy, and
wishes it to continue on trial. This por-
ton of the message must be independ-
fro faI ND tot
sages considered in their order.
He warns the country that, while as a
rule the Jewish people do not become de-
pendents nor public charges, and are in
dustrious and frugal, to project a vast
number of them into the United States
who are now refugees from Russia. will
be neither good for them nor for us. The
United States Government has interested
itself with Russia, with which it has so
long had close friendly relations, to re-
lieve the Jewish Russians from reported
cruelties and expressions.
The new Department Of Agriculture is
approved and commended, and the civil
service reform defended, but rather too
tenderly to satisfy the ardent friends
of the reform. The Census Bureau comes
in for emphatic approval, and the result
OF its work is compared with that of its
predecessor to the discredit of the latter
a Federal irrigation policy is advocated
that will enable the territorial areas need
ing to marry the water and the land, to
avail to the fullest extent of the natural
water sources and supplies under control
of the Government. The President insists
that the Government should part with
none Of these sources and supplies, and
permit of no infringement Of them, ex-
cept upon terms and conditions that will
insure settlers proper water supply on
equal and reasonable terms, in which the
Chief Magistrate reflects the best-in-
formed sentiment and the most intelli-
gent judgment of the country.
Utah is told that it must not hope for
Statehood until beyond all manner of
doubt the people are purged of all polyg-
amous sentiment. Considerable stress is
laid upon the need of legislation to COM
pei all railroads to use air-brakes and au-
tomato couplers. The condition of the
army is reported to be gratifying, the per
cent. Of desertions rapidly falling, and
the character of enlistments as rapidly
IlolbSs ~ Yin UDOiA 'oOSbAlIiS COdSb uC-
tense sites, and in promoting the manu-
facture of heavy ordnance, is progressing
satisfactorily.
Coming down to the method of appoint
ing Presidential electors, President Harri-
son grows eloquent in his earnest protest
against the gerrymander that underlies
all propositions to select Presidential
electors by districts, and to break down
the method of choosing by general vote.
He declares with patriotic emphasis that
the chief danger to republican form of
government to-day resides in the scheme
of partisan jugglery that proposes to
abandon the general majority system of
choosing electors. The State of Michigan
in this Presidential criticism comes in for
deserved and vigorous reproof.
The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Presi-
dent believes, has accomplished its end by
closing the American doors, but those of
Canada and British Columbia are still
open. The late decision Of court, turn
ing Chinese back across the Canadian
border, negatives the law, and renders
attempts to enforce it upon the foreign
boundary farcical. In the protection of
the voper in his right to cast ballot un-
intimidated and free from cow, the Presi-
dent reopens the debate that the Lodge
election bill inaugurated. He travels
over the ground in favor of such legisla-
ton, and urges with eloquent force upon
Congress the adoption of such measures
as will make good the guarantee of the
law to the voter when attempting to ex-
ercise his right to vote to fill Federal
Office. His advice to Congress is to
authorize the Supreme Court to name
commission to examine into the whole
question of free suffrage and to report
means to secure every elector in his
right to freely vote for national officers,
and to prevent all limitations of suffrage
except those found in the law.
These remarks will serve as an index
to the chief features of the message, most
of which we reserve for independent
criticism.
THE RECoRD-UNIoN acknowledges the
courtesy of the Western Union Telegraph
Company in presenting it with the full
telegraphic text of the Presidents mes
sage. 1t was handsome com pliment to
=