The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-12-12


and Of the effect Of its principal poll
cies since the Presidents last mes
sage. Thus far it is interesting to
the general reader who desires to be
well up on current political matters.
In fact, it is about the usual routine
presidential message, elaborate, tenn
perate and Judicial in tone, and,
somewhat incomprehensiblc and
slightly tiresome to the general read
err.
Most people had an idea, encour-
aged by the press reports, that the
President in his annual address
would deliver something of a sensa-
tional nature, particularly in regard
to the Cuban revolution. These will
be disappointed. Mr.. Cleveland gives
the government of Spain some peril
nent warnings, but nothing in the
nature of an ultimatum. In fact, his
measure in this respect is simply a
calm review of the situation as it af-
fects the government of the United
States, and further than this the
President does not go, except to tell
Spain that there are certain bounds
which she must not overstep in her
conflict with Cuba, because if she
should, she would tramp on the toes
of Uncle Sam. Spain will probably
be careful to heed the words of the
President, and to continue her war
fare against little Cuba on strictly
Cuban basis, if she carries it on at
all.
The Presidents message is not
calculated to scare Spain, nor to sud
denly end war in Cuba. Mr.. Cleve-
land having taken strict view of in
ternational law holds to it firmly,
calmly and impartially. His words
contain no hope for the handful of
Cuban heroes who are battling for
their lives, homes and liberties
against tremendous odds; and ON the
other hand it contains no friendly
words for Spain, but rather warn
ing that she would better not get
within tramping distance of Uncle
Sans coat tails. This paragraph,
however, is significant and is calcu-
lated to cause some trepidation in
Madrid.
When the inability of Spain to
deal successfully with the insurrec-
ton has become manifest, and it is
demonstrated that her sovereignty
is extinct in Cuba for all purposes of
it's rightful existence, and when a
hopeless struggle for it's re-establish-
ment has degenerated into strife
which means nothing more than a
useless sacrifice of human life and
the utter destruction Of the very sub
ject matter of the conflict, a situa-
ton will be presented in which our
obligations to the sovereignty of
Spain will be superseded by higher
obligations, which we can hardly
hesitate to recognize and discharge.
There is no mistaking the mean
ing of this, although it is not an Ill
timatum
Mr. Cleveland has something to
say of finance, and the figures he
presents are interesting, as regards
our currency, the amount of money
in circulation and the production of
gold and silver. The President is
not in favor of independent bimetal-
lism by the United States, but the
figures he presents are a pretty
strong argument for such a policy.
The President treats, also, of the
tariff at considerable length. He
states the subject in some detail,
and while his argument as to why
the present tariff should be let alone
by the Congress is forcible and con-
vincing. Mr.. Cleveland shows con-
clusively that the present tariff will
produce sufficient aevenue and that
it will produce it much sooner than
any tariff bill the Republicans have
proposed. This portion of the Pres
ident's message is particularly
worthy of careful consideration, since
it will be a special bone of conten-
ton in Congress-triumphant Plu-
tocracy on the one side and the peo-
pie ON the other
1t would be national business
topsy turvy and stop the wheels of
industry for whole session of Con-
gress. The business man is very
touchy individual and he will crawl
into his shell at the first sign of dis
arrangement or uncertainty in his
affairs. We have had quite enough
of this sort of thing of late and the
business man is sick and tired of it.
Trade and commerce have been stag
mated for several years and we are
just recovering from financial.panic
that began in the spring of 1898. Is
business to be knocked in the head
again by more tariff legislation
simply because it has gotten fairly
on it's feet?
Mr.. Cleveland is indisputably
right. The tariff should be let alone.
1t is better tariff than the Repub-
licans offer and will produce sufli-
Gent revenue to run the government.
And in the meantime business
should be given a chance to recover
from the political agitation that has
been backsetting it for the past few
years.
These are the main subjects of
Importance presented by the Presi-
dent and they are worthy the care
full and non-partisan consideration
of Congress. Register.
The last session of Congress found
the Republicans with majority Of
lao over all, this finds them with 81
only. Another such victory and