Evening star., 1896-12-08
Press Comments on the Presidents
Message.
Mr.. CLEVELAND'S CUBAN POLICY
Views Expressed by Editors of the
English Newspapers.
NJ A N Y o P l MO N S

gress deserves to rank with the best of his
state papers. OF the tariff, the financial
issue and the trusts" three subjects which
are of the gravest Importance to the peo-
pie of the United States. he speaks with
his accustomed vigor and clearness. while
in regard to the Cuban insurrection his
language is guarded, but none the less
direct In it's bearing upon the unhappy con-
ditions prevailing in the island.
From the Baltimore American
The position assumed by the President
toward Cuba will be unsatisfactory, we i'm
agine. to all parties. no matter what may
be their attitude. He gives every reason
why action should be taken by the United
States to put an end to the war, and con-
cludes by advising that nothing be done,
but that II the conflict is not brought to an
end at some indefinite period in the future.
Spain ought to guarantee autonomy to the
Cubans. and the United States ought to
guarantee Spain.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The most notable feature Of the message
is the discussion OF the Cuban complica-
ton. On the whole. his deliverance will be
regarded as temperate. conservative and
restrained, and his attitude will be accepted
as the only one compatible with his ante
cedents and situation. 1t is plain that he
hand, and If this attitude is not altogether
success 1t is because truth and humanity
do not permit complete neutrality.
From the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph
The President discusses the Cuban ques-
ton at length. but while manifesting ap-
parent sympathy for the struggling patriots
Of a desolated island, he can find no way In
which to aid them. Various more or less
polite and suggestive propositions have
been made to the baffled government at
Madrid, but all to no purpose, and 1t is con-
cluded that all hands must stand OFF little
while longer and see the dreadful butchery
go on.
From the Philadelphia Times.
With reference to national finance and
the currency, 1t may be sufficient to say
that the views which Mr.. Cleveland has SO
often expressed are here repeated with un-
diminished conviction and force. These
recommendations are all entirely sound.
and though they may not be acted upon by
the Congress to which they are addressed.
there can be little doubt that the general
principles of sound finance and of sound
government which the President has con-
stantly maintained must ultimately gain
acceptance.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
1t Is somewhat interesting, If not import
ant to observe that the President indirect
United States government over that of the
individual states. In one portion of his
message he uses the expression The United
States has" After this he can hardly be
held as good democrat by those old
timers who advocate the rights of states as
paramount. A dyed-in-the-wool democrat
will always say the United States have"
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Whatever expectation his countrymen
laay have indulged that President Cleve-
land would, in has last annual message,
make a startling or sensational deliver
ance In respect of our relations with any
foreign power, especially with regard to
tho Sc growing out of the Spanish-Cuban
ha a6
tanned, as the text of the message itself
now makes manifest. With the Presidents
views of possible future action, 1t is not
likely that either Spain or the insurgents
will be satisfied. They are too definite to
please the former and too indefinite to graf
ify the latter, and yet they are in accord
ance with our obligations as one of the
family of nations, ard evince neither lack
ing for independence nor due regard for
the obligations of international comfy and
the country's dignity. The Presidents posi-
ton Is one which is likely to be sustained
by the best thought of the country.
From the New York Sun.
The last annual message which Mr..
Cleveland will ever write as President adds
little to the public knowledge concerning
any OF the great questions that affect this
country in it's exterior relations or its do
mestic policy. The only political value of
the document is in its incidental disclosures
of Mr.. Cleveland's frame of mind as indi-
eating his probable course during the brief
period of power remaining to him.
In this way, the message Is very sipnif-
ce mt. For while one important subject af-
ter another is taken up and discussed with
a snow OF candor and directness of ex-
preston seldom found in Mr.. Cleveland's 8
ofncial writings, the conclusion Is in every
case the same: Postponement of decisive
action until after the 4th Of next March.
which Is postponement till the Greek kali
etds, 50 far as the Cleveland administra-
tion Is concerned.
From the New York World
This optimistic estimate of Spain's good
faith is unfortunately contradicted by the
facts of history. At the end of the ten
years war the Cubans took the view which
the PRESIDENT now takes. They laid down
their arms upon SPANS solemn promise to
give them actual autonomy, with represent
tation at Madrid In fact, Spain gave them
nothing of the kind. 1t made a pretense of
Keeping ,o the promise to the ear, but inso-
ientiy broke 1t to the hope. So far from
having mo reason for assuming" that
Spain will not honestly fulfill any promises
she may make to the Cubans, we have no
reason for assuming or even for expecting
anything else, and the President himself
seems to share this view when he suggests
q United States guarantee Of any promises
Spain may make.
From the New York Times
BY far the most important part of tho
Presidents message relates to the (,uha n
question. and the treatment Of that 10 In
all respects worthy. Mr.. Cleveland makes
singularly clear statement of the present
situation and Of the course of events tha,
has produced 1t. The President eyades
none OF the difficulties Of the question. and
dismisses none of the problems presented
with an arbitrary declaration that nothing
can be done about it.
From the New York Journal
The space which President Cleveland do
votes to the reciprocal interests of Cuba
Spain and the United States In his last an
nual message to Congress indicates that he
Is not wholly insensible to the agitation of
the question which has long progressed in
this country. But his conclusions show
beyond a doubt that he will leave to his
successor the honor Of taking the first step
to assure Cuban liberty.
From the New York Herald.
To the jingoes who clamor for immediate
intervention, even at the cost of war
with Spain. and make confident prophecies
as to its result. Mr.. Cleveland admins ers
a dignihed rebuke by refusing to enter
tain their forecasts and declaring that 1.-The
United States has q character to MAINTAIN
as a nation which plainly dictates that
right and not might should be the rule OF
Its conduct" The portion Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands message relating to the situation in
Turkey and the Armenian question is In
the main a commendable diplomatic effort
The conclusions arrived at are correct but
the historical premises are unstable.
From the New York Tribune.
The President betrays in his closing mes
sage the radical defect which has wreckad