Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03

the Editorial or Bushes De IN r tine N t.,
according to tenor or purpose.
In many respects President Cleveland's
message is satisfactory; in OF aer respects
IT is decidedly not. This will rot be at all
surprising to President Cleveland. for he
has never made a claim to perfection. nor
has he endeavored to please everybody. To
partisans the communication made today
to Congress will either be a statesmanlike
document the publication of so many
words; the conclusion reached depending
entirely upon the political belief of the
person giving utterance to the criticism
The message is absolutely devoid of sensa-
tional features; there is no discussion of
Industrial conditions-whether in their re-
lation to tariff legislation or to such differ
ences of opinion as brought about the rail-
road strike of last summer-uor is there
any startling financial proposition. such as
some Of the extremists have looked for
But there are passages on which foreign
mercantile powers can reasonably base
much hope the more conspicuous of these
being those which deal with our participa-
ton in the government of Samoa. The
President holds to the belief that our ex-
periences in attempting to govern Samoa
In company with Great Britain and Ger
many signally illustrate the 'impolicy of
entangling alliances with foreign powers"
and because in the face of such opposition
as Great Britain and Germany can pre-
sent. our commerce with the Samoan
Islands has not been materially stimulated
he would have this country withdraw en-
tirely in favor of the two European pow
ers named This proposition Is I'm line with
the other acts and expressions of this adj
ministration as to affairs in the Pacific
Every European nation of consequence
tolls steadily and persistently to the end
that commercial greatness may be added
to- no matter how far away the prospect
i've customers may reside. President Cleve-
land may safely plead mot guilty" to the
charge of following the European exam
pie. for although the jewellers in the islands
of the Pacific should be encouraged to buy
only in our markets, he and his associates
have done their utmost to break mercantile
and social ties that existed many years
prior to his elevation to the chief magis-
tracy. There Is great resemblance between
what has been done in Hawaii and that
which the President says he would like to
have done in Samoa. 1t is difficult, there
fore. to harmonic the withdrawal motion
as to Samoa and the homily which the
President gives US as to the logical and
imperative necessity for free ships, pres
ent legislation being announced as the
only obstacle which has so long prevented
our participation in the foreign carrying
trade of the sea-" 1t Is by no means clear
how our foreign carrying trade can be
nurtured by the abandonment to two ag-
gressive competitors of market that
should be wholly our own.
In the matter-the important natter--of
civil service reform the President speaks
with wholesome assurance. To him, as to
all others who look at the question from an
independent standpoint, the advantages of
such reform are too manifest to need
pointing out. The President truly says that
"a vast majority of the voters of the land
are ready to insist that the time and at
tention of those they select to perform for
them important public duties. should not
be distracted by doing out minor Offices
and they are growing to be unanimous in
regarding party organization as something
that should be used in establishing party
principles instead of debating the distriDu-
ttOn or public places as rewards OF parti-
san activity.
His reference to the manner In which the
reform has operated at navy yards sug-
gests satisfaction with the laws operations
and gives intimation of forthcoming amend
ments which experience has shown to be
necessary.
There will be general sympathy also with
the recommendation for the establishment
of a national board of health. or legislative
provision for the appointment of a ma
tional health officer, charged with no
other duties than such as pertain to the
protection of cur country from invasion Of
pe5tilence and disease" At present each
state has to look out for itself, and in so
doing is apt to lose sight of other interests
of comparatively little local importance
but of immense concern to the cCuGtry at
large. Upon this suggestion, so emphati-
cally made. Congress should take speedy
and favorable action: the national health is
too valuable to be the subject Of petty dis
agreement.
The tariff is dealt with as most people
supposed 1t would be; free coal and iron are
advocated, and there is evident presidential
desire to strike the Infamous sugur-trust a
knockout blow.
Unqualified endorsement is given the plan
by which Secretary Carlisle hopes TO re-
sabilitate our financial system; through the
operations or whichr-contemplating a most
possible to secure financial peace and a
greatly increased need of prosperity.
Recommendations as to the army and
navy are we'll worthy the careful considera-
ton of Congress.
Three months hence we shall know what
Congress really thinks of the message.
There were forty-fve men at work on