The evening times., 1896-12-07
RESIDENT CLEyELAND's message
can aptly be designated as review of
EIGHTEEN
THOUSAND
WORDS.

argument IN favOl
THOUSAND of recommendations
made in former pub
lie documents. His re
view ofthe A rmeniar
and Cuban questions
read like extracts from press correspond
ence. The ! rmcnian outragcs are portrayed
in lurid terms, and the hopes of poor Cuba
are brushed aside with suggestion for the
acceptance of Cuban autonomy. lie says
that when the inability of Spain to deal
successfully with the insurrection has be-
come manifest, a situation will be pre-
sen,ed in which our obligations to the SOW
ereignty. of Spain will be superseded by
higher obligations, which we can hardly
hesitate to recognize and discharge. Evl-
IDENTIFY Mr.. Cleveland has been blinded by
his severe attack of the Spanish fever
This situation already ex lists or Spain W ouid
have long since suppressed the insurrec-
ton. Unless Congress takes up the question
and forces the President to act, justice Will
not be accorded to Cuba.
Contrary to the general proliXity of the
message, the Venezuelan question is dis
missed with a short paragraph, in which
Mr.. Cleveland takes occasion to say that
negotiations for treaty for the arbi-
tration of all differences between the
United States and Great Britain are well
advanced. 1t seems almost cruel to thus
smother the old-time contentious between
Uncle Sam and John Bull. What tail can
We twist If the British lion is to be sunma-
nly Gagged by act of treaty?
Considerable space is devoted to the sew
eral Secretaries reports, especially those
OF the Treasury, War, Navy, and Agricul-
tural departments. Mr.. Cleveland not only
congratulates the country on the eff
cient manner in which his administrative
staff have discharged their respective
duties, but he also INDUCES in a seli-hand-
shaking process, which betrays Il large
amount of egotism. The result OF the last
election, however, indicates that the gen.
eral public does not agree with him.
In connection with these reports, it might
be said that the recent activity in naval
circles and in strengthening our coast de-
fcnscs is in accord with popular sentiment.
We may not have war, but adequate prep
aration for that emergency will establish
a more general feeling OF confidence in
future peace.
The weakest part of the Presidents YER
bose and apoloGetic document is his defense
of the Wilson tariff. a law that creates
a deficit of nearly So 100000 a month
is neither public blessing nor a desirable
addition to our statutes. Mr.. Cleveland says
this deficit is not a loss, but S only a means
of reducing an unnecessary Treasury sur
plus which should not create public alarm.
The pa yment, therefore, OF any deficiency
in the revenues from this fund, re argues,
..is nothing more than its proper and legti-
mate use" Such pcrsiflage can be disposed
of with the assertion that if our Treasury
fund is to he applied to any purpose
other than intended it should be in
the payment OF our public debt. Mr..
Cleveland says there can be no financial
peace until the government currency obli-
Pa.ions upon which gold ipay be demanded
from the Treasury are withdrawn from cir
culation and Cancelled. What, then, is to be
our monetary basis? Upon what foundation
is our financial structure TO be reared? He
says our business interests long for a rest
from financial agitation. True, but his rec
ommenda;ion will reopen and revive it
throughout the country.
The crowning inglOry of the message is
the Presidents reference TO trusts. He prac
tically gained his election by repeated
platitudes denouncing the communism of
pelf.r ''soulIess corporate influence" and
similar catch phrases, and now i'll his last
public utterance he speaks of huge aggre-
cations of capital" which crush out in
dividual Independence with Il seriousness
not warranted by a single act of his admins
tration. For nearly four years he has had
opportunity TO prosecute trusts and demon
strate his sincerity, but not an attempt is
on record to show that he is not in league
with the corporations which he again de
nounces. The Attorney General claims
that no prosecutions have been ordered be-
cause his dcpartme Mt has no funds to Sc
cure the necessary evidence. Why, then,
was this defect in the law not brought TO
the notice of Congress three years ago, and
why was this last dema gogic appeal in
serted in this farewell message?
Taking the message Us a whole, it should
never have been written. II lacks the bold
a aggressivencss of previous similar docu-
ments, and is not a fair illustration of a
vigorous public utterance. No definite
American policy is outlined, nor can it be
as anything but an attempted
apology for the mistakes OF the present
1t is. in fact, nothing but words Is GOO
words.