The record-union., 1895-12-05
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The Presidents message, so far as
press comments upon it are reported,
appears to have been received in a par
tisan spirit and criticised from parti-
san standpoints in the main. It should
be tGeated from higher and better lev
els. 1t is neither the ablest nor the
least valuable of American state pa
pers. That so much attention should
have been given to our foreign rela-
tions data is due to our system, under
which state departments do not report
to Congress, and the executive must
convey to the houses such information
concerning cur relations with other
Powers as will fittingly call attention
to them and introduce the department
reports made to him. These he prae-
tically incorporates in his message by
urging members of the National Leg
islature to give them diligent study.
and seriously consider the several prop
ositions and recommendations made in
them
The financial question is discussed
at very great length. There is no new
light thrown upon it, yet 1t is not
merely threshing over Of straw. Hold
ing to the principles and theories that
he does, the President very properly,
and certainly very energetically and
tive policy has been fashioned after
them. 1t certainly cannot be said that
President Cleveland lacks the courage
OF his convictions, or that he has feared
to join issues with his opponents. When
those who disagree with him descend
to the vulgar reply that Mr.. Cleveland
by his line Of argument merely asserts
his assumption of superiority, and
makes an exhibition of self-conceit and
stubbornness, they resort to unfair, un-
dignifed and indefensible methods.
We are unable to see in the argument
the President has chosen to employ
any manifestation Of contempt for the
opinions of others, or any assertion Of
belief in his infalllbility
In several respects the message is
disappointing, and in some Of the refer
enoes to our relations with other ma
tions 1t does not rise level with our
ideas Of American spirit and assertive
vigor. we do net consider it, however
By any means an ordinary paper. On
the contrary it is a state document
commanding respectful reading and
deliberate consideration. and entitled
TO perfectly fair treatment. It CON
tains much useful information, and
makes several highly valuable sugges-
tions as to betterments that should re-
suit in corresponding action by Con-
gress.
The message Is criticised in some
quarters for what it does not contain,
and yet by the same critics for its great
length This is Illogical That the
President has not treated of the out
RACES by ignorant and degraded aliens
in the coal regions, that he has not
referred to labor troubles, to the new
navy, to the question of the reform of
the naturalization laws, the affairs of
the Department of the Interior. the
river and harbor questions, the ques-
tion concerning the enlargement of the
army and the construction of coast
Notifications, is nothing initiating
against the message. Most of these
questions are considered in the depart
ment reports to which he calls atten-
tion. and others are matters that are
not of necessity subjects for treatment
in a general message to Congress, how
ever much they may engage his atten-
tion later on.
In the reference to our trade with
the Argentine Republic there is sug-
gestion of the reciprocity doctrine that
had its birth under Republican Ad-