Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-30
Interest Felt in That Portion of the
Presidents Message.
4 HOPE THAT He MAY SCORE
Suggestions That Have Been Patri-
oticaIly Made to Him,
WHAT THE COUNTRY WANTS

sage which will bear on foreign affairs than
on that which will bear domestic affairs.
The difference made is this The one will he
addressed particularly to the home audi
ance. the other to the whole world. Then
there is really doubt in anybody's mind
as to the final result in the matter purely
domestic The President and Congress may
differ or the subject of details, but in some
way ard in good time the necessary money
will be provided to pay the running ex-
penses of the government, and the credit of
the government, both at home and abroad
fully maintained. This is regarded as being
as certain as sunshine. But with regard to
what the President may say on the Cuban
question and the Venezuelan question, and
how that may affect the government in the
eyes of foreign nations, some doubt and also
some anxiety exist. There is thought
that Congress- in any circumstances under
any pressure, would indorse any deliverance
not in accord with true Americanism. popu-
larly interpreted but there is a profound
hope that the President may not make 1t
necessary for Congress to take the initiative
in what so clearly devolves upon him as the
country'S spokesman to foreign powers. He
Is expected to speak for the country and
should do SO in way to meet the country's
well-known wishes.
The COuntry's Attitude.
The country's attitude toward the Pres
ident in this matter is regarded as being
far above all cavil. 1t is respectful in the
highest degree of the great office which he
fills, and kindly enough toward himself.
Els course in the Hawaiian matter, as well
as in the Corinto matter, while roundy
condemned man now brings forward.
The Cuban and the Venezuelan cases are
tried upon their merits, and the hope ex-
pressed is that the President himself Will
SO consider them. If he will but give them
the opportunity in these cases. the men
who have been his EXTREMIST opponents in
iTgy oil fh.lf
aside. come to his support with enthusiasm
The demand, as he has had every reason to
kEow, frC m both democratic and republican
sources, is for declaration which will
give the country standing before the world
a. this time being more than a great
nation, secure as to it's own existence, and
sefshly occupied solely with figuring on
tariff schedules and trying to make its
cash balance. The United States is more
than a big commercial corporations mon
ster trust which controls security and hap
pir esS under a republican form of govern
ment The President is more than big
auditor passing upon accounts and keep
ing sharp eye on bookkeepers
A Vague Hope.
The hope in all this business is vague.
The man the most sanguine that the Presi-
dent will set himself right this time is un-
able to particularize-draws back when
asked to outline what he Is looking for. He
is building largely on what he knows has
been submitted to the President on the sub
Ject. Many prominent democrats have.
with comInendable frankneSS, made SuS
gestons, by writing, and otherwise. Some
have confined themselves to generalities,
merely asking for something thoroughly
resoute. Others have suggested that the
President, making no mention of the Mon
doctrine by name, but still guiding by
the spirit of that. give the country an
American doctrine of his He has
been assured on all hands that the people.
and fortunately the members of his own
party. are somewhat impatient on the
subject; that they resent the foreign COM
ments on the Monroe doctrine, and feel
that the time has come for the government
to take a stand calculated to enlighten those
gentlemen abroad who confess to an in
ability to understand what Is meant or i'm
piled when the Monroe doctrine is quoted.
Numerous Suggestions.
These suggestions to the President have
been numerous, and they have covered the
sentiment of former times as we'll as the
popular sentiment of the present time This
country's attitude toward Hungary and
Mr.. Webster's splendid letter to the Aus
trian minister in vindication of it, have been
called to his attention. A famous literary
gem has been paraphrased. and he has been
assured that what Webster wrote and the
American people approved on the subject of
American duty toward people struggling
for independence cannot be wrong. He has
been asked to copy that illustrous example
II he does, or even turns distinctly in that
direction, the friends of Cuba will nave no
cause of complaint.
Cuba's Case a Test.
Cuba's case is considered the test If the
President scores there he is reasonably
sure of popular approval. And this brings
up the question: What steps, If any, has
he taken to correctly inform himself as to
the real situation on the island? 1t is con-
tended that he ought to have taken steps
CT some kind. A reliance on rumor and or
dinary news sources would not in his case
be justified. The fakir is much a figure
in war as the spy or the sharpshooter. The
man at headquarters who 'whOopS it up
with his pen for the public, is, eX-offico a
member of the commanding generals staff.
But the President, acting as judge, should
have the actual facts in the case-should
know how many men are in the field. what
progress has been made how far the dis
content reaches, upon what grounds the
revolt really rests, and all that Has the
President informed himself? That was
the view President Taylor took of the Hun
garian revolt. He sent a secret envoy over
to investigate matters. Has President
Cleveland copied this? Has some Dudley
Mann of the present day been to Cuba
with secret Instructions and gone over
the case in the Presidents behalf? Will
the Presidents treatment of the case be
based upon such report? Is something
Ike that to be the surprise in the message?
What the Country Wants.
The country, It is believed, would well
come such a discovery. 1t wants the whole
truth and nothing not the truth The truth,
1t insists, will help Cuba all along the line
The President, if he has not taken this
step, might still take it, The State Depart
rent controls fund from which the pay
Of such a mission could be drawn-the
secret service fund. If he has hesitated
about i. this far it would probably be ex-
cu:Sl in memory of his experience with Mr.
Blodnt, the cracker diplomat, who. sug-
gestively enough, fractured the Hawaiian
business. But, as is pointed out, the Pres-
dent need not dwell forever in that shadow
The Lord loves the world, and SO it is that
BlountS few and far between. The
President might draw thousand times and
not get another blank like that.
How He Can Score.
1t would probably not be l.ctly accurate
to say that If the President scores now all
will be forgiven. He has tried the country
pretty sorely about some things. But 1t is
true that everybody wants him to score for
Ih .,rill