The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The last regular message which Presi-
dent Cleveland W ill submit to Congress
was sent in yesterday. 1t is a long docu-
inent, and there is in it great deal
of dry rehearsal of mere isolated facts,
not submitted as bases of recommends,
tions, but merely to give information to
the country. AS most of these facts are
presented to Congress and to the country
in greater detail in the reports OF the
heads of the various departments, 1t
may well be dou bted If their presence in
the message, unless they are to be
used as the foundation of some recon-
Inendation or to enforce some sugges-
tions. is desirable. But while, as we have
said, thsre is much of dry detail in the
message there is also mnch statesman
like discussion of important questions be-
fore the country, and many suggestions
and recommendations which, while they
may noE always meet with general con-
currance, will certainly command atten-
ton and respect. MIR. Cleveland has al
ways shown, both by his words and by
his acts, that he has well settled convic-
lions and that he is wanting neither in
courage to make thsm known, nor in
ability to state them with force. How
ever much we may disagree with him,
the strength and independence of tine
man always compel respect and admira-
ton. These characteristics are prominent
In his message.
The subject to which the President
gives the most attention in his message
is the Cuban war. He evidently regards
1t as one of the most important questions
In which the country is interested and
consequentlystrea it at much length and
with considerable minuteness. There
are no very emphatic words in his dis
cussion of the su bject and no radical re-
concentrations, yet the logic and tone
of what he says can hardly
fail to lie construed as o calm and
solemn warning to Spain that she will
not be permitted to Indefinitely continue
to wage a war on this island, after it
clenrly appears that the only result of it
will lie the devastation of the country
and the slaughter of its hahitants. The
President has hoped FIR a settlement of
the unhappy struggle by the granting of
t re reforms demanded by the Cnbans
ard hos rendered to Spain the good Offices
of this government TO that end, but with
no apparent result as yet, though he
thinks the tender of our good Offices was
not altogether unwelcome to Spain. He
thinks it would be unwise and psrilous
at the present time for US to recognize
the belligerency of the rebels. holding
that they have not acquired status
that entities them to such recognition,
but he evidently thinks tho time may
come when it will be our duty in the
name Of humanity to interfere to put an
end to the struggle. Until that time ar
Iives he enloips the strictest neutrality
on the part OF our citizens and faithful
observance of all the obligations that
we are under to Spain as friendly
power. The Presidents language is
carefully guarded SO as not to give I'M
necessary offence to Spain. nor to elate
the rebels with the idea that this gov
ernment is on the eve Of active interior
ence in their behalf.
With regard to Turkey the President
makes it clear that this government does
not contemplate and has not contem-
plated any active interference in that
quarter, though the rights of American
citizens will be protected and claims for
indemnity for destruction of their proper
ty will be vigorously pressed. The Presi-
dent holds, and holds rightly we believe,
that active interference for the benefit
of the Armenians must be undertaken
by the European powers if undertaken
at all, and that interference by this gov
eminent would be impracticable even
If desirable
The message discusses at length the
finances and the tariff, and promulgates
anew the Presidents vell-known views
On both these questions. His defence of
TIE Wilson bill is not very vigorous, but
IL is vigorous enough to make it very
doubtful if he could be depended upon
to allow the Dingley bill to become a
law if it were passed by Congress. His
argument going TO show that the govern
ment should not acoum ulate surplus,
may serve that purpose, but it will hard
L. ssrge thu other purpose, which he ap-
parent1y has in view, of showing that
deficit is not thing to he dreaded and
TO he avoided if possible. In sticking to
@ measure which has failed to produce
revenue enough to pay the governments
expenses he shows that sometimes when
condition and O theory confront him
he is more affeeted by the latter than the |
former.
. His recommendation in regard to the
finances is In brief that the government
get ont of the banking business as soon
us possible and confne itself to what no
regards as its only Legitimate duty, of
spsnding the money which it collects
from the psople, for their benefit. Il
Democrats Gain Councilman.
Rockville, Conn, December 7.-At the |
city election hsre today the Republicans
eiectes! two aldermen and three council |