The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-12-17
MESSAGE.
tcoNTINUED FROM FRS pAckI

the passage OF the act nave been l3O.0I9,9 Si
ss s.sS anu ''' ssEA's OF NOTES '''a'a si'''-
THE wAR DEPARTMENT.
F1Skeport OF the secretary Of VA brings
again % the attention Of congress some i'm
portant suggestions Is to the Reorganization
OF the infantry and artillery arms Of the serv-
ice, which his predecessors have before urged
that they be pressed Our army is small, but its
the most approved SUaia modern 10 ans b M1s' z fb ns; eS opsn
tons upon what we have called the
frontier" heretofore REQUIRED the main
tsn,nSs OF many small posts. but nov
right one. The new posts shouli have the
proper strategic relations 10 tn, only From
tiers" ws now have. those Of thu sea coast and
q the northern and part OF our southern born'
DAIRY. do not think that any I'D ,stion Of al
vantage in localities or ststes shoull d ,tsrmins
the location OF the new posts. Tn, organi:
military Information which ths secretary has
effected Is a work the usefulness OF which will
become every year more aprarent. The work
OF building heavy acns and this construction Of
coast defens-s has been well begun and should
be carried on without check.
TIE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report Of the attorney general il by law
submitted directly to congress, but / can not
increasing work of the department. OF ~tustics
with great professional skill. He has IN several
directions secured from the courts decisions
giving Increased protection to tbs officers
of the On ted States and bringing some
classsB OF crime that escaped local cogni1ancs
and punishment into the tribunals of the
United States, where thss could bs tried with
impartiality.
Ihav, heretofore expressed my concurrence
IN tl.a recommendation OF the attorney general
that degrees OF murder should b. recognized in
tho federal statutes as they are, / believe. In all
this states. These lgraies are founded on cor
rect distinctions in crime. Til, recognition Of
them wou,d enable thu courts to CT .rciss som,
discretion In apportioainy punishment and
would GREATLY relieve the executive Of what il
coming to bs \ very heavy burden-the exam
ination OF these cases on application for COM
mutation
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
The report OF the postmastar-gensral show,
a most gratifying" ircr .ase and a most efficient
and progressive management OF tn, great bnsi.
crease In revenues. in thu number OF post Offices
and in the miles of mail Interchange furaish.,
Further evidences Of tho high state OF prov
Ieriiy which our psople are enjoying New
ofices mean new hamlcts and towns; new
routes mean the extension Of our border set
Elements and increased revenues mean
erai reviews the whole period q
his administration OF thu Office and Brings some
OF his statistics down 70 til. month of Novem-
during tho last year nearly s5.OO.0O. The
deficit for tho year ending Juns -, 1872, Is
sSiS,S4 less than that deficiency OF the preco5>
year. 1t is estimated, Will be reduced to 81 .5la.-
t3, which will not only bs extinguished daring
the next naral year. but a surplus Of nearly
sl,0n.00 should then be shown.
in the calculations the payments to be M le
under the contracts for ocean mail service have
not been included There have b,en add-l
l,Oso new mail routes during thu year with a
mileage OF S.s63 miles, and the total mum her Of
is h'm nearly ri i i. "Js r., mum lumber ST'i of Mills s' Of
mail ~journeys sldsl during the last four years
is about 16,00J,00. this addition being 2l.0D1,UO
OF miles more than were in operation il tho
whole country in 1851
The number Of post Offices has b,ea In
Creased by 2,1N during the year. and daring
the past four years, up to October % last. ths
total increase in the number of Offices has boon
nearly a.OG. The numb.r OF fro s-ds!iviry
Offices has been nearly doubled IN the past four
years, and the number OF monny-order Offices
more than doubled within that time. For
three years ending juno 20: ls92. tho postage
revenue amounted 1c sIs7. 7tI,5js, Thi h was
an increase Of So. si3, 80 over the revsnu,
for the three years ended June 80. 1888,
the Increase during the last three
times as great as the Increase during the three
years ending Juae 20. 1884,. No such increase
ms that shown for these three yesrs has ovor
previously appeared in tho revenues OF the de.
partment. The postmaster. general has ex-
tendo1 to the post offices IN the largar cities tine
mort system OF promotion, introduced by my
resulted thare, as IN tine departments. in a
large volume OF work and that better done.
