Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-12-17
The Presidents Message.

We print on our first page an abstract
of President Harrison S recent annual mes
sage to Congress The document is
lengthy one, but none too lengthy for the
intelligent discussion of the many ques-
tons of national interest which concern
the people of this country. The President
is statesman and a Scholar fact which
will explain why it is that his speeches
and public documents are noted for their
wisdom, thoughtfulness AID prescience.
As one reads he is impressed with the
fact that the message is entirely free from
prejudice or partisanship. 1t is a plain
straightforward statement of public affairs.
replete with sound advice and practical
suggestions. In fact the whole document
is proof sheet of the honest sayings of
an honest man and plain speaking servant
of the people.
The President has nothing to hide, no
condition of affairs which he would prefer
should not meet the public gaze, but on
the contrary. he calmly invites the closest
scrutiny to every department in the fullest
confidence that inquiry and examination
would strengthen the people. trust in the
present policy of the administration.
The great national questions of the day
sre discussed wisely, dispassionately and
with the wisdom and candor of a patriot
who has nothing in view but the country's
welfare
The New York Tribune in an editorial
on the message SAYS: He treats very
briefly of the tariff, only to urge that the
new law should have fair trial. and that
agitation cannot help but must seriously
impede business" which needs measure
OF stability He points out that results
thus far have falshed the predictions of
opponents; that imports have not de-
creased; that the Treasury is not bank
rupt; that prices have not advanced, and
says Rarely, if ever before in the his
tory of the country, has there been time
when the proceeds of one days labor or
the product of one farmed acre would pur-
Chase 50 large All amount of those things
that enter into the living of the masses OF
the people. He also shows in detail that
the percentage of free imports is ISIS
against 3+.2- for the previous year. and
since the repeal of the sugar duties So 81
per cent of imports are free, proportion
never before attained under any tariff.
The Presidents remarks on the silver
question are 50 di>passionate that his
recommendation that the present law
should have d fair trial will have the
greater weight. He urges that expecta-
tons Of friends and foes alike have been
disappointed sets forth with care the
causes Of failure of silver bullion to ad
vance IN consequence of Government pur-
chase>, and expresses strong hope that the
law will vet help silver producers as it has
not hitherto helped them. But he speaks
IN the plainest terms of the unwisdom of
continued agitation, and especially of the
efforts for free coinage, which would bring
disaster upon the whole people because ii
wonld make 1t impossible to maintain
equal purchasing power for the gold and
the silver dollar, and adds in words that
deserve serious thought:
The producers of the country, its farm
er> AMI laborers, have the highest interest
that every dollar, paper or coin, issued by
the Government shall be As good any
other. If there Is one less valuable than
another. it, sure and constant errand will
be 10 pay them for their toll and for their
crops. The money-lender will protect
himself by STIMULATING for payment in gold
put Inc laOOrer mas never been able 10 DO
that To place business upon silver
basis would mean a sudden and severe con
traction Of The currency, by the with
drawal of god and gold notes, and such
an unsettlirg Of all values would pro-
duce commercial panic.
The Presidents comments on the gerry
mander by which in Michigan method of
choosing Presidential Electors, which has
been unaul 1ou>ly followed in the States
for many wears, has now been broken for
partisan purposes, are strong and earnest
and lie i Justified in calling it disgrace
ful partisan jugglery." He recommends
legislation TO secure uniformity in the
choice of Presidential Electors, ana urges
that the chief National danger lies lin the
overthrow IF majority control by the sup
preston OF pervcr>ion of the popular suf
rage. T. The end that these evils NAV be
removed, lie proposes the creation of a
non partisan commission which shall in
Vestigate the whole subject Of election
laws and existing abuses, with the hope
that 1t may be able to submit remedies
which viii he unanimously adopted. The
closing remarks of The President express
pride 10 the "iucrt ssed unihcation of our
people and revived National spirit" and he
adds: "A trust, momentous in its inhu-
ence upon our people and upon the world,
Il for brief time committed to US, and
We must not be faithless to its first con-
dltlOn-the defence of the free aud equal
influence Of the people IN the choice of
public Officers and in the control of public
affairs"