Newspaper Page Text
T. A. HAVRON, Publisher.
mm n.
The President Discusses but
One Subject-Tariff.
The United States is Collecting Too Much
Money From the People.
Does Not Want the Internal Reve
nue Taxes Reduced.
If l>ij«sLer KfMulU Irotn (lie Continued
Inaction of Congress, the Krgpuusihllity
Must Best Where it Belongs —The Mes
sage in Full.
To fhe VoiojvpSA ij !lit Umfeti Sf.o.lt*
You avo confronted at llic threshold of your
legislative duties with a condition of the
National finances which imperatively demands
Immediate and careful consideration The
amounted money annually exacted through the
operation of present laws, from the industries
and necessities of the people largely exceeds the
sum necessary to meet the ex
penses of the government. When we
consider that the theory of our
institutions guarantees to every citizen the full
enjoyment of the fruits of his industry aim. en
terprise, with only such deduction -as may he
his share towards the careful and econopiical
maintenance of the government which protects
him. it is plain that the exaction of more than
this is indispensable extortion and a culpable
betrayal of American fairness and justice. This
wrong inflicted upon those who bear the burden
of National taxation, like other wrongs, multi
plies a brood of evil consequences.
The public treasury, which should only exist
as a conduit, conveying the people's tribute to
Its legitimate objects of expenditures, becomes
a boarding place for money needlessly with
drawn from trade and the people's use. thus
crippling our National energies, suspending our
country's development, preventing investment
In productive enterprise, threatening financial
disturbance, and inviting schemes of public
plunder. This condition of our treasury is
pot. altogether new; and it has more than
once of late been submitted to the people's rep
resentatives In the Congress, who alone can ap
ply a remedy. And yet. the situation still con
tinues, with aggravated incidents, more than
ever, presaging financial convulsion and wido
spread disaster. It will not do to neglect tills
situation, because its dangers arc not now pal
pably imminent and apparent. They exist none
the less certainly, and await the. unforeseen and
unexpected occasion wljen suddenly they will
be precipitated upon u<.
On the 30th day of June. 1885. the excess of rev
enues over public expenditures after complying
with the annual requirement of the sinking fund
act, was 117.859.735.8-1; during the year ended
Jmw 3, 1880, such excess amounted to *49.405.-
M 3.30; and. during the yo«r ended Jtiue 'lO,
1887, It reached the sum of t55.50T.519.5i.
The annual contributions to the sinking fund
during the three years above specified amount
ing in the aggregate to $133,058,320.94, and de
ducted from the surplus as stated, were made
by calling in for that purpose outstanding three
per cent, bonds by the Government. During
the six mouths prior to June 30, 1887, the sur
plus revenue liad grown so large by repeated ac
cumulations, and it was feared the withdrawal
of this great sum needed by the people would
so affect the business of the country that
the sum of $79,801,100 of such surplus was
applied to the payment of the principal and in
terest of the three per cent, bonds still out
standing and which were then payable at the
eption of the Government. The precarious con
dition of financial affairs among the people
still needing relief, immediately after the 30th
day of June. ISBI. the, remainder of the three
Jmr cent, bonds then outstanding, amount
lug with principal and interest to the sum
of 118,877,50) were called in and applied to the
sinking fund contribution for the current fiscal
year.
Notwithstanding these operations of the
Treasury Department, representations of dis
tress in business circles not only continued, hut
increased, and absolute peril seemed at hand.
In these circumstances the contribution to the
sinking fund for the current fiscal year ,was at
once completed by the expenditure of
$27,684,283.55 in the purchase of gov
ernment bonds, not yet due, hearing four
and four and a half per cent, interest,
the premium paid thereon averaging about
twenty-four per cent, for the former, and eight
per cent, for Ihe latter. In addition to this the
interest accruing during the current year upon
the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the
Government was to some extent anticipated,
and banks selected as depositories of public
money were permitted to somewhat increase
their deposits.
