The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-05
CREAM OF THE PRESS.
Leading opinions on the Message.


The ORGAN or THE MEssAGE.-Gene-
raj Harrlson's organ, the Indianapolis
Journal has the following criticism of
the message
MIR Cleveland seems 10 construe the
constitutional requirement AS a license 10
scold the country for rejecting his free
trade Motley and lecture the people for
their lack of intelligence and capacity
for self-gOyernmeni. =.
This is very characteristic of Mr.
C)eyelsn,.. lie is chronic scold and
lecturer. The general tone Of most of
his ufterances is that OF a man who has
devoted the best years Of his life in try
ing TO save the American people from
selt-destruction and whose efforts have
been crowned with poor success
His pessimistic style bespeaks great
anxiety for the fate OF the country when
he shall LET 90 Of it. We do not believe
his anxiety is shared by the people TO
any extent
The solemn and ponderous way in
which the President begins by referring
TO the dangers that threaten the Govern
mept at the beginning of its second
hundred year of nstional existence, and
then lapses into chronic platitudes about
the tariff and surplus seems like great
reach after something statesmanliks."
-
There is one passage of the message
that will be likely 10 create some un-
favorable comment among conservative
thinkers and observers. This refers to
the Presidents illusions TO existing re-
lstions between the manufacturers and
the workincmen. There is an apparent
effort to convey the idea that there Is an
impsssable and constantly widening
gulf between these two classes, the con-
dition of the wOrkingmen being reduced
/ 10 that of absolute servilude, and that of
the manufacturer elevated 10 that of I'M
disputed and oppressive mastery. 1t must
be admitted that this has about il the
ad captandum favor Of genuine demagogy
| II is indisputable that the relative cOndi-
tions of the laboring and capitalstic
classes are not what they ought to be.
but they are not so bad as the President
undertakes TO paint them.-Baliimore
Herald
1t will be searched In vain for a single
word that indicates either regret that the
tariff issue he framed was presented al
an inopportuue moment, or the slightest
modification of the strong view of the
question he gave one year ago TO Con-
gress and the country. On the contrary,
he returns with great vigOr 10 the further
argument Of the subject, and taking as he
does the standpoint afforded him by the
centennial Of the constitution. he reviews
the path we have trOdden, and points out
the wrongs and the perils which directly
spring from our present defective nation
al policy And well msy he stand UNI
daunied In the presence of people who,
by large popular majority, have vim
dcsted his courage and his wisdom.
By majority of many thousands he and
his policy are approved, and as he has
never before happened under like cir
cumsances, the electoral college when II
meets will reverse The popular verdict
Baltimore Sun.
The World referring 10 Tariff reform,
says "The Presidents argument upon
this question Is clear and strong. If he
had sent this message 10 Congress three |
years ago, and had followed II In 1886 !
with the Issue forcing message OF last /
year, not even the power of money nor
the personal dissiiectiOn in the party with !
Mr. Cleveland could have prevented |
Democratic success
But though The right thing was done
at the wrong time, the Issue remains |
The condition still cOnfronts us. The |
surplus last year was $ll9,000,0O0 The |
surplus Tor the current year Is estimated |
at Sl04 100000. The necessarles OF life !
are still enhanced in price to the people /
and the essentials OF manufactures are
increased in cost by prolonged war |
tariff And President Cleveland has !
done we'll in again plainly defining and |
stoutly defending the Democratic princi- |
pie on the only question of vital import
ance upon which the two parties are
clearly divided
lie inveighs eloqnently against any |
scheme OF tax reduction which would not |
bring equivalent relief TO the taxpayer,
and gives to his party battle-cry In de
claring that there should be no cessation |
OF the struggle until a plan T. perfected, /
dustries, but which will reduce the cost |
to consumers Of the necessaries oil lie |
while II provides for our manufacturer
the advantage of freer raw materials ana
permits no injury TO the interests OF
American labor. Philadelphia RECORD !
1t is plain, bUslness-like report OF the
condition of the various departments !
prefaced by few paragraphs in when |
Dir. Cleveland speaks Cor more Impartial
laws and strcter adherence 10 constitu,
tional methods, so that monopolies anu
trusts shall not increase, but that al
Americans shall have q fair chance 10
the race Of life. What he says on inns
head Is sensible and we'll put; but as the |
people have Just elected to power party |
which fayors monopolies, trusts and cap
italistic combinations, Mr.. Cleveland Il
as one crying in the wilderness. When
ever the people get tired OF the present
system OF taxation they have 1t In their |
power 10 change ii. For the present, the |
recent elections show that they do moi |
care enough about It's evil effects to order
a change.-N. Y. Herald.
The President sacrifices historical &C
curscy 10 his free-trade theory when he
argues that the necessity for reduction
Of revenue Is as great and urgent as IL
was. The public revenue 10 no longer
swelling but diminishing, and would d.
minish much more were the laws impos-
ing duties on imports construed and en-
forced In the interests OF the people OF |
this country, and according to the mani
fest intent Of those laws. The appro-
priations have been largely increased by
the present Congress, fact which the
Presidents brief reference TO the finances
does not make prominent. But 1t IL
true that there 10 no controversy between
parties as 10 the propriety OF reduction
Of revenue, and In reaching that conclu-
sion the people do not need to adopt the
ignorant notion that ell money left IN
their hands 10 worth to them 9 per cent.
xvI{ch efrsuOo IN aaV 0QQn