Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-05
The presidrnt,s Message.

bldtemenbi anu inc lorCc, ulfeclnhSs ana
ability of the Presidents statement
amply excuse the length of the mes
sage The intelligence of the Ameri-
can people will promptly recognize the
Presidents patriotic spirit, and APP
preciate the wisdom and convincing
force with which this state paper dis
cussee the country's foreign relations
and the national finances.
The first half Of the message is de-
voted to an exposition of the relations
of the United States to foreign powers
and kindred subjects 1t is eminently
satisfactory to see the President of our
great republic giving emphatic ap
proval to the principle and practice of
arbitration in international disputes.
Arbitration means peace on earth. 1t
would beat swords into plow shares,
and substitute justice between nations
in place of the old international prac.
tice that he may take who has the
power and he may keep who can.
From the standpoint of the peaceful
and Justice Glowing spirit Of arbitration,
the President was able to take firm
stand in the matter of the Venezuelan
boundary dispute. The patriotism Of
the country will sustain with practical
unanimity the position of our govern
ment on that matter, as revealed in the
following paragraph of the message:
The general conclusions therein reach
or satal r<x,,., all N...1
that the traditional and established
policy OF this government is firmly op.
posed to forcible increase by any
European power Of its territorial pos
sessions on this continent: that this
policy is as we'll founded in principle
as it is strongly supported by numer-
Gus precedents; that as consequence
the United States is bound to protest
against the enlargement of the area Of
British Guiana in derogation of the
rights and against the will of Venez
uela; that, considering the disparity
in strength of Great Britain and Ven
ezuela the territorial dispute between
them can be reasonably settled only
by friendly and impartial arbitration,
and that the resort to such arbitration
should include the whole controversy,
and is not satisfied if one Of the
powers concerned is permitted to draw
an arbitrary line through the territory
IN debate and TO declare that it will
submit TO arbitration only the portion
lying on one side OF it.
The above passage in the message
will become famous as an authoritative
statement by the government of the
United States of its policy touching
European territorial aggressions in this
hemisphere. 1t will take rank with
the famous passages in President Mon
roe's messages.
The Presidents message, by grouping
on one page the serious diplomatic
incidents of the year, illustrates how
widespread are the subjects which the
State Department handles. 1t appears
that we have had disagreements to dis
cuss with Great Britain, France, Spain.
Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey and
China. The iingoes flap their wings
and crow for fight at every diplomatic
incident, and it is evident that if our
government had needed the counsel and
advice OF such Growing bantams we
would be by this time at war with all
mankind. But the administration's
policy of asking simple justice while
maintaining friendly spirit has kept
US in relations at once honorable and
peaceful.
The efficiency OF our consular service
is subject akin to foreign relations.
The message details the very important
step which President Cleveland has re.
Gently taken 10 extend the spirit of
rlyii service reform to this important
arm Of the State Department. 1t will
do much towarls developing a com
petent force Of consular officers, who
Will have skill and training to do the
work which is necessary in promotiny
and safeguarding our foreign com.
merce. President Cleveland has been
conservative yet consistent foe of
the spoils system. Step by step, with
a perseverance, born Of deep conviction.
he mas advanced tho merit system.
This reform Of tho consular service
must 20 into the record which mal,es
him the great Civil Service Reformer
of the century.
Although the President defera tba
discussion Of national finances 10 the
second part Of his message it il manifest
that they are first in his thoughts and
closest to his heart. 1t will be well for
the country if Congress should ner.
ceive as clearly az the Prsident does
the Importance Of it, and the pressing
need OF prompt, sagacious, and patri.
otto Legislative action regarding ii.
The message recites the difficulties
which the administration has encoun.
tered in preserving intact the gold 70.
serve 1t masses the facts IN sucb
convincing array that no intelligent
student of finance can fail 10 see that
there is some fundamental defect n
our present currency system. That de-.
fect is radical and il constantly threat
ems most serious consequences to the
business welfare Of the country.
Ihe Presidents justification of his
course in Issuing bonds to replenjsh
the dwindling gold reserve is complete
and ample He shows the utter in
sufficiency Of the method by which the
hrst two issues Of bonds were made.
The gold which came from them was
a., almost Immediately drawn out again.
ihe contract by which the third issue
was placed with a syndicate OF bank
ers vas certainly profitable to the
country for itnot only replenished the
gold reserNe Lmt nrntentad n Enr ai.rLt