While the expedients thus employed to re
lease to the people the money lying idle in the
treasury, served to avert immediate danger,
Our surplus revenues have continued to accu
mulate, the excess for the present year amount
ing on the first, day of December to *55.258.701.-
19, and estimated to reach the sum of *14,000,-
fl'Wl on the 30tU of June next, at which date it is
expected that this sum, added to the prior ac
cumulations. will swell the surplus in the tieus
ury to $140.000,030. There seems to be no assur
ance that, with such a withdrawal from us of
the people's circulating medium, tour business
community may not. in the near
future. be subjected to the same distress which
was quite lately produced from Ihe* same cause,
and while the functions of our National Tieas
ury should he few and simple, and while its best
condition would he reached. I believe. Jn its
entire disconnection with private business in
terests. yet, when, by a perversion of its pur
poses, It idly holds money uselessly subtracted
f*qm the channels of trade, there seems to bo
re a on for the claim that some legitimate
means should he devised by the Government to
restore in an emergency, without waste or ex
travagance, such money to its place among the
people. . ,
I r such an emergency arises there now exists
no clear and undoubted Executive power of re
lief. Heretofore the redemption of three per
cant. bonds, which were payable at the option of
the Government has afforded a means for the
disbursement of the excess of our revenues; but
these bonds have all been retired, and there are
tic bonds outstanding the payment ol which
we have the right to'insist upon. The contribu
tion to the sinking fund which furnishes the oc-.
fusion for expenditure iu the purchase of bonds
has lieen already made for the current year, so
that there is no outlet in t hat direction.
In the present s*ate of legislation the only
pretense of any existing executive power to
restore, at this time, any part of our surplus
cvjeuc* to the people by Us expenditure, cq»-
?‘ st » 1n I *’o supposition that the Secretary of
the Treasury
MAY ENTER THE MARKET
and purchase bonds of the Government not yet
due, at a rate of premium to he agreed upon.
Ihe only prov ision of law from which such H
power could he derived is found iti mi appropri
ation hill passed a number of years ago, and it
is subject to the suspicion that it was in
tended as temporary and limited in its applica
tion, instead of conferring a continuing discre
tion and authority. No condition ought to
exist Vhioh would justify the grant of
power to a single official, upon his judgment of
its necessity, to Withhold from or release to the
business pi the people, in an unusual manner,
money held In the Treasury, and thus affect, at
his will, the financial situation of the country;
and if it is deemed wise to lodge in the Secre
tary of the Treasury the authority in the pres
ont junctur. to purchase bonds, it should be
plainly vested, and provided, as far as possible,
with such checks and limitations tis will define
this officials right and discretion, and at the
same time relieve him from undue responsibil
ity.
In considering the question of purchasing
bonds as a means of restoring circuhitioh the
surplus money accumulating in the Treasury,
it should be borne in mind that premiums must
of course be paid upon such purchase, that
there may be a large fiart of these bonds held
as investments which can not be purchased at
any price, and that combinations among holders
who are w illing to soil rtiay unreasonably en
hance the cost of such bonds to the Govern
ment,
ft has been suggested that the present bond
ed debt might ho refunded at a less rat*'of
interest, and the difference between the old and
new security paid in cash, thus finding use for
the surplus in the Treasury. The success of
this plan, it is apparent, must depend upon the
volition of the holders of the present bonds;
and it is not entirely certain that the induce
ment which must be ottered them would result
in more financial benefit to the Government
than the purchase of the bonds, while the latter
proposition would reduce the principle of the
debt by actual payment instead of extending it.
The proposition to deposit the money held by
the Government in banks throughout the coun
try, for use by thie people, is. it seems to me. ex
ceedingly objectionable in principle, as estab
lishing ton close a relationship between the
operations of the Government Treasury and the
business of the country and too extensive a corn
mingling of their money thus fostering an un
natural reliance in private business upon public
funds, If this scheme should be adopted it
should only be done ns a temporary expedient
to meet an urgent necessity. Legislative and
Executive effort should generally bp in the op
posite direction, and should have a tendency to
divorce, as much and as last ns can safely be
done, the Treasury Department from private
enterprise.
Of course, it is not expected that unnecessary
and extravagant appropriations will be made
for (he purpose of avoiding the accumulation of
mi excess of revenue. Such expenditure, beside
the demoralization of all just conceptions of
public duty which it entails,-stimuli’:• a habit
of reckless improvidence not in the least con
sistent with the mission of our people or the
high and beneficent purposes of our Govern
ment.
I have dmaied-t* myWtily 4o ton* bring-to the
knowledge of iny countrymen, as well as to the
attention of their representatives charged with
the responsibility of.legislative relief, the gravi
ty of our financial sit uation. The failure of the
Congress heretofore to provide against the
dangers which It was quite evident the very na
ture of the difficulty must necessarily produce,
caused a condition of financial distress and ap
prehension since your last adjournment which
taxed to the utmost all the authority and ex
pedients within executive control; and these
appear now to be exhausted.
IF DISASTER RESULTS
from the continued inaction of Congress, the re
sponsibility must rest where it belongs.
