Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-12-06
The Presidents Message.


The Presidents message is quite volumi.
nous. but, like all his official acts and utter.
ances, betokens a painstaking care to deal
fully and Justly with whatever he has in
hand. 1t will be searched in vain for a sim
gle word that indicates either regret that
the tariff issue he framed was presented at
an inopportune moment, or the slightest
modification of the strong view of the ques-
ton he gave one year ago to Congress and
the country. On the contrary, he returns
with great yigor to the further argument of
the subject, and taking as he does the stand
point 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 pres
ent defective national policy And well
may he stand undaunted in the presence of
a people who, by large popular majority,
have indicated his courage and his wis
dom. BY majority of many thousands he
and his policy are approved, and, as has
never before happened under like circum-
stances, the electoral college when it meets
will reverse the popular verdict The case
of 1876 was not similar, for then the cleo
toral vote honestly chosen, was in accord
with the popular judgment, but it was set
aside by barefaced fraud. The President
not only does not retire from the advanced
position lie has taken upon this great eco
nomic problem, but he fortifes his opinions
by repeating what he before said, and add
ing other views which the argument of the
campaign developed so fully. He aptly
and pointedly refers to the combination be-
tween the producer and the government, by
which the masses are taxed for the benefit
of those who make and sell, and he points
out the danger certain to ensue from pol
lev which periodically hands over the peo-
pie to the protection Of the rich, who re-
ceive exceptional benefits from the govern
ment upon the theory that they in turn will
take care of the laboring poor. He pro-
perly scouts such policy, and declares that
"any Intermediary between the people and
their government, or the least delegation of
the care and protection the government
owes to the humblest citizen in the land,
makes the boast of free institutions gilt
tering delusion and the pretended boon Of
American citizenship a shameless imposi'
ton" Mr.. Cleveland writes with the au
thority and power of a man whose convic-
tions are thorough and whose information
is full, and with that air of confidence
which springs from the consciousness that
the truth, like other great forces, continues
to move and grow, Notwithstanding the eff
forts of hereto politicians to destroy it.
This part of the message is likely to prove
most interesting Just at this time. 1t deals,
however. with other questions Of great i'm
portance While he reports that no instan-
ces have occurred of outrage or injury to
our fishermen in Canadian waters except
such as the American consul has readily
adjusted, he calls special attention to the
unsatisfactory relations between this gov
eminent and Great Britain, growing out of
the rejection of the treaty he submitted to
the Senate. 1t cannot, of course, be sup
posed that these relations can continue to
be uninterrupted unless some permanent
basis of operation and settlement be agreed
upon by the two powers. Retaliation is all
well enough to compel justice and fair deal
ing: but that it should become necessary
that the peace of the two great nations
which assume to lead the civilization of the
age should be staked upon such chancels is
a reproach to the craftsmanship of both
countries. Unfortunately, the burden rests
upon our shoulders, for the obstacle to
settlement is the variance between the ex-
ecutive and legislative departments of our
own government. A further reference to
our relations with England is made in call
ing attention to the unfortunate occurrence
which made it necessary to request Lord
SaCkNllle IellItulcut IL IHS hiPAOh"e4S
representative of that country. If any
thing was needed to justify that act to the
sober Judgment and feeling of our people,
it IS found in the Presidents statement of
the case. 1t is fortunate our people were
in accord in dealing with this subject, and
that the great national contest then raging
ended at the woter-line where our relations
with other soyereiguties begin. The care
ful and elaborate review of our foreign re-
lations and the events transporting over the
civilized world will be read with satisiac-
ton by our people. Apart from the Cana
dian difficulty, our sorest spot is the Hay
tian outbreak, in which our merchantmen
have been seized in several cases. 1t is to
he regretted that these halt-ciyilized people
should be permitted to create instruction
and revolution whenever their passions sug-
gest an upheaval, and it will be a blessed
dav when beneath a protectorate of some
kind. they are kept down by force until the
nineteenth century march of enlightenment
does its benign work among them. Alto
gether the message is eXceedinly full and
well written. 1t is fitting supplement to
the able State papers President Cleveland
has given the country, and OF no public
servant. in this generation, at least, can it
A. s.Fl L. Az fhnf hn