The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-12
A POINT IN THE MESSAGE.

president lleNelanu S 1lrSI annual
message was presented to the first
session of the Forty Ninth Congress
on Tuesday last. With the exception
of few very bitter free-trade jour
nails editorial comment upon it has
been favorable. In fact it is gener-
ally pronounced a good thing. 1t is
only through editorial comment that
the majority of newspaper readers
and the majority of those who don't
read the newspapers at all will get
the full gist of the important docu-
ment. Watched and waited for with
interest it has been received with
interest. Viewed carefully and in
its entirety it does not come up to
oar standard of what Mr.. Cleveland
should have done in the way OF an
annual message but considered in
the abstract, with particular atten-
ton given to two or three of its
better features it is a fine piece of
work.
As the Philadelphia Daily Meas
suggests, few presidents have given
50 much space to our foreign rela-
tons as Mr.. Cleveland has devoted
to them. This reveals a character
in the man which we feel inclined to
admire. 1t is growing more evident
every day that as a nation we are at
tanning an appearance OF added
strength in the eyes of foreign pow
ers. 1t is something to be thankful
for that, with few exceptions, our
foreign relationships have been pleas
ant. Several delicate complications
with the governments of Germany
and Austria have arisen, requiring
great diplomacy in their proper set
tlement, and to which settlement the
government had better not rely too
much upon its faith in circumstance.
With Spain and the Spanish Amer
lean nations our relations are yet in
definite and the compacts with them
are not yet fairly established as they
should be. There are several pro
positions in the Presidents message,
such as the recasting of the diploma
tic and consular service by instituting
consular inspectorships, Of detailing
military and naval attaches, of ap-
pointing secretaries of legations at
large, and Of grading the diplomatic
offices, SO as to enable the holders
to live in comfort, which are worthy
execution, and which when concluded
will improve us as a nation in many
lights.
AS an important and valuable par
ticipant in the events of the world,
beyond what occurs in her own i'm
mediate limits, the American nation
has been literally recognized in the
President message, and the recog-
milton should become general both
at home and abroad. Our interests
have rapidly extended to all quarters
of the globe, The growth and in
crease of this important foreign rela-
tionship is evidence of the sterling
metal of which the ribs OF the nation
are formed. 1t can not longer be
called "the young America in all
the ways OF government it is wise
and matured, it is more than an in
fant power, it has grown loud enough
and large enough to be see'a and
heard in the world, and the wisdom ct
the policy of President Cleveland in
devoting SO much of his time and at
tention to the perfection and advance
ment Of our numerous foreign rela-
cannot be denied. CnEar~
monious as the relationship has been
in several instances nothing like con-
cealed hatred or open warfare has
occurred, and it is the wish of its au-
thor and every reader of the anuual
that the future increase of
her power is to be obtained through
peaceful intercourse alone.