Though the situation thus far consid
ered is frouglit, with danger which
should be fully realized, and though it
presents features of wrong to the people as well
as peril to the country, it is lint a result growing
out of a perfectly palpable and apparent cause,
constantly reproducing the sam' alarming cir
stances—a congested National Treasury and
a depleted monetary condition in the business
of the country. Tt need hardly be stated that
while the present situation demands a remedy,
we can only be savbd from a like •predicament
in the future by the removal of its cause.
Our scheme of taxation, by means of which
this needless surplus is taken from the people
and put into the public treasury, consists of a
tar iff or duty levied upon importations from
abroad and internal revenue taxes levied upon
the consumption of tobacco and spirituous and
malt liquors. It must he conceded that none of
the things subjected to internal revenue taxa
tion are, strictly speaking, necessaries; there
appears to he no just complaint of this taxa
tion by the consumers of these articles, and
there seems to he nothing so well able to hear
the burden without hardship to any portion of
the people.
But our present tariff laws, the
VICIOUS, INEQUITABLE AND ILLOGICAL
Source of unnecessary taxation, ought to he at
once revised and amended. These laws, as their
primary and plain effect, raise the price to con
sumers of all articles imported and subject to
duty, by precisely the sum paid for such duties.
Thus the amount of the duty measures the
tax paid by those who purchase for use
these imported articles. Many of these
tilings, however, are raised or manufactured
in our own country, and the duties now lev
ied upon foreign goods and products are
called protection to these home manufac
turers. because they render it possible for
those of our people who are manufacturers, to
make these taxed articles and sell them for a
price-equal to that demanded for the imported
goods that have paid customs duty. So it hap
pens that, while comparatively a few use the
imported articles, millions of our people, who
never use and never saw any of the foreign
products, purchase and use things of the same
kind made in this country, and pay therefor
nearly or quite the same enhanced price which
the duty adds to the imported articles. Those
who buy imports pay the duty charged thereon
into the public treasury, hut Ihe great majority
of our citizens, who buy domestic articles of
the same class, pay a sum at least approximately
equal to this duty, to the home manufacturer.
This reference to the operation of our tariff
laws is not made by way of instruction, but in
order that we may be constantly reminded of
the manner in which they impose a burden upon
those who consume domestic products as well
as those who consume imported articles, and
thus create a fax upon all our people.
It is not proposed to entirely relieve the
country of this taxation, it must be extensively
continued as the source of the Government's in
come, and in a readjustment of our tariff the in
terests of American laloi engaged in manufac
ture should he carefully considered, as well as
the preservation of our manufacturers. It may
be called protection, or by any other name, but
relief from the hardships and dangers of our
present tariff laws should he devised with espec
ial precaut ion against imperiling the existence
of our manufacturing interests. But this
existence should not mean a condition which
without regard to the public welfare or a Na
tional exigency, must always insure the realiza
tion of immense profits, instead of moderately
profitable returns. As the volume and diversity
of our National activities increase, new recruits
are added to those who desire a continuation of
the advantages which they conceive the present
system of tariff taxation directly affords them.
So stubbornly have all efforts to reform the
vremt coatUUoQ bm resisted by those of our
TRENTON, DADE COUNTY, GA.: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1887.
fellow-citizens thus engaged, that they can hard
ly complain of the suspicion, entertained to a
certain extent, that, there exists
AN ORGANIZED COMBINATION
All along the line to maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst of centennial celebra
tions, and with becoming pride we rejoice in
American skill und ingenuity, in American en
ergy and enterprise, and in the wonderful nat- 1
ural advantages and resources developed by a
century’s national growth. Yet when an at
tempt is made to justify a scheme which per
mits a tax to he lgid upon every consumer in
the land for the benefit of our manufacturers
quilp tpyond a reasonable demand for Gov
ernmental regard, it suits the purposes of
advocacy 1o call our manufactures infant
industries, still needing the highest and
greatest degree of favor aqd fostering care
that can he wrung from Federal legislation.
It taaiso said that the increase in the price of
domestic Ynuiuifactures resulting from the pres
ent tariff is necessary in order that higher w ages
may be paid to our workingmen employed in
manufactories than are paid for what is called
the pauper labor of Europe All will acknowl
edge the force of an argument which involves
the welfare and liberal compensation of oui la
bor which is honorable in the eyes of every
American citizen, and as it lies at the founda
tion ol our development and progress, it is en
titled. without affectation or hypocrisy, to the
utmost regard. The standard of onr laborer's
life should not be measured by that of any other
country, less favored, and they are entitled to
their full share of all our advantages.
