The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-10
Pearl River be improved and equipped


as naval station.
The harsh treatment of the Jews by the
Russian government was the cause of
friendly but earnest protest by the gov
ernment to the Gar. BY the revival of
anti-Semitic laws many Of the Jews were
forced TO emigrate and most of them
found refuge in the United States, many
other countries being closed to them. II
be forced from Russia in few years
and their immigration to the United
States sis likely to assume proportions
which will make il difficult to find
homes and employment for them here
and to seriously affect the labor market"
Great interest is shown in the work
being conducted on the Nicaragua Canal
and the President recommends that
either the credit Of the United States be
loaned to float the bonds Of the company
or that direct appropriation be made to
aid it. If the credit Of the government
was loaned he believes the bonds could
be tioated at 3 per cent. IL the work is
to be promoted by the usual financial
methods and without the aid of the
government the expenditure in its inter
est bearing securities and stocks would
probably be twice as high as the actual
cost. That would necessitate higher
tolls and needless burden upon COM
merce. Congress is usually backward
in aiding private enterprises, even
though of national importance, but the
President expresses the hope that
neither party nor sectional lines will
be drawn upon this great American pro-
ject, so full of interest to the people of
all our States, and SO influential in its
effects upon the prestige and prosperity
of our common country"
The President reviews the effects of
the Mckinley tariff law at length and
proves by figures its satisfactory results,
and again pronounces himself against
the free coinage of silver. He gives ad-
mirable condensations Of the reports OF
the cabinet officers and writes at length
upon the ocean mail law passed by the
last Congress, which Democrats delight
fully howl is failure. The President
does not, however, take that pessimistic
view of the subject. He says of the con-
tracts that have already been made:
The Postmaster General estimates that an
pxppnliturp o. In American shin wards of about
ten millions of dollars Will be necessary TO en-
able the bidders to construct the ships called
for by the service which they have accepted.
| do no think there is any reason for discour-
agement or for any turning back from the
policy of this legislation. Indeed, good be-
further considered and understood by .capi-
talists and shipping people. new lines will be
ready To meet future proposals, and we may
date from the passage of this law, the revival
of American shipping interests and the re-
covery of a fair share of the carrying trade of
the world.
If this indicates failure surely the
Democrats are entitled to their new def
milton of the word.
The disgraceful gerrymander of the
Congressional districts in Michigan by
the Democrats of that State and the
passage of the law for the election of
separate Presidential electors in the
gerrymandered districts instead of by
the State at large, as is the practice
elsewhere. leads the President to recon-
mend regulation Of the choice of cleo
tors by Constitutional amendment, so as
to secure uniformity in all the States,
"and prevent that partisan jugglery TO
~ rhninn 10 ~ ayiSfo
offers a temptation" He adds
II I were called upon TO declare wherein our
chief national danger lies ! should say with
out hesitation i'm the overthrow of majority
by a9s Se as o
freely and separately, determined that the
choice of electors by n general ticket is the
wisest and safest method and IL would seem
there could be no objection TO a constitutional
amendment making that method permanent.
If legislature chosen in one year upon purely
contest, meet, rescind the law for a choice
upon a general ticket and provide for the
choice of electors by the legislature, and this
much To say that the public peace might be
seriously and widely endangered.
Democrats and Mugwumps may call
this partisan talk, but the subject is one
that demands attention. What has been
done in Michigan may be done else
where, and through the gerry-mandering
of districts minority candidate might
be easily elected. State lines are fixed
and only in the case Of some great rebel
lion like that which caused the division
of Virginia can they be changed. Aunt
form rule made Interchangeable by the
constitutions would be just to all, and
reasonable. Only extreme partisas,
blinded by their partisanship, can take
exception to this wise recommendation
of the President.