Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-09

The Presidents message concerning the
state Of the Union, giving incidentally an ac-
count OF his administrators stewardship, is
one OF the best specimens Of what such docu-
ment should be that has ever issued from the
White House. 1t 70 long, perhaps too long for
the model message, but it is packed so full of
meaty, interesting matter. edited with nice
discrim nation, that it is hard to suggest where
the cut would properly be made 1t Is
not formal rehash of the department
reports. The President has impressed his in
dividuality upon every sentence oft. and the
art of putting things effectively, of which he has
shown his mastery in the admirable, con-
densed speeches which he has made from time
to time during his administration, has evil
IDENTIFY not deserted him. The main purpose
of q message is defeated if its style or contents
brighten OF readers. This message will be at
tentively read.
The showing which the President makes for
his administration is impressive. Whatever
differences Of opinion there may be concerning
thy wisdom Of specific measures favored by
the President, one of which affecting the cleo
tions Congress overruled and others Of which
are still on trial before the people, there can be
no Just denial that the present administration
has been intelligent clean, and able, far-sighted
and vigorous in its foreign policy, sound and
progressive in the various departments of do
nestle affairs, creditable and beneficial to the
republic in all branches of executive action.
Every patriotic American can well be proud of
the ''state Of the Union" disclosed by this mes
sage, however vigorously he may oppose in re-
gard to specific matters the legislative policy
Of the administration.
In regard to the domestic legislative issues
of importance the President defends the tariff
act on all points and contends that its effect is
nationally beneficial He indicates unrelenting
opposition to the unlimited free-coinage of sill
YER and urges fair trial of the silver legisla-
ton of last year. Upon this subject" he says,
'as upon the tariff, my recommendation
is that the existing laws be given a
full trial. and that our business interests be
spared the distressing influence which threats |
of radical changes always impart." The most !
notable recommendations of the President are |
perhaps those which relate to fair and free cleo
tons. He condemns the Michigan partisan |
device of a change in the method of choosing
presidential electors and proposes a remedy. |
He says:
IAN the states have. acting freely and sepa- |
rately, determined that the choice OF electors |
by "a general ticket is the wisest and safest |
objectioa to q constitutional amendment max |
ing that method permanent If a legislature |
chosen In one year,npOn purely local questions /
should, pending a presidential contest, meet. |
rescinc the law for a choice upon a general !
ticket and provide for the choice of electors by |
the legislature, and this trick should determine
the result, it is not too much to say that the |
public peace might be seriously and widely |
endangered"
He refers regretfully to the action Of the last |
Congress upon the elections bill. and suggests,
in order to secure fair appointments and free |
elections, the appointment of a commission,
non-partisan in membership, perhaps the Su-
preme Court, to be charged with the |
duty Of inquiring into the whole subject |
of the law of elections, related to the !
choice of officers of the national government,
with a view to securing to every elector free |
and unmolested exercise of the suffrage and as |
near an approach to an equality of value in |
each ballot cast as is attainable. The argu-
ment that some remedy is needed for election |
wrongs, assuming that the force legislation is |
undesirable or Impracticable, is clearly and |
forcibly stated. |