By the last census it is made to appear that of
the 17,392.099 of our population engaged in all
kinds of industries. 7,670,493 are employed in
agriculture, 4.074 238 in professional and person
al service <2,934.876 of whom are domestic ser
vants and laborers i, while 1,810,256 are employed
in tradqjft’nd transportation, and, 3.837.112 are
classed as employed in manufacturing and min
ing.
For present purposes, however, the las' num
ber given should he considerably reduced.
Without attempting to enumerate all, it will he
conceded that there should he deducted from
those which it Includes 37.3,143 carpenters and
joiners; 285. Ml milliners dressmakers and seam
stresses; 17.2,723 blacksmiths; 1*3,750 tailors and
tailoresses; 1112.478 masons; 76 211 butchers : 'll,-
309 baker-: 22.08T'pla»terers, 4,691 engaged in
manufacturing agricultural implements,amount
ing in the oggn gate to 1.214,023, leaving 2.623,-
OS9 persons employed in such manufacturing in
dustries as’are claimed to he benefited by a high
tariff.
To these the appeal is made to save their em
ployment and maintain their wages by resisting
a change. There should he no disposition
TO ANSWER SUCH SUGGESTIONS
By the allegation that they arc in a minority
among those who labor, and therefore should
forego an advantage in the interestof low prices
for the majority; their compensation, as it may
be affected by the operation of tariff laws,
should at all times be scrupulously kept iu
view; and yet with slight reflection they will
not overlook the tact that they are consumers
wilh the rest; that they, too. have their own
wants and those of their families to supply from
their earnings, and that the price of the neces
saries of life, as well as the amount of their
wages will regulate the measure of their wel
fare iwnbenittfbrt
But the reduction of taxation demanded
should be so measured as not to necessitate or
justify either the loss or employment by the
workingman nor the lessening of his wages;
and th*' profits still remaining to the manufac
turer, after a necessary re-adjustment, should
furnish no excuse for the sacrifice of the inter
ests of his employes cither in their opportunity
to work or in diminution of their Compensation.
Ndr can the workers in manufactures fail to un
derstand that while a high tariff is claimed to he
necessary to allow the payment of remunera
tive wages, it certainly results in a very large
increase in the price of nearly alj. sorts of manu
factures, which, in almost countless forms, he
needs for the use of himself and his family. He
receives at the desk of his employer his wages,
and perhaps before he reaches his home is
obliged in a purchase for family use of an arti
cle which embraces its own labor, to return in
the payment of the increase in price which the„
tariff permits, the hard earned compensation
of many days of toil. The farmer und
the agriculturist who manufacture nothing,
but who pay the increased price
which the tariff imposes, upon every agri
cultural implement, upon all he wears and upon
all he uses and owns, except the increase of his
flocks and herds and such things as his hus
bandry produces from the soil, is invited to aid
in maintaining the present situation; and he is
told that a high duty on imported wool is neces
sary for the benefit of those who have sheep to
shear, in order that the price of their wool may
be increased. They.of course are not reminded
that
THE FARMER WHO HAS NO SHEEP
Is by this scheme obliged, in his purchases o'
clothing and woolen goods, to pay a tribute to
his fellow farmer as well as to the manufactur
er and merchant; nor is any mention made of
the fact that the sheep-owners themselves and
their households must wear clothing and use
other articles manufactured front'the wool they
sell at tariff prices and thus as consumers must
return their share of this increased price to the
tradesman.
I think it may he fairly assumed that a large
proportion of the sheep owned by the farmers
throughout the country are found in small
flocks numbering from twenty-five to fifty. The
duty on the grade of imported wool which these
sheep yield, is ten cents each pound, if of the
value of thirty cents or less, and twelve cents if
of the value of more than thirty cents. If the
liberal estimate of six pounds be allowed for
each fleece, the duty thereon would he sixty or
seventy-two cents, and this may he taken as the
utmost enhancement of its price to the farmer
by reason of this duty. Eighteen dollars would
thus represent the increased price of the wool
from twenty-five sheep and *36 that from the
wool of fifty sheep: and at present values this
addition would amount to about one-third of its
priee. If upon its safe the farmer receives this
or a less tariff profit, the wool leaves his hands
charged with precisely that sum, which in all
its charges will adhere to it until it reaches
the consumer. When manufactured into cloth
and other goods and material fot use its cost is
not only increased to the extent of the farmer's
tariff profit, but a further sum lias been added
for the benefit of the manufacturer under the
operation of oiher tariff laws. In the
meantime the, day arrives when the farmer
finds it necessary to purchase woolen goods and
material to clothe himself and family for the
winter. When he faces the tradesman for that
purpose he discovers that he is obliged not only
tooeturn in the way of increased price's, his tar
iff profit on the wool he sold, and which then
perhaps lies before him in a manufactured
forr*. hut that he must add a considerable sum
thereto to meet a further increase in cost
caused by a tariff duty on the manufacture.
