Year: 1875

inst, to Congress. 1t is plain business
paper, in style such as any intelligent bust
ness manager mi ght with propriety submit
as his annual report to those with the con-
troll of whose affairs he was intrusted. 1t
only differs from such Il report in that it
deals with questions of Statecraft instead
of more sordid questions of trade its
superiority and interest lie in the matter
more than the manner. The President, as
the Chief Executive of national affairs, has
something to say, through Congress, to the
nation, and he says it clearly and pointedly,
without eyincing any particular regard for
the nice requirements of rhetoric. Presi-
dent Grant writes with the directness with
which General Grant fought he writes to
be understood precisely as he fought to be
victorious. The Message covers almost
every question which has engaged the at
tention of the government and country dur
ing the year past, and more exhaustive
resume of public affairs has seldom been
presented to the country by any of our
Presidents


Apart from that, however, it has other
claims for popular consideration. Besides
detailing with considerable minuteness what
has been done, and what is doing by the
government, the Message presents several
suggestions and recommendations, about
some Of which opinions will widely differ,
and some others Of which will be certain to
create vehement, ifnot bitter feelings among
the people. The President, in concluding
refers in a manner so marked to his early
retirement from the Presidential Office Us
to seem to make Unnecessary and impertin-
cnt any further reference TO the lately re-
newed third-term discussion and, indeed,
there are portions of the Message likely to
provoke So much hostile criticism and TO
be so generally unpopular, as to render their
author altogether unavailable as possible
future candidate In them the President
has cliached the nail which he drove home
in his speech or the School Question at
Des MoiHcs day or two prior to the Ohio
election


The paper begins with well-drawn con-
trast between the first and the one-hund-
redth year of the nations independence.
Its earliest and Its latest condition is set
forth in terms Of excusable cxultatiou.
What we were and We are the President
briefly, but clearly shows, and then he goes
on TO the discussion of the educational ques-
ton, supporting his propositions with well
considered argument. lie demands that
education shall be general, compulsory and
unscctarian, and that 1t alone shall confer
the right Of suffrage. The earnestness with
which he urges and reurges his views upon
this matter is likely TO create much discus
sion, and 50 also is his recommendation
that church property shall be taxed fully
as other property.


Our foreign relations are declared to be
mostly satisfactory where they are not so
is with Spain, and to the discussion of
Spanish and Cuban matters, the President
devotes large portion of his Message. At
the present time diplomacy is busy in the
! endeavor to effect an amicable understand
! ing between the Governments of Washing
ton and Madrid but thus far diplomacy
/ has not effected all that is desirable, and
the President, while declaring as inexpedi-
! ent recognition of the Cuban patriots, or
comforting upon them the rights of belliger-
ents, or directly interfering in their behalf,
says that he may during the present ses-
! sion make further and more explicit COM
munication to Congress, in the shape OF 4
! recommendation as to what is best for this
country to do between Spain and her col
onv. The President informs Congress that
the government long ago offered its services
| to Spain as mediator between herself and
| Cuba. bat that the offer was courteously
| declined with thanks and an intimation
that some future time it might be accept
able and accepted. The Message, while
not speaking directly to the point, clearly
enough demonstrates why such energy has
recently been displayed at all our naval


stations, and why all our available ships arc
afoat, manned and equipped for any posi-.
bic emergency. As regards the Mexican
business cattle stealing and the like, upon
the Rio Grande, the Message merely re-


cites what the country already knew.


1t is gratifying to learn that the views
of the President upon the character of the


Centennial celebration and the propriety Of


Congress voting it the appropriation asked
| for by the Commissioners are those shared
! by all patriotic and intelligent Americans
! For long time it was douh ted if the au
/ thoritleS at washington fccOSniZcu tht


Exposition as both national and interna


tional, and their lukewarmness about it lee
many to infer that the higher authorities


were not only indifferent but inimical tt
It's receiving any help from Congress.


Upon the subject of resumption the


President is as direct and emphatic as it il


possible for the very hardest money mar


to be. He is not satisfied with resumption


so late as 1879, but demands it not later


than January, 1877; but his diffidenct


leads him to say, Il am not prepared to sa.


that can suggest the best legislation t.


secure the end most heartily commended.


Whether or not forced, premature resump


ton 'would be great blessing" is at leas


a mooted question, and one that will bea


much further discussion.