The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-12-12
The Presidents Message.

| but few recommendations. Parts OF IL
are intended for political effect-those refer
inc to the persecution of the Hebrews in
Russia and the elevation of the Agricul
tural to an equality with other departments.
The one is meant to catch the Hebrew
vote, and the other to impress the farmer
with the distinguished consideration the
Republican party has for him. The note
of this government expressing 'deep con-
Germ" on a question of purely domestic
affair in Russia, was piece of impertinent
interference, and the change at the Agri
cultural department is one in name only,
so far as the benefits to agriculture are con-
cerned. The title of Commissioner has
been changed to Secretary, the salary of
the Office increased, and the Secretary has
a seat at the farther end of the Cabinet
table.
The message makes plain one fact-that
is, our foreign affairs have been badly
managed, and our policy has been an ag-
gressive one of interference and informed
ding with the domestic concerns Of other
governments and of extravagant and I'M
tenable claims upon our part.
By claiming that which our country
protested against when made by Russia,
concerning jurisdiction in Boring sea, the
Harrison Administration brought this coun-
try dangerously near an open rupture with
England Buster did not deter Lord
Salisbury, and Mr.. Blaine had to recede
and consent to arbitration. President Har-
rison devotes some attention to the Boring
sea controversy, but he handles the subject
carefully and omits important facts in the
case.
Then there is the controversy with Italy,
over the New Orleans lynching the hasty
action of our officials encouraging the Ital-
ian government to make claims that this
government had to deny; the Itata affair
our own courts deciding that the vessels
detention was unlawful and consequently
also, the subsequent chase and surrender;
the meddling with chilian affairs by our
incompetent and indiscreet minister; the
attack upon our sailors, the outcome OF
hostility engendered by the imprudence OF
Minister Egan; the insolent protest against
expulsion DEGREES by the Russian govern
ment; the interference of this government
in question of boundary between Gaute-
mala and the British government.
All these are spoken of by President
Harrison, and he presents the facts in the
light most favorable to his Administration
More controversies with foreign nations
have sprung up under the present Admin
istratiOn than for some years past, and this
fact is sufficient evidence of the lack of
prudence and diplomatic ability on the
part of this government Our own course
is responsible for all of these international
disputes.
Upon the leading questions Of the day
tariff and finance-the President is brief.
He recommends that there be no legisla-
ton upon either. The country, he says,
is enjoying larger prosperity than ever
before, under the Mckinley bill, and
quotes statistics to show that for the year
ended September Both, 1891, our exports
were some ST., 600, 600 greater than in the
previous year, and of this increase about
SIS, 900, 900 were in agricultural products.
Whatever increase there has been in our
agricultural exports is due to abundant
crops at home and short crops abroad. The
Mckinley act is praised for the alleged
great prosperity of the country, the Presi-
dent forgetting that in his Thanksgiving
proclamation he said it was TOO great to be
the work of man and ascribed it to an ALL
wise God And in his message the recip-
rocal trade relations negotiated with Spain
and several other countries are spoken of
with evident satisfaction, as contributing
to our prosperity, the President again for
getting that reciprocity is free hdde, not
protection.
The latter portion of the message is de-
voted to the subject of elections, and the
President laments the failure of the Force
bill in the last Congress. He says the
chief national danger lies in the suppression
or peryersion of the popular suffrage, and
this in the face of the well-known fact that
he now holds the high office of President
through purchased votes in "blocks of five, y
by corruption fund raised by Philadel-
phia merchant, who holds cabinet position
as reward for his part of the work
Seeing that an overwhelming Democratic
House and an increased Democratic vote
in the Senate is an effectual bar to Force
bills during this Congress, the President
says it would be possible to constitute a
non-partisdn commission to consider the
evils of our election system and methods,
with view to correcting or removing
them, and suggests that the constitution
would permit the selection of the commits
sion to be vested in the Supreme Court.
Democrats remember too well the SKI
commission of 1877, which suppressed the
popular and electoral verdict and defrauded
Tilden out Of the Presidency, to place con-
fdence in the non-partisan character of
the Supreme Court. They are no more to
be trusted than other people-imbued
with no more fairness and impartiality
The message is devoid of anything of
craftsmanship, neither is it framed in clear,
forcible and expressive language. In ex-
"a 7.