Thus in'the end he is aroused to the fact that
he has paid upon a moderate purchase, as a re
sult of the tariff scheme, which, when he sold
his wool, seemed so profitable, an increase in
price more than sufficient to sweep away all the
tariff profit he received upon the wool he pro
duced and sold.
When the number of farmers engaged in wool
raising is compared with all the farmers in the
country, and the small proportion they bear to
our population is considered; when it. is made
apparent that, in the case of h large part of
those who own sheep, the benefit ol the
present
TARIFF ON WOOL 16 ILLUSORY;
And, above all. when it rr. i'st be conceded that
the increase of the cost of *he living caused by
such tariff, become t a ouiUvu uyvu those with
moderate means and the poor, the employed
and unemployed, the sick and well, and the
young and old, and that it constitutes a tax
which, with relentless grasp, is fastened
upon the clothing of every man. woman sjid
child in the land, reasons are suggested way
the removal or reduction of this duty should he
incliid d in a revision of our tariff laws.
T " speaking of the increased cost to the con
sumer of our home manufactures, resulting
front a duty laid upon imported articles of the
same description, the fact is not overlooked
that competition among our domestic producers
sometimes has the effect of keeping the price of
their products below the highest, limit allowed
by such duty. But ft is notorious that this
competition is too often strangled by combina
tions quite prevalent at this time, and fre
quently
CALI,ED TRUSTS,
Which have for theirobject the regulation of the
supply and price of commodities made and sold
by members of the combination. The people
can hardly hope for any consideration in the
operation of those selfish schemes, If, however,
in the absence of such combination, a healthy
and free competition reduces the price of any
particular dutiable article of home production,
below the limit which it might otherwise reach
under our tariff laws, and if. with such reduced
price, its manufacture continues to thrive, it is
entirely evident that one tiling has been dis
covered which should he carefully scrutinized
in an effort to reduce taxation!
The necessity of combination to maintain the
priee of any'eonimodity to the tariff point fur
nishes proof that some one is willing to accept
lower prices for such, commodity, and that such
prices are remunerative, and lower prices pro
duced by competition prove the same thing.
Thus where either of these conditions exist, a
case would seem to be presented for an easy re
duction of taxation. The considerations which
have been presented touching our tariff laws
are intended only to enforce an earnest recom
mendation that the surplus revenues of the
Government be prevented by the
REDUCTION OF OUR CUSTOM DUTIES,
And. at the same time, to emphasize a suggest
ion that in accomplishing this purpose, we may
discharge a double duty to our people by grant
ing to them a measure of relief from tariff taxa
tion in quarters where it is most needed, ami
from sources where it can be most fairly and
justly accorded.
Nor can the presentation madv of such con
siderations be, with any degree of fairness, re
garded as evidence of unfriendliness toward
our manufacturing interests, or" of any lack of
appreciation of their value and importance.
These interests constitute a leading and most
substantial element of our National greatness
and furnish tae proud proof of our country's
progress. But if in the emergency that, presses
upon us our manufacturers are asked to sur
render something for the public good and to
avert, disaster, their patriotism as well as a
grateful recognition of advantages already af
forded, should lead them to willing co-operation.
No a mand is made that they shall forego all
the benefits of Governmental regard, but they
can not fail to he admonished of their duty, as
well as their enlightened self-interest and safo
ty, when they are reminded of the fact that
FINANCIAL PANIC AND COLLAPSE.
To which the present condition tends afford no
greater shelter or protection to our manufac
tures than to our other important enterprises.
Opportunity for safe, careful and deliberate re
form is now offrered, and none of us should be
unmindful of a time when an abused and irri
tated people, heedless of those who have re
sisted timely and reasonable relief, may insist
upon a radical and sweeping rectification of
their wrongs. jM
The difficulty a who-* uni fair revis
ion of our tariff l-.JK is not underffliniated. It
will require on the part of Congress great la-,
bor and care, and especially a broad and Na
tional contemplation of the subject and a patri
otic disregard of such local and selfish claims as
are unreasonable and reckless ol' the welfare of
the imtire country.
