Year: 1876




Connecticut delivered yesterday at Hartford
upon the opening of the Legislature, Is else-
where briefly summarized. 1t is chiefly occu-
pied with the consideration Of State affairs
and local interests, and only small space Is
allotted to what may be called the issues OF
national politics. Indeed, it is somewhat
significant fact that in so much OF the docu-
ment as relates to the general condition OF the
country there is not word to Indicate the
political sentiments of the author, or from
which the inference could be drawn that there
are any pending issues upon which party
lines are drawn. The absence OF any
reference except in remote and incl
dental manner to national politics, ana
the marked omission Of the usual political
essay and argument and partisan appeal, will
be variously construed. BY some it will be
credited to the Governors discretion in avoid
ing topics upon which his party is not agreed,
and questions upon which he could not safely
appeal to the record. BY others his silence
will be attributed to the sound judgment and
catholicity of temper which avoid the intro
duction of disputed questions upon such an
occasion. There may be n measure OF truth
in both views. Gov. Ingersoll. though always
decided in his views and firm in his party
relations, has never been bitter in his
partisanslip or offensive in the main
tenance of his political belief. He is
too much gentleman to thrust his
political notions upon mixed assembly
when there is nothing to DO gained by the
iteration, and he is too keen an observer OF
current events not to be aware that with the
record of a Democratic Congress so fresh and
its blunders still daily issue, the less said on
behalf of the party the better. The message
then, although sensible and practical in its
suggestions, and eyidcncing careful prepara-
ton and extended observation in its utteranccs,
derives much more significance from what Is
left unsad than from what it says. There Is
nothing in it which might not as well have
been said by Republican as a Democrat !;
nothing from which the politics of the writer
could be inferred and no reading between the
lines to furnish the clew.


This being the last session of the Legislature
under the old Constitutional provision which
convened it in May, tho Governor makes 1t
the occasion for few reflections upon the
changes which have taken place and are still
in progress which give to this period OF our
history the character of an epoch. The subjects
which in the opening new period " must hence
"forthengross the thoughts of the American peo-
"ple and lay heavy burden of responsibility
"upon those engaged in the public service" he
cnumerates as "a public Indebtedness, in
"every shape of governmental obligation, con-
"tracted at false values and measured by thou
"sands of millions of dollars; public taxation
(which has grown up, crudely, and III the
"midst of rank abuses, to meet the impatient
"demands of time of reckless extravaganza; !;
"a discredited paper currency, which has been
allowed by neglect to fasten diseased hold
"upon the business Of the country, and, be-
"yond all, because affecting the very sources
"of our political life, weak public morality
disclosing its corrupt influence throughout
"the varied operations of society, but con-
spicuously so in the administration of the
civil service of the Government, where the
abuses have become so fragrant as to mark
Gus with q national shame and cast baneful
shadow upon the popular institutions 1t
has been our pride to have established"
These are subjects, he says, which. whenever
and wherever they have arisen, have taxed to
the uttcrmost human wisdom and human
virtue. Rcvcrting to the memories awakened
by the Centennial period, he compares the
present condition of the country with that
which followed the struggle for independence,
and shows that while like effects were pro-
duccd then by like causes the country was
| lifted out of the gloom and despondcncy OF
that condition "by heroism of public life
(Which distinguishes the period "a with n
beacon light In closing he reminds the
members of the responsibilities attending their
duties. "Ralely, if ever before" he says,
"were public agents under closer popular
" scrutiny than at present. Public opinion may
seem to be ut times unreasonably exacting
&" in this respect, but the Indication is healthy
one and gives promise of plrcr and more
wholesome atmosphere"


The document is creditablc to the intel-
| gence, wisdom, and good sense OF the author.
| And when we remember that the Governor lii
his message last year took pains to enunciato
distinct and positive views upon the financial
ouestion, and that this year he only rofcrs to
it remotely ani incidentally, we feel COM
pellcd to add that il does credit to his Shrewd-
ness For there's a Presidential election in the
near future; Democracy Is divided upon the
| financial question, and no one can forctell
whether the Connecticut Democrats Will be
called upon to support hard-money. soft
money. or n mixed-money thimblc-rigging
platform. The careful avoidance Of so confus-
ing a question was shrewdly wise and it may
be, though we do hate to make the intimation,
that the omission of partsanshlp was rs pretty
a piece of partisanship rs was ever born of
carefulness and foresight


| FOUR-IN-H4hD


| The visitor TO London, who strolls down Pic
cadilly about five o'clock in the afternoon, will