Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09


Mckinley was sent to Congress Monday,
and the full taxi of the document will
be found ON other pages Of this isauc.
We commend it to the careful at
tention OF our readers.
In general senso, the message will
be found interesting, an is thv case
with all State papers dealing with tho
condition OF Rffairs in this country. 1t
will also prove pleasing in some re.
Bpects, and disappointing in others.
disappointment will come with tho
earlier sections of the message. In
them the President endorses the tariff
legislation of the special session-do-
spite it's admitted failure-Rnd fails to
give to the important question OF cur
rency reform the encouragement that
the friends of sound money and the
gold standard would like to SEQ. He
does not recommend that the govern
ment be taken out Of the banking
business, but as check against the
draining OF tho Treasury gold reserve
for the purposes of redemption, sug-
costs that, 'as soon as the revenues
shall be sufficient to meet the expenses
OF the government, notes presented
for redemption and redeemed in gold.
instead OF being reissuod, az is now
the case, shall be KEEP. apart and only
reissued in exchange for gold. This
would prove soma sort of protection to
the gold reserve, but it would DO but
makoshift at best, and far from salts.
factorily taking the place OF thorough
revision OF our currency system. with a
withdrawal OF thu government notes.
the combining OF the functions OF the
government to the coming of metal
money, and the RELOCATION of paper
currency issue to the banks, where 1t
belongs.
In his treatment Of the Cuban ques
tion, the President will terribly dis.
appoint the jingoos OF the country, but
he will be sustained by the sound senti-
ment Of tho people. lie is emphatically
against the unwarranted interference
of this country with the Cuban re-
bellion. 81 cannot speak of forcible
annexation, he says, "for that cannot
be thought of. That, by our code OF
morality. would be criminal aggres.
SION" He Expresses his belief that il
would be unwise for the United States
to recognize the beligerency of the
Cuban revolutionists, and practically
suggests TINT the best plan will be to
quietly await developments.
Quits the reverse, however, is the
President's attitude towards the
Hawaiian Islands. lie recommends
annexation. without reservation. The
Widest lingo could not ask that he &c
further. lie endorses the annexation
folly with ull' his heart, although il
cannot be urged that hs advances ans
but the old stereotyped arguments,
which have been refuted and proved t
he absolutely worthless. time and again.
Another disquieting feature OF thu
message is the evident encouragement
extended TO the international Monetar,
Commission. which, aside from littl,
bit of unmeanlng encouragement ii
France, proved TO ba such an absolut,
failure in the attempt 10 secure the ale
OF Continental Europe in bolstering tin
failing cause OF silver coinage. Tin
President still hopes for an inter
national agreement with respect Il
the coinage Of gold and silver, and ii
this respect, together with his half
hearted support Of the cRuus Of cur
rency reform, gives good ground 70
the apprehension felt during tn
political campaign OF last year, tina
be never was in favor Of the gol
standard, and that his natural inclina
tions were in the direction Of the silye
folly. 1t is in theae respects that til
message will prove great disappoini
ment to the business interests OF tn
country. ..t
In his aliusion to the seal contrc
rersy, now apparently trendinL toward
unsatisfactory settlement, the Presider
gives utteranco to sentiment that wi
meet with universal approval. whe
be says: international arbifratio
represents the bust sentiment Of th
civilized world"
Attention il also given in the me,
sage to our decaying merchant marine
and to the subject of reciprocal trad
arrangements, now more than eve
necessary since the enactment of til
Dingley bill and the detriment
threatens to our foreign trade. I'll
improvement of our navy aud of oil
coRst defences is also recommended.
But sad and disappointing beyon
measure is the concluding portion ,
the message, which treats of the Civ
Service. The President plainly recon
mends making exemptions in favor
veterans of the late war, and goes eve
further in q declaration that exeml
tionH will also BIZ made of cas-
which he thinks will have been in
properly included in the cIassifis
service, or those which, in his judi
ment. will best promote tho publ
service" Outside OF this, he will Of
deayor TO uphold and extend the system
But when the veteran exemption
and the exemptions to correct mprop
CLASH iications and to "promote ii
public ssrvice'' arc through WITH. it
feered there will he little left Of re
Civil Service Reform. The Preside
has practically given notice that ii
old policy of ''to tho victors belor
the apoils" is to he restored, and th
public Offices arc 10 be held ma reway,