Ltader our present laws more than four thou
sac if articles arc subject to duty. Many of these
do i.cwY’i any way compete w ith our own roanu
•factur«K, and many are hardly worth attention
as revenue. A considerable reduc
tion can hex*ado in the aggregate, by adding
tliqui to the free list. The taxation of luxuries
presents no features of hardship, but the neces
sur Is of lib' used and consumed by all the peo
pie. ihe duty upon which adds to the cost of
living in every home, should be greatly cheap
ened.
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
upon raw material used in manufactures, or its
free importation, is of course an important fac
tor in any effort to reduce the price of these
necessaries: it would not only relieve them from
the increased cost caused by the tariff on such
material, hut-the manufactured product being
thus chepened, that part of the tariff now laid
upon such product, as a compensation to our
manufacturerers for the present price of raw
material coald he accordingly modified. Such
reduction, or free importation, would serve be
side to largely reduce the revenue.
IT is NOT APPARENT
how such a change can have any injurious effect
upon our manufactures. On the contrary, it
wotiid appear to give ihem a better chance In
foreign markets with the manufacturers of
other countries, who cheapen their wares by
free material. Thus our people might have the
opportunity of extending their sale - beyond the
limits of home consumption, saving them from
depression, interruption in business, and loss
caused by a glutted domestic market, and
affording their employes more certain and
steady labor, with its resulting quiet and con
tentment.
The question thus imperatively presented for
solution should he approached in a spirit higher
than partisanship and considered in the light of
that regard lor patriotic duty Which should
characterize the action of those intrusted with
the weal of a confiding people. But the obiiga
tion to declare party policy and principle is not
wanting to urge prompt and effective action.
Both of the great political part 9 - now repre
sented in the Government have, by repeated
and authoritative declarations, condemned
the condition of our laws which permit the col
lection from the people of unnecessary rove
nue, and have, in the most solemn manner,
PROMISED ITS CORRECTION.
And neither a- citizens or partisans are our
countrymen in a mood to condone the deliber
ate violation of these pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will
not he improved by dwelling upon the theories
of protection and free trad*-. This savors too
much of bandying epithet', tt is
A CONDITION WHICH CONFRONTS IT
not a theory. Relief from this condition any
involve a slight reduction of the advantages
which we award our home productions, hut the
entire withdrawal of such advantages should
not be contemplated. The question of-free
trade is absolutely irrelevant, and the persist
ent claim made in certain quarters, that al' ef
forts 10 relieve the people from unjust and un
necessary taxation are schemes of se-called
free traders, is mischievous and fie removed
from any consideration for the public good.
The simple and plain duty which we owe the
people is to reduce taxation to the necessary
expenses of an economical operation of the
Government, and to restore to the business oi
the country the money which we hold in the
Treasury through the perversion ot-Goveni
mental powers. These things can ami should
be done with safety to all otir industries, with
out danger to the opportunity for remunerative
labor which our workingmen need, and with
benefit to them and all our people, by cheapen
ing their means of subsistence and increasing
the measure of their comforts.
The Constitution pfov.Ues that the "President
shall, fram time to time, gt ze to the Congress tn
formation of the State of the Union. Tt has
been the custom of the Kxecutive, in compliance
with this provision, to annually exhibit to the
Congress, at the opening of its session, the gen
eral condition of the country, and to detail,with
some particularity, the operations of the differ
ent executive departments. It would be espec
ially agreeable to follow this course at the pres
ent time and to call attention to the valuable
accomplishments of these departments during
the last, fiseal year. But T am so much impressed
with the paramount importance of the subject
to which this communication has thus far been
devoted, that,
1 SHALL FOREGO THE ADDITION OF ANY OTHER
TOPIC,
snd only urge upon your immediate considera'
tion the “state of the Union" as shown in the
present condition of our Treasury and our gen
eral fiscal situation, upon which every element
of our safety and prosperity depends.
The reports of the heads of departments,
which will be submitted, contain full and ex
plicit information touching the transactions of
the business intrusted to them, and such recom
mendations relating to legislation in the public
interest as they deem advisable. I ask for these
reports und recommendations, the deliberate
examination and action of the legislative branch
of the Government.
There are other subjects not embraced in the
departmental reports demanding legislative con
Bideration, and which I should be glad to sub
mit. Some of them, however, have been earn
estly presented in previous messages, and as to
them f beg leave to
REPEAT PRIOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
As the law makes no provision for any report
from the Department of State, a brief history of
the transactions of that important department,
together with other matters which it may here
after be deemed essential to commend to the
attention of the Congress, may furnish the occa
sion for a future communication.
