The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Clevcland's message which
was read before the Fifty Fourth Congress
on Tuesday, is a voluminous document,
containing much information relative to
State matters, and offering suggestions that
will be accepted or not, as his views may
agree OF not agree with those of individual
members of Congress.
Like all of Mr.. Cleveland's State papers.
his last message is labored in it's language
and ponderous in its tone, Indicating the
unmistakable self confidence of its author
There is not a sentence in the message
that points to its writer as the chief of an
administration, that has recently been so
signally rebuked at the polls by over
whelming maiorities of the American people
The matter of the message is divided
between the consideration of our for
eign relations, and the condition of our
national finances. and those who looked to
Mr. Cleveland for any declarations Of
opinion distinctly American will be disap-
pointed in it,
The Monroe doctrine in its application to
the Venezuela boundry question. and the
relations Of the United States to Cuba, are
the two subjects of foreign discussion in
which Americans generally are most inter-
ested
What Mr.. Cleveland says about British
encroachments in Venezuela, and the neces-
sity for arbitration of British boundary
claims, is couched in mild and conserva-
tive tone, but in view of the fact, that the
British answer to the request of our State
Department for arbitration now on its way
to this country has not vet been received,
it may he assumed that Congress will
receive later message from the President
As to Cuba the President feels himself
constrained to recognize the existence Of
the strong popular sympathy with tie
cause of the patriot rebels but he declines
to deal with the question at close range, or
to give the slightest encouragement to the
recognition of beligerent rights for the
Cuhans. He has nothing more of offer to
them than q harmless generality that peace
may be restorted to the unhappy island.
Even, to quote his own words, ''the shock
our humane sensibilities may have received
from the cruelties which appear to char
acteriZe this sanguinary and iiercely-cnn-
Quoted war" is not going to alter his policy
Of cold and dispassionate neutrality.
Turning to his treatment Of finances, we
find that the greater part of the long expo
sition ON the condition of the Treasury, is
II defence of what has already been done in
the management of its affairs With char
acteristc confidence in himself Mr.. Cleve-
land wishes it to be understood that he i.
fully responsible for all the remarkable and
unfortunate performances in that depart
ment, and takes pains to assure the country
that his sale of bonds was something akin
to great feat of craftsmanship He refuses
to attribute to the new tariff the RESPONSE
bility for the abnormal condition of the
Treasury, and he even goes so far as to say
word in its yindication, despite the fact
that he would not sign it when it was
passed. This is doubtless hint that any
attempt which the Republicans will make
at this session of Congress to supply the
deficit by revising tariff duties will meet
opposition in the White House
Mr. Cleveland has but one remedy TO
offer for the relief of the Treasury, and
this Mr.. Carlisle has already explained
the retirement and cancellation of the
greenbacks and the outstanding Treasury
silver notes and the exchange of these notes
for United States bonds of small and large
denominations, bearing low rates of inter
est. He rehearses the familiar arguments
in support of this plan he believes, or at
least, is inclined to believe that increased
revenues cannot be trusted as cure for
the troubles of the Treasury; and he enters
into warm denial Of the allegation that
he issued bonds for the purpose of supply
ing an insufficient revenue. In Short his
remedy is large and long enduring addi-
ton to the national debt until the revenues
shall at some distant period in the future
come up to the necessities of the govern
ment. The best and strongest feature of
the message, although not a novel one, at
this late day in the discussion, is the repe-