The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-08
TUESDAY, December s. 1o9'
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


We Law before our readers to-day the
, text Of the message transmitted by Presl-
dent Cleveland to Congress. 1t is full
and comprehensive, written in the Presl-
dents plain and direct style, and full
of facts and suggestions bearing upon
the questions with which Congress is
called unon to deal 1t is well for Mr..
Cleveland that Presidents write and do
not speak their annual messages, for
document so long would tire both speak
er and hearer. There would be one
advantage. however, about the personal
delivery. 1t would teach the Chief Mag
istrate to boil down, and lend Dig
nifty and an Importance and personality
to the Presidents recommendations that
the hum-drum reading by clerk fails
to impart
The message opens with the statement
that the recent election was determined
by the decree of free and independent
suffrage. with no disturbance Of our tran
guilty or the least sign of weakness IN
our national structure" Many who
know the coercion, importation and bril-
berry which prevailed in the recent cleo
ton win disagree with this opening sen
tence. and wish that the Presidents zeal
for the gold standard had not blinded
him to, the menace of a corruption of the
suffrage.
The declaration most looked for was
the one on the Cuban situation, and it
is the first question seriously discussed.
It is most disappointing, showing that
Senator Frye and Representative Hit,
who predicted vigorous Recommended
ton for the recognition of belligerehcy,
were misinformed. The message says
the Cubans are
Encouraged and supported by the
widespread sympathy the people Of
this country always and instinctiyely
feel for every struggle for better and
freer government, and which, in the
case of the MORE ADVENTURE
GUS AND RESTLESS clements Of
our population, leads in too many
instances to active AMI personal
participation in the contest"
If Thomas Jefferson or Andrew Jack
son had haen writing this message the
words "more adventurous and restless
would not have appeared, but these
words would have described those who
espouse the Cuban cause, "most patriotic
and devoted to liberty" They would
more fttingly describe the unselfsn pa
triots whose Sympathy with the gallant
Cubans has prompted them to extend
help in their fight for freedom. These
men are not either adventurous" or
restless" They are moved by the same
holy purpose that caused La Fayette
and the brave Frenchmen to come 70 the
assistance Of the American colonies in
their struggle for independence.
Mr.. Cleveland calls attention to the.
fact that 1.-THE American people have
a concern with Cuba which is by no
means Of a wholly sentimental or phil.
anthrophic character" to-wit: large in
vestments in plantations, mines and rail-
roads, valued as worth from thirty to
thirty-fye million dollars, and a trade
that amounted to $94,000,000 in the year
before the present instruction broke
out. 1t has been frequently stated in the
press that the holders Of these invest
ments are furiously opposed to the
recognition Of belligerency. Cause: under
present circumstances, if Spain succeeds
they can demand and receive Indemnity
for any property injured or destroyed,
but If the United States should recognize
Cuba as a beligerent, Spain would re-
fuse to pay any such claim. This is one
Of the reasons that impels the President
to write in the hostile vein against recog-
milton Of Cuba, for the protection Of the
pocket-book appeals to him with ten
fold the power that a cry for freedom
does The first moves him to action. He
is deaf to the second.
3f3 Cleveland assumes that the Ameri-
can people remember Spain's connection
with the discovery Of the Western hemis-
phere with gratitude and he says they
fully recognize their splendid patriotism
and their chivalrous devotion to the
national honor We think the American
people have no such feeling; the venge-
fulness, and the treachery have erased