Grover Cleveland.
Washington, December 6.
-
EDWARD BULWER LYTTON.
A Sketch of the Present British Ambassa
dor at Paris#
The lit.-Hon. Edward Robert Bul
wer Lvtton is better known to the
world as a poet and writer of fiction
than by his achievements as a states
man and diplomat. His record in the
latter capacity is similar to that of
Lord Lyons. He entered the diplo
matic service when eighteen years old,
being appointed in 1849 Attache to his
uncle, Sir Henry Buhver, at Washing
ton. In 1852 he xvas transferred to
Florence, and two years afterwards
was removed to the Embassy at Paris.
He was thence promoted in 1856 to
The Hague, and in April, 1858, ap
pointed first paid Attache at St. Peters
burg. From thence, after a short stay
of two months, he was removed to Con
stantinople, and in 1859 transferred
to Vienna. There he was employed
as Second Secretary until the beginning
of the year 1868, when be was pro
moled to be Secretary of Legation at
Copenhagen. The year after he was
gazetGd in the same capacity to
Alliens, whence in 1865 he was trans
ferred to Lisbon, from thence to Mad
rid in 1868, appointed to the Secretary
ship at Vienna the same year, and
transferred in 1872 as Secretary of Em
bassy to Paris. Scarcely three months
afterwards (January 18, 1878) he suc
ceeded to the title as the second Baron
Lytton, and in December, 1871. was
appointed her Brittannic Majesty’s
Ambassador at Lisbon. After occupying
that post for a year the Earl of Bea
consfield selected Lord Lytton as Vice
roy of India, which high office he re
signed in 1880, after having previously
been created Earl of Lytton, in the
County of Derby, and Viscount
Kuebworth, of Knebworth, in the
County of Herts. From this long and
varied record it will appear that the
Earl of Lytton was eminently fitted for
his present important post, being ac
quainted with nearly Uvery court in Eu
rope.
An Ambassador’s social duties are
not always the least, important, and
Lord Lvtton possesses these gifts in a
superior degree, coupled w ith his inti
mate knowledge of France and the
French. The Parisian papers especial
ly note the social qualities of the new
Ambassador, j Lady Lytton. the wife
of the new since 1861 and
a highly accomplished lady, is the sec
ond daughter of the Hon. Edward Vil
liers and niece of the late Earl of
Clarendon, who January 1, 1879, was
includedriit the select list of recipients
of the Order of the Imperial Crown of
India. Chicago Tribune.
—A young Italian visiting Washing
ton was sadly perplexed over our lan
guage; Having been quite indisposed
an American friend inquired after his
health. "Beil fifth,” was his senten
tious reply, with a smile and a bow,
“Did vou have a cough?’’ “No-o-o"
(laying his hand sympathetically across
his diaphragm), ‘met was myEcnterior
De-par-r-t-ment!” Gotten Day*.
—— '
—Young Gentleman —So then, if you
know of a young lady who is good
looking, young, rich, and amiable—”
Agent (interrupting him) —Allow me
to tell you, sir, all that suffices me to
make four matches with! —Tar is Jour
nal Amusant.
—An irate female seeks admittance
to the editor’s sanctum. “But 1 tell
you, madam,” protests the attendant,
“that the editor is too i 1 to’talk to any
one to-day. ” “Never mind, you let
me in. I’ll do the talking.”—Sacra
mento Dec.
“l’m afraid, Georgie, it’s too far
to walk to Gryme’s Hill to-day,”
“\V ny, auntie! It’s not far; it's awful
ly near w hen you get there.
iter's Bazur,
VOL. IV.—NO. 42.
IMPORTANT DECISION. ■
The Legislature the Protector of Pub
lic Health and Morals,
With Authority to Designate What is or
What is Not a Nuisance—The Kansas Pro
hibition Law Sustained by the IT. S„ Su
preme Court.
