Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-10
DAILY p0ST-INTELLIGENcER
fUg message AND rue PACIFIC
gaArT.

GeA.T.
The Presidents Message 10 tissp-
pointnent IN many usJs. This faet y
not 10 be denied. In-.esd OF TIE psain
esncise and foreible presentation Of
the condition Of natl rsl affairs, ~niet
the uablie had reason 20 expect from
Mr.. Cleveland, ne have inflicted apo1
"a a message Of saeh length that ans
previous document Of the hind woaic
be utterly lost 10 IL. There may b
there doubtIess are, many good toIngs
many valuable snggestions, n the n.es
sage, bat they are 20 hidden in ths
oIond of verJiage which hangs around
and about them and seems - psrvsd.
the atmosphere wherever the message
In seen or heard, that neither the aver
age Congressman cor the average MAI
vill ever succeed IN finding them. A
few bold and andaanted spirits, seeus
toned 10 dalving IN words. may and
them and drag them forth, bat The
search viii never be = general one. 10
the great mass of tbs people the Pfesi-
dents Message of 1885 will ever be as
unfamiliar a. the Book Of Jasher.
Nor 10 the message decided aud arm
In It's tone throughout. On many ques
tons the President takes a position
which cannot be misunderstood, but
apon others Of a. great Importance bis
Language, ~ IL has been teleRrapoed. IS
exceedingly ambiguous. On the CEi'
nsse question. for instance, one would
be puzzled to tell Just what the opinion
of Mr.. Cleveland IL. l. be Ia favor OF
restriction or against IN He assures
Congress tina. be will be prepared to
give earnest cous dsrAsion TO any far
thsr remedial measures within the
treaty limits, which the wisdom OF Con
ercss may devise" bat from the con-
tsrs IL IL not clear whether by rene
dial measures be means measures for
the mere complete restriction OF Chi
nsse immigration or merely measures to
prevent uprisings against The Chinese.
On another question which vitality
Affects the people of the Pacific Coast,
she position assumed BY the President
IL far from satisfactory. This il the
isthmns canal question. The language
Of the message can be construed In emily
one way. IL either means that Mr..
Cleveland recognizes the principles upon
which the Clayton Baiwsr treaty was
framed, or 1t means nothing at all.
In other words, the Presiden. Is willing
TO admit that European nations can
enter into treaties with the object Of
guaranteeing the neutrality of a canal
which shall be entirely within the
American continent and which should
be purely American. The wish ex
pressed for canal which shall be
"open 10 all nations and subject to the
ambition Gad warlike necessities OF
none" 10 an eminently proper one, bui
10 Ia one OF which the realization is i'm
possible. II all governments were
Utopian and all treaties we're faithfully
and strictly kept under all oircum-
stances, it might be otherwise; but III
the present condition OF the world the
only way to insure the nt alrality of the
canal In 10 make II impregnsble; the
only way TO insure II from attack is to
render the for.ihoations protecting it SC
strong that any attack must be hope.
less. OF course such fortitiOstions must
be American aud not English, French
or.Gsrman.
In regard to coast dsfenses the mes
sage is exceedingly brief; too brief, in.
deed, for the Importance OF the subject.
This IL probably due TO the fact that the
report Of the Board of Coast Dsfenses,
10 which reference is made, will soon be
presented.
The attitude assumed by MIR. Cleve
land upon the question Of silver coin
age cannot be mistaken. He makes an
elaborate argument in favor Of the sus
pension Of The csinsee of silver dollsrs.
Hare again his opinion Is undoubtedly
opposed 10 the opinion Of vast major
ity Of the people Of the Pacific Coast.
The exact language used in regard to
forfeited land grants has not vet been
received. According 10 the synopsis of
the latter porti.n of the message which
Vas autographed. The President urges
that the transcontinenial roads be held
10 strict accountability in the matter
Of their erants.' That Is all that the
people desire. II the roads are held to
. strict accountability, the Northern
Psciho grant will be restored 10 the
public domain in very short time. II
10 TO 10 hoped .ha, Mr.. Cleveland
views on this point we're presented In
language which could not be misuuder-
stood.
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