Kansas City daily journal., 1896-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Mr. Clevclan,i's last annual message 10
congress viii be read chiefly for its utter
arres on the CFgban situation and its deal
inFs with the financial question. 1t is writ
ten in the presidents usual ponderous
style. now - familiar 20 the country. and
with his customary feeling Of solemn re-
sponslbaEy.''
IN discussing the Cuban question, the
president reviews at some length the con-
dition Of affairs in the Island, which he
says is most deplorable. The Spanish
troops seem TO be making little feadway
against the insurgents, and a state Of an
srC'hy exists. Excesses are committed by
both sides and II the contest is protracted
much longer It will result in the utter de-
str7Iction OF the industrial value of terri
tory in which Americans have large inter
ests, amounting to at least from SS0Vp,"S
to SjO,0O0OCD. 1t is also pointed out that the
United States is involved in the contest in
ways both vexatious and costly through
flibustering operations.
The president suggests autonomy for Gu
ba and thinks if Spain would grant home
rule TO the island that the best interests of
both would be conserved. The message re-
Spain some time ago that If home rule
were offered the insurgents and accepted
by them on a guaranty OF its success the
United States would endeavor TO furnish
such guaranty. No response has yet been
received from Spain, but the president
hopes for an early acceptance. II not, and
things go on from bad TO worse in the ISL
and. he plainly hints that this government
will be called upon to interfere. But he
counsels caymness and moderation in deal
ing with the question until the time for
action arrives"
As might have been expected, Mr.. Cleve-
land uphoids that wretched failure, the
Wilson tariff law, which he gays mas, not
withstanding Its shortcomings as COM
plete measure of tariff reform. opened the
way to a freer and greater exchange be-
tween us and other countries" In this he
is correct, but the benefit has all been on
the side of the foreigner and to the detri-
ment of the United States. He attributes
the general business depression since the
passage Of the law not to that measure,
but to other causes perfectly well under
stood and entirely disconnected with our
tariff law and believes the present act
will yield ample revenue for all purposes.
The weakness and vices of our financial
system" fill the president with alarm. It is
"framght with the greatest peril and per-
plexity." to his view. and must be correct
ed. He explains what ought to be done.
the first thing being to retire the green
backs by exchanging them for long term
bonds bearing low rate OF interest. He
Sums up the situation by declaring that
"the day of sensible and sound financial
methods will not dawn upon US until our
government abardons the banking busi-
ness and the accumulation OF funds and
confines its monetary operations TO the re-
ceipt of money for its support.
1t would not seem like Mr. Cleveland 5
message did he not give the offensive par
tisans rap. which he does in vigorous
fashion. He also gives the trusts an over
hauling, and closes with his usual plea for
the most rigid economy" There is really
nothing of particular interest about the
message except its disclosure of the gov
ernment's present attitude in the Cuban
trouble. On this point it is more salts
factory than the administration long tar
diness had led the country to expect