The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1896-12-10
sAUk CENTRE HERALD
cHAS. F. HENDRIX Editor.
SUBSCRIPTION $3.50 PER YEAR.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The annual message of the president OF
the United States is always state paper OF
interest, looked forward to with impatient
eagerness and criticized with relentlessness.
The last such document by President Cleve-
land was not only no exception, but the IN
terest attaching to it was intensified by the
fact that it followed closely upon an election
in which his party sustained overwhelming
defeat, with which defeat he fully sympa-
thiZed even if he did not avowedly lend his
support and countenace to accomplish, while
in no sense republican, he has been repud-
lated by his own party organization, and yet
is recognized as consistent exponent of his
toric democracy. Under these conditions
his annual message was anticipated with UNI
usual interest by all parties and the ex-
pected was realized He opens with con-
graduation of the people for the defeat of a
polio, labeled democratic and the triumph
of one distinctively republican certainly a
unique feature in one who was SO recently
the idol of his party.
In discussing foreign affairs the president
handles Cuban, affairs very automatically,
and in manner not calculated to please
either party in the island. He declares ve.y
pointedly that the United States cannot
recognize the insurgent government, be-
cause the insurgents have no government to
recognize. Nor can the oppressive and de-
structive policy of the Spanish government
be permitted to devastate the island and de-
stroy its material values. Citizens of the
United States have vast amounts invested in
agricultural manufacturing and Transports
ton ventures which are threatened---the
sum total beirg variously estimated from
thirty to fifty millions of dollars. The presi-
dent offers the good offices of this govern
ment toward settling the difficulty, by quar-
tering to the island autonomy providing the
Madrid government will consent. The ref
erence to Cuban affairs concludes with an
implied threat against Spain of torcible in
reference by the United States to protect
American interests in case speedily ter
mination of hostilities is not effected. While
great many very long and involved SEN
fences are employed by MIR. Cleveland to
express his views, yet he arrives at conclu-
sions which are very favorably commented
upon abroad.
So far as the Venezuelan affair is concerned,
he afirms the Monroe doctrine, and congrat-
ulates the country upon the fact that in this
as in other differences between England and
this country the pacific policy of arbitration
promises to obtain.
The republican party takes issue with the
presidents utterances on the tariff question.
He commends the Wilson tariff bill as passed
as sufficient revenue measure in face Of
the fact that during the current calendar year
under it there will be deficit of fully sixty
millions of dollars, and Notwithstanding the
fact that he denounced it as an abomlnable
append his official signature after its passage.
That Mr.. Cleveland is practically a free
trader needs no other proofthan this portion
of his message which deals with the tariff.
On the financial question he is sound and
sensible, and his recommendations are
worthy of serious consideration. He advo-
Gates the divorce of the government from
the banking business, the redemption and
cancellation of the green backs, and such
legislation as will empower the banks of the
country, under proper federal control, to
issue safe stable and adequate currency.
To this the country will and must come
as has Canada, which has the best and
strongest banking system in the world.
AS whole the message is an excellent
state paper---too long, perhaps, but it
breaths the vigorous convictions of an honest
man and a patriotic citizen of the United
States. Mr.. Cleveland will retire from pub
lie life with credit and honor, and however
much rig t-thinking men may differ from
him on questions of public policy they will
accord him the exalted virtues of courage, in
tegrity and patriotism.