The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-08
Thelnteiligencer.
WHEELING, DECEMBER s, 1890.


The annual message of President
Cleveland IS no; OF unusual length. bu;
in some respects 70 OF unusual interest.
as much OF It is devoted u matters which
ara occupying the public mind and are
subjects OF grave discussion.
The mcssarc opens, as was expected,
with n feIic!;at!on OF the country on the
result o. tho recent national election
which aYcrted the dangers threatening
our national honor and credit. and on the
fact that the quiet submission 10 tho
popular will was evidence OF the patriot
Ism of the people.
In the discussion OF our relations with
foreign nations. :hc President meets two
important questions directly and there
is no mlncinE OF words In outlining the
policy Of the administration and in re-
commencing a course 10 Congress. Con-
cernlnS the Turkish question. he assures
US that the government has pursued the
course that It is entitled to: that prompt
indemnity has been asked for the pro-
perty destroyed belonging to American
citizens; that the lives and rights OF our
people IT. Armenia are being carefully
looked afte.. lie enters protest
against the savage warfare that Is being
conducted against Christian civilization
in the Ottoman empire and adds the
voice of the United States government
20 the stnnE condemnation OF the brutal
reign OF the sultan. Further than this
he cannot go.
A very large proportion ot the people
Of the United States viii be somewhat
disappointed with the tone OF that part
OF the message dealing with the Insurrec-
ton in Cuba. 1t had been hoped ;ha: the
President was possessed OF official In
formation concerning the condition on
the island which would warrant him in
recommending decisive measurcs-incas-
urcs which would bring to an end the
terrible state Of affairs existing. or ut
least secure to the Cubans hciliSerent
rights. Instead. however. ne adhcrcs 10
the policy of inaction and non-intrrlcr-
cnce which has been pursued by the adj
mInistratIon. on the ground that the
Cubans have M government and the
situation Is such that. in spite ot all the
vast interests or the United States in
volvcd. no other course can At present be
adopted.
There Is a saving clause. and ono in
,I-S,t Ne T., In fpt, In 10
statement that Spain has not acted with
reason with respect To this govern
ment's friendly Overturcs In the dIrcc-
ton OF bringing about peace by securing
for Cuba the reforms In government she
has long demanded. and which Spanish
statesmen admit should be granted. The
President declares that should this I'M
reasonable attitude continue. the United
States may. and Of right should. feel re-
leased from obligations In recognition Of
Span's sovereignty, and that those obli-
cations would he aTrcrccdcd ny a higher
duty which We could not hesitate 10 dis
charge.
The question naturally arises. how
long will II be. In the mind Of President
Cleveland. before these conditions ar
rive? Has not Spain already been I'M
reasonable enough 10 suit him? Have
there not been enough hutcherics? Has
not the warfare been unciv!l!zcd enough?
It does seem that the President hes gone
out OF his way 10 make excuses for Spain
and her blOod-;hIrs;y comma Hdcr OF the
army In Cuba. and 10 remind US that she
performed n great service to the world
400 yenrs ago in helping 10 discover
America.
From the Presidents standpoint. and
basing an opinion upon his prcscnta-
ton of the facts. his policy Of non-inter-
ference may be wise, conservative and
diplomatic It may he even humane.
but It Is not consistent with his dcc!ara-
ton that II Spain continues 10 act with
out reason we may have to step in and
stop tho war in the interests OF civilian
zion.
Much OF the remainder Of the message
is given up TO routine matters of the
government. and there arc a number OF
important recommendations. His utter
nnces on the need Of currency reform.
the retirement Of Srccnbacks. &c. and
his defense Of his free trade policy nre
repctItiOn7 Of former mcHIaGcJ. and,
though Stntcsmanlikc IN their express
sion. they present nothing now. They
are. however. important AT this juncturc,
for they are questions that must be set
Just elected.