The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The News presents to its readers
tonight very full abstract OF President
Clevoland's message to congress. IL is
at this time needless to remark that
rarely in the history Of the nation has
the message Of the chief executive been
more anxiously awaited than at the
present time, for there are very
grave questions TO be settled
by the congress which today convenes
questions which affect the entire nation
for the party now in power proposes to
overturn the protective system under
which our industries have been de-
veloped and substitute therefor the
Democratic idea of free trade, or rs neay
an approach to it as tho party
leaders deem it advisable TO make ut
this time the silver question in which
large section of the country is directly
and the Whole country indirectly
interested remains unsclved by
tie repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman act
of 1890; the Hawaiian question
which affec the h,nr of the United
States government, and the interests of
people who are commercially, and who
desire to bo politically, part of this
government. These were the principle
points upon which the people Of the
United States had a right to expect in
formation regarding the proposed policy
Of the administration.
The two first are the questions that
must be satisfactorily solved before the
wheels in the mills again start into mo-
ton, before confidence is restored 10 the
public ut home aud abroad, and until
they are satisfactorily settled capital
will remain idle, and industry will re-
main at a standstill.
In the Hawaiian matter the whole
world has its eyes turned towards
Washington hoping to learn what the
policy Of the government is and what
were the causes leading to the adoption
of such q policy.
Naturally the tariff question takes the
first place, and Mr.. Cleveiand's s policy can
probably be no better outlined than by
his own vague assertion that " il there is
anything in the theory Of representa-
tion in public places OF the people aud
their desires, if public officers are really
the servants Of the people, and if polit-
cal promises and professions have any
binding force, our failure to give The
relief so long awaited Il. e. tariff reform)
will be sheer recreancy. Nothing
should intervene to distract our atten-
tion or disturb our effort until this re.
form is accomplished by wise and care.
full legislation"
If The English language means any
thing this means that the tariff plank OF
the Democratic platform as adopted al
Chicago by the national convention OF
the Democratic party is to be considered
as the policy Of the administration.
On those principles the Democracy
appealed to the public and fought their
battle. and Mr.. Cleveland, as the repre-.
sentative ahead of that party, now de.
clares that political promise, and pro-
fessions have binding force upon the
party leaders. The Chicago platform
promised free trade, absolutely and un-
qualifcdly and it denounced protection as
unconstitutional. The proposed new
tariff, however, cannot be considered MS
a redemption of that promise. though
Mr.. Cleveland attempts to evade this
by saying that "while we should
staunchly adhere TO the principle that
only the necessity Of revenue justifies the
imposition of tariff duties and other
federal taxation and that they should be
limited by strict economy, we cannot
close our eyes TO the fact that condi.
tions have grown up among us which in
justice and fairness call for discriminat
ing care in the distribution OF such
duties and taxltions rs the emery yencies
of our government. actually demand"
This is an evasion OF the plain fact
II the principles of the Chicago platform
are right than the new tariff bill is radi.
cally wrong. A revenue tariff could
have been arranged, and it were better
to sever ut one stroke all of the old ties
than to have them Topped off one by
one the entire country on the anxious
seat waiting to SEQ where the nexl
blow will fall. II revenue tariff is tho
true Democratic idea of a process of tax,
alton it should be carried ont. IL tariff
revision is to be made LET it be made by
the party that believes in pro lection and
not by the party which denounces il as
unconstitutional and which yet says
"that conditions have grown up among
us which call for discriminating care.
The president has presented a weak
case.and outlines only "a policy Of yacil
lation and ndecision. and ono that will
neither give satisfaction to his own
| marty or TO the oppositiOn, It practically