St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Il
The presidents message speaks for
itself: at least, it will to the few who
will have the patience to wade through
it. The document is more remarkable
for its ytrbOsity than its matter, and
may be likened to a Dakota wheat crop
IN a dry seasOn-a tremendous pile of
chatf for so little kernel. 1t will be a
blessed fortune for this country when
our presidents learn to cut down their
annual messages to the average length
of the queens address in opening par
lament; for then they would be able to
conceal their opinions without so much
labor.
President HARRISON has travelled
over the entire field of foreign and
domestic affairs, touching upon every
subject of public interest. without i'm
parting a single item of information
that had not previously been given and
discussed through the newspapers; and,
with but one or two exceptions, without
expressing positive opinion as to what
lire of policy congress should pursue.
1t is a labOred effort from beginning to
end to straddle or dodge every impOr-
tant issue before the country, except
that he advocates the BLAIR educational
bill and federal control of elections i'll
the Southern states: ground upon which
the Republican party camped twenty
years ago and was glad to abandon.
In his discussion of our foreign rela-
tons the president devotes 4 great deal
of space to affairs in all the countries of
the world, except Brazil. 1t is note
worthy that, while the Brazilian revOlu-
ton is the most notable event of modern
times, the president devotes just about
stick and half of his message to it;
and the only information he imparts
is that the new republic has not
yet been recognized by this govern
ment, and will not be until the people
of Brazil declare by formal vote their
preference for the provisional govern
ment that has been established on the
ruins of the empire. This is qneer doe
trine to be enunciated by the chief
magistrate of the model republic of the
world. Our recollection is that when
the Spanish TevolutioniStS established a
new republic the American minister TO
Spain received his Instructions the next
day to recognize the new government.
Why the same course has not been pur-
sued in the case of Brazil is mystery
that the administration doesn't care to
explain.
In his discussion Of domestic affairs,
the president is forced to admit that
under the existing tariff system the sur
plus continues to accumulate at the
rate of from forty to fifty millions
year, notwithstanding the able efforts
of Corporal TANNER and Secretary
WINDOW to scatter it. 4 broad smile
must have spread itself over the faces
of congressman yesterday as they
listened TO the reading of this part of
the message. A lame duck, flOundering
III shallow water, couldn't have cut a
more ridiculous figure than the presi-
dent does in his endeayOr to suggest
relief from Over-taXation, and yet not
to stand upon the ground occupied by
the Democrats. With tremulous voice
he raises cry in defense of the protect
i've system, while virtually admitting
that the system is nothing more or less
Atittlt II s5tAiissOh LIZ 10
recommend to congress to abolish the
tax on whisky and tobacco, but he
hadn't the nerve to do it, so he ap-
proaches it somewhat in the fashion of
the girl who wanted her lover to kiss
her, but didn't like to come right
out and say so. She supposed q
case of two cherry lips warm with
loves breath, properly adjusted for a
smack, and then reasoned what fool a
fellow would be not to avail himself of
the opportunity. Still, it IS more cow
ardice than mOdesty in the president in
limiting to congress that by removing
the tax from whisky and tobacco, in
stead of from the necessarieS of life,
they might be able TO stop some of this
hu" and cry about the growing surplus.
How different, how vastly different is
President HARRIsON's evaSive position
nthe tariff from the clear. ringing SEN
fences of Mr.. CLEvELAND's last mes
sage on the same subject. The latter
had policy that an honest man was
not afraid to advocate, while President
HARRISON is frightened at his own
shadow because of his consciousness
that the ground upon which his party
stands is sliding out from under him.