The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-08
anything Spain undertakes TO do for the
relief Of Cuba will not be done"
No Right to Suspect Spain.

| Bn6 unuertOOk boWdruS the Insurgents
but realizing that suspicious and precau
tions on the part of the weaker party are
natural at was intmated by this gov.
eminent to the government Of Spain some
months ago that, If satisfactory measure
of home rule wero rendered the Cuban In
surgents and would be accepted by them
upon a guarantee Of its execution, the
United States would endeavor to find a
way not Objectionable to Spain of furnish.
ing such guarantee. While no definite re.
sponse to this intimation has yet been re.
ceived from the Spanish government 1t Is
believed to be not altogether unwelcome.
While we are anxious to accord all due re-
spect to the sovereignty of Spain, we can
not view the pending conflict In all Its
features and properly apprehend our in
evitable close relations to 1t, and its pos
sible results, without considering that by
the course of events we may be drawn into
such an unusual and unprecedented con.
dition as will fix limit to our patient
waiting for Spain to end the contest
when the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurgents has be-
| come manifest, and 1t is demonstrated
| that her sovereignty is extinct In Cuba
for all purposes of its rightful existence
and when u hopeless struggle for its re-
establishment has degenerated into strife
which means nothing more than the USE
less sacrifice of human life and the utter
destruction of the very subject matter of
the conflict, q situation will be presented
In which our obligations to the sovereignty
OF Spain will DO superseded by higher OBJ
legations which we can hardly hesitate to
recognize and discharge. Until we face
the contingencies suggested, or the situa-
ton is by other incidents imperatively
changed, we should continue in the line
of conduct heretofore pursued But a
time may arrive when correct policy and
care for our interests, as well as u regard
for the interests of other nations and their
citizens, will constran our government
to take such action as will promise to
Cuba an opportunity to enjoy the bless
ings of peace"
The Venezuelan Question.
The closing of the Venezuelan question,
with promise of an early successful con.
summation of negotiations for q general
arbitration with Great Britain, arc briefly
noted.
Hope of cooperation with Great Britain
for the better preservation of seal life in
Behring sea is expressed.
The statistics from the treasury depart
ment, including those of tho revenues, are
submitted without comment or recon-
mendation. The same is true of the sta
tistics of immigration. The progress in
coast defense is alluded to as the one form
of military preparation essentially pacific
in its nature.
OF tho pension commissioners report
the president says: "In my opinion the
abuses which have been allowed to creep
into our pension system have done meal
culable harm in demoralizing our people
and undermining good citizenship"
The president urges the Importance of
an adjustment of Pacific railroad obliga-
tions. Of the case Of the Union Pacific,
he points out that proceedings to foreclose
first mortgage upon added parts of the
main line to which the government lien is
subordinate, and the default occurring on
Jan. l, 1897, must emphasize the mandate
of the act of 1887 to foreclosure, unless
congress shall otherwise direct.
The work done by the agricultural de-
partment is especially commended, but
discontinuance of the gratuitous distri-
button of seeds is urged.
The progress Of civil service reform for
the year is reviewed as cause for the ut
most congratulation. The amendment
of the interstate commerce act is recon-
mended.
The president offers some suggestions
regarding the present tariff law and its
operation. He says: whatever may be
Its shortcomings as a complete measure of
tariff reform, it must be conceded that 1t
has opened the way to freer and greater
exchange of commodities between us and +!
other countries, and thus furnished q
wider market for our products and man |
ufactures l believe our present tariff law, |
If allowed a fair opportunity will In the
near future yield a revenue which, with |
reasonable economic expenditures, will |
overcome all deficiencies
The president renews his former recon-
mendation for the retirement of the green
backs.
A Slap at Trusts.
Regarding trusts the president says:
'Another topic in which our people |
take deep interest may be hero
briefly considered. ! refer to the existence |
of trusts and other huge aggregations of |
capital. When these are defended it is |
usually on the ground that, though they
increase profits, they also reduce prices,
and thus may benefit the public. 1t must
be remembered however, that reduction
of prices to the people is not one of the
real objects of these organizations, nor Is
their tendency necessarily III that direc-
ton. If it occurs in u particular case it is
only because it accOrds with the purposes
or interests of those managing tho scheme.
"Such occasional results fall far short
of compensating the palpable evils charged
to the account of trusts and monopolies
Their tendency Is to crush out individual
and they hinder or prevent
the free use of human faculties and the
full development of human character
them the farmer, the artisan and
the small trader is in danger of dislodge-
ment from the proud position of being his
own master.
ITO the instructive belief that such is
the inevitable trend of trusts and monopo-
lies is due the widespread and deep seated
popular aversion in which they are held
md the not unreasonable insistcnco that
whatever may be their incidental economic
advantages, their general effect upon per.
'onal character, prospects and usefulness
,annot be otherwise than injurious
Though congress has attempted to deal
Nltn tnls HWller ny loglslatlOu tne laws
passed for that purpose thus far have
proved ineffective, because the laws them
selves, as interpreted by the courts, do not
each the difficulty. If the insufiiciencies
If existing laws can be rcmedied by fur
her legislation it should be done. The
lecision of our highest court on this pre-
Use question renders it quite doubtful
whether the evils of trusts and monopo-
les can be adequately treated through fed
raj action unless they seek directly and
to include in their objects trans
,ortation or intercourse between states or
,etween the United States and foreign
Countries.
at does not follow, however, that this
8 the limit Of the remedy that may be ap-
lied. Even though it may be found that
is not broad enough to fully
each the case, there can be no doubt of
he power of the several states to act effect
vely in the premises.
The message closes with an appeal to
ongross for the most rigid economy In
Expenditures.