New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07
THE MESSAGE IN CONGRESS.
ADMITTED TO BE A STRIKING AND POWER
Full STATE PAPER
REPUBLICANS DELIGHTED AND DEMOCRATS
SURPRISED AND UNEASY AT THE PREsI-
DENTS TELLING WORDS.

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington, Dec. 6.-President Harrlsons annual
message TO Congress, read to-day in both
houses proved, in many ways, the most striking
and important of all the communications which
in the routine Of administration he has been
called on TO send to the legislative branch OF
the Government. In form it departed somewhat
from the precedents Of previous years, and In its
character of a review Of the startling results OF
a great National policy now threatened with re-
versal, II borrowed something Of the dignity and
interest Of the formal accounting on the eve OF q
transfer of power and responsibility from the de-
Tenders Of one theory Of government TO inc
triumphant advocates Of a directly hostile one
In no public utterance Of recent years can there
be found, perhaps, so complete and imposing
summing up Of the material prosperity which has
resulted in this country under the steady applica-
ton for thirty years of the doctrine OF frotec-
ton, and with the known results Of this poiicy
clearly mustered and detailed, the President cheer
fully invites any comparison which may ensue
from the reversal of policy apparently sanctioned
by the popular judgment in the last campaign
This purely political and coDtemporaneous part
of the message was received IL Congress on the
one hand with unfegned satisfaction, ana on
the other with ill-concealed surprise. Republicans
in both houses were delighted with the frank
able and authoritative statement OF the party
present attitude and feeling after last month
great reverse Democrats. on the contrary, chatco
under the biting irony Of the contrast between
what the country expected from the change Of
power and National policy now impending, ana
what they were only too conscious would be us
actual result. Perhaps as impartial an expression
Of feeling as can be quoted to show the real
effect Of the message was that obtained to-day
from . Southern Democratic Representative, who
said in substance
"On many questions Of public policy am
thoroughly opposed TO President Harrison. On
the tariff: on financial questions. on tie control
of elections and some Other subjects we are as
wide asunder as the poles am Democrat
and he is O Republican; but am free TO admit
that, In my opinion, his message OF to-day Is
one of the ablest State papers that has been
sent to Congress in many years l fully appre-
ciate and heartily admire his intellectual honesty
and fidelity to bis political convictions. with
most that he says in regard to American, as
distinguished from purely party politics, fuIy
concur Every fair-minded man who may read
the message will, believe be forced to admit
that President Harrison is a patriot as well as
q statesman. OF course. anybody who disaerees
with him can find plenty TO criticise in the docu-
ment, as l can; but it is folly to attempt 10
depreciate the ability, the craftsmanship or the
patriotism of its author"
So candid an opinion from political opponent
carries its own conviction to the usual force
and ability of the Presidents latest public ut
terance
Better attention than is usual on such occa-
sions was vouchsafed by Representatives during
the reading Of the Presidents message to-day,
despite the fact that it read in perfunctory,
auctioneer style from the clerks desk. when
Edward Mcpherson was clerk of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES it was his custom TO read the an
nual messages himself, and the proceeding
amounted to something more pleasant and profit
able than the vocal homicide Of to-day. Most OF
the members had possessed themselves Of printed
copies Of the document and many betook them
selves 10 quiet hooks to scan its pages, while
others tried to get an idea Of it's drift and con-
tents amidst the hubbub of the Representatives.
chamber.
II any Democrat had hoped 10 see the flag Of
Republicanism lowered in any degree or on any
account, he was grievously disappointed and those
Democrats who had been foolish enough to predict
that President Harrisons fourth annual message
would lack in strength or in dignity Of expression,
were mortified as well as disappointed. They had
simply measured the height and breadth of hig
craftsmanship with their own short and dishonest
yardsticks. When the pungent paragraphs relat-
ing to the tariff were read-especially the sen
fences in which the President remarks that the
contention has not been between schedules, but
between principles, and it would be offensive u
suggest that the prevailing party wilhnot carry
into legislation the principles advocated by it and
the pledges given to the people" and in which he
recommends that the whole subject Of tariff re-
vision be left TO the incoming Congress" and re-
CARDS it matter of regret that this work must
be delayed for at least three months because
the threat of great tariff changes introduces
much uncertainty that all amount, not easily est
mated, Of business naction and Of diminished pro-
duction will necessarily result" and possibly cause
decreased revenues from customs duties when
these passages We're read, members on both sides
pricked up their ears; the faces Of Republicans
wore broad smiles and Democrats exchanged ex-
pressive and uneasy glances. AS Representative
Burrows Of Michigan, afterward remarked TO a
Tribune correspondent:
ut seemed actually cruel for the President
not only to remind the Democrats Of the hole
they dug for themselves at Chicago but to brush
away the rubbish with which Mr.. Cleveland and
others have since tried to hide it from the country
and not only TO do that, but to make the hole
deeper and wider by his suggestions and recon-
mendations.
Probably no other Democrat In the House was
quite so unhappy as Premier Springer. As
Chairman of the committee TO inform the Presi-
dent that the House ready 10 receive any
communication which he might desire to make
Mr.. Springer yesterday informed that body that
the committee had performed its duty and that
the President of the United States would report
to the House Of Representatives Tomorrow
When Springer made this announcement he seemed
rather nervous but he could not have received
an inlling that the report from the President
would refer TO his bills-Springers "pop-gnn"
bills as inadequate, and even intimate that
they were so regarded even by their promoters y
Springer cannot conceive why anybody should
regard the results of his study and toll as in
adequate Incomplete he admits his work to
be-and he is anxious as well as willing TO com
plete it-but Inadequate never. One of the