THE DECLINE OF OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
Ever since cur merchant marine was driven
from the sea by the rebel cruisers during the
war of the rebellion, the United States has
been paying al annual tribute to
foreign countries in the si7D, CT frai yhs AMI
passage moneys. Our grain and meats havs
boon taken Mt our own docks and our large i'm
ports there laid down by foreign ship ~rllsters.
An increasing torrent o. AmsricSn travel to
Europe has contributed vast sum annually 70
the dividends o. foreign ship owners. The hal
nncs OF trade sho yn by tns books Of our Gus
tom houses has been largely reduced and In
many years altogether cxtinsuish. by this
constant strain. In the year l-e:
IN American vessels. The foreign steamships |
ma ntained by our traffic are. many of them, |
under contract with their respective govern |
ments by which in Tins OF war thy will be.
a part OF their armed naval establish
ment.
A sEw DEPARTURE.
Profting by cur m in poac, they will
become the most Formidable destroyers Of cur
have before expressed the feeling
both intolerahie AMI disgrsceiul A Woe
promise. as ID seems to me-, was begun by tn,
of March 3. 1891. Under this law contracts
lave been male by the postma'ter-g,neral for
eleven mail routes. Tho expenditure invOlvol |
by these contracts for tho next fiscal year ap-
proximatei s9ji, l233 81. As one of the good re-
suits reached, sixteen American ships; OF an
coo, have been built or contracted to be built IN |
American ship yards.
No subject. / think. moro nearly touches tho
pride, the power and the prosperity of our |
country than this of tho development of our |
merchant marine upon the sea. II we could
enter into conference with other competitors,
and all would agres to withhold government
aid, we could, perhaps, take our chances with
tho rest. but our great competitors have estab-
lished and maintained their lines by govern
ment subsidies until no Y they have practically
excluded us from participation. In my opinion, |
no choice is LIFT TO Us but to pursue, moderate
ly at least, the sams lines.
TIKI NAV DEPARTMENT.
Tho report OF the secretary of the navy ex-
great progress In the construction OF
our new navy. When fhe present secretary
entered upon his duties only three steel YES
put in commission sIi to be put into commits.
sion during tho winter will make 4 total of
nineteen during his administration of the do
psrtment. During the current year ten war
and TIRES navy tugs have bsen launched,
and during thu four years twenty five vessels
will have been launched. Two other
under contract AMI the work uTon them well
vanced, AMI the four monitors are awaiting
only the ARRIVAL o: their armor, which has been
unexpectedly delayed, or they wouli have been
before this IN commission.
THE NAVAL MILITIA
The development OF a naval militia which
been organized in eight states and brought
into cordial and cooperative relations with the
navy, is another important achievement.
are now enlisted in these organ
l,sO0 men, and they ara likely to be
greatly extended L SUCH legiSla-
ton and appropriations rs will encourage and
develop this movement. This recommended
tons of tho secretary will, l do not doubt, re-
the friendly consideration of congress.
for he has enjoyed, rs hs has deserved, the con-
idsnce OF all those Interested IN the develop
ment OF our navy, without any division upon
lines. / earnestly express the hops
that a work which has maio such mob e
progress may not now be stayed.
wholesome influence for tho peacs and III
sense OF security which our citizrns
iomicilei in other lands fe.l when these mag
nihcent ships under the American flag approach
Is already most gratefully apparent. This ships
from our navy which will appear in the great
naval parade next April in thu harbor of New
York will BE- a convincing demon stratioa to the
world that tho United States is again n naval
power.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The work of the interior department, always
rery burdensome, has been larger thnn ever
,afors during the administration of Secretary
Noble. The disability pension law, taking of
.ha eleventh csnsus. the opening of vast areas
u Oklahoma. and tn. negotiations for the c,s-
ior of Indian lands furnish soma o; tho par.
iculars OF the increased work: and thu results
.c!ieved testify to the ability. fidelity and in
lustry of the head OF the department and his
,ficient assistants.
THE GOVERNMENT OF ALASKA.
The form OF government provided by con-
,ress on May u, 1884. for Alaska. was. In its
rame and purpose. temporary. The increase
L population ald the development of some i'm
mining ald commercial interests MAXI
. imperative that the law should be revised
nd better provision made for the arrest and