Washington, Dec. 5.—A very important
decision, aud oue likely to be far-reaching
in its consequences, was rendered in the
Supreme Court to-day in the so-called Kan
sas prohibition cases of Mugler against
The Btate of Kansas and The Stale of
Kansas against Ziobold and others. The
judgment of ihe Court was pronounced in
a long and elaborate opinion by Justice
Harlan, who said: The general question
in each case is whether the prohibition
statutes of Kansas are in conflict with
that clause of the Fourteenth Amend
ment which provides that “No State
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immunities
of citizens of the United States, nor shall
any State deprive any person of life, lib
erty or property without due process of
law.’’ That legislation by a State prohibit
ing the manufacture within her limits of
intoxicating liquors, to be there sold or
bartered for general use as a beverage,
does not necessarily infringe any right,
privilege or immunity secured by the Con
stitution of the United States, is made clear
by the decisions of this court, rendered be
fore and since the adoption of the Four
teenth Amendment. It is, however, con
tended that although the State may pro
hibit the ynanufacture of intoxicating
liquors for sale or barter within her limits
for general use as a beverage, no conven
tion or Legislature has the risrht, under
our form of Government, to prohibit any
citizen from manufacturing for his own
use or for export or storage, any article
of food or drink not endangcringor affect-
ing the rights of others, the ar
gument made in support of the first
branch of this proposition, briefly stated,
is: That in the implied compact between
the State and the cifiizen certain rights are
reserved by the latter which are guaran
teed by the constitutional provisions for
the protection of life, liberty aud property
against deprivation without due process of
law and with which the State can not in
terfere; that among those rights is that of
manufacturing, for one's own use, either
food or drink; that, while according to the'
doctrines of the communes, the
State may control the tastes, appetites,
habits, di-ess, food aud drink of the
citizen, our system of Government, based
upon the individuality and intelligence of
the people, does not claim to control him
except as to his conduct to others, leav
ing him the sole judge as to all that only
affects himself. With reference to the
assertion that the prohibition of the manu
facture and sale of liquor deprives liquor
dealers of their property without due pro
cess of law, the court says that all property, •
underour form of government, issubjeetto
the obligation that it shall not be used so
as to injuriously affect the righto of the
community aud thereby become a
nuisance. The State of Kansas had a
right to prohibit the liquor traffic. It did
not thereby takeaway the property of the
brewers It simply abated a nuisance.
The property is not taken away from its
owners; they are only prohibited from
using it for a specific purpose, which the
legislature declared to be injurious to the
community.
Depredations in a Cemetery.
Washington, Dec. 5. —Complaint has re
cently been made to the Secretary of War
by the Superintendent of Arlington Na
t'cr.a'j Cemetery, which is located within
the Fort Meyer Military Reservation, Va.,
that the colored inhabitants of Freedman’s
Village, which is also located within the
reservation, have been in the habit of cut
ting down trees in the cemetery. It has
been found impossible to prevent the dep
redations, and the Secretary has issued an
order requiring all the inhabitants of
Freedman’s Village, as well as all other
unauthorized persons living within the
reservation limits, to remove within thirty
days.
Official Vote of New York State.
Albany, N. Y., Dee. 5. The official re
turns of the late election, completed
to-day, shows Ihe following result for
Secretary of State: Frederick Cook, Dem
ocrat, 469,888; Frederick D. Grant, Repub
lican, 452,811; Henry George, United
Labor, 70,055; Do Witt C. Huntington,
Prohibitionist, 41,850; Edward Hall, Labor,
7,622: Thomas K. Beecher, Greenbacker,
953; Preston, 1,017; blank, scattering and
defective, 1,179; whole number of votes,
1,045,375: Cock’s plurality, 17,077.
Black Diphtheria.
Little Rock. Ark., Dec. s. —Alarming
reports co'nt nue to come in of the spread
of black diphtheria in Clay and adjoining
counties. Local phy icians unable to con
trol the disease have advised that physi
cians from abroad be called upon, and this
lias been done. The mortality list foots
up over fifty, ail of whom have died with
in three weeks. There are three deaths
reported in a family named Spurgeon in
side of twelve hours. The disease is as
tata! as it is rapid.
Switzerland's New President,
Berne, Dec. s—The Council of State
has elected M. Gavsid, of Geneva, Presi
dent. and M. Sehoch, of Shaffhausen, Vice
President of Switzerland. Both are Radi
cals.
l-’atlior ami Children Burned.
Bkainard. Minn.. Dec. s.—At Wright's
S afion, two children of a family named
Roberts, aged eigh’ and '.cn, were burned
to death by the burning of the family resi
dence. The mother escaped, jumping from
an upper win low with a babe in her arms.
The lather was so badly burned he may
not recover.
>1 ns! tlnil Kiissia.
Vienna, D o. 5. -All Austrian and H n
giirian subjects employed in the Russian
provinces border ng on Galicia and Duko
vi da have been ordered to quit Russian
territory before January 3.