The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-07
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

said of the message of the President, is
that it is an interesting paper. In its
happy flow, it is assuaging.
But when these things are said, one
seeks the cause for this manifest at
tempt at diversion, and finds it in the
lack of defensive material within the
republican lines.
Such triaing, if it would, elsewhere, he
entertaining. is in document deserving
ingenious dignity, no less than pro-
v0k .ng.
Putting aside the almost departmental
| sub-div ,sions, It is necessary to add
touching Cuba and Hawaii only that
tie cautious Cuban programme Of
the president is out of line
W tn the platform, both of Cnio
land of st. Louis as well as,
probably, with the bulk of the American
people. Yet much may be said on either
side, the view point of the president
from the Sagasta administration being
SO different from that of one year ago.
AS to the annexation of HAWAII, 1t IS
| treated as lightly as if it were but the
admission of new territory instead OF
the daring inauguration of a policy that
in it's danger and breadth should rank
in importance with undertakings proper
ly growing out OF constitutional provi-
sion. rather than out Of president and
senate.
IL will, we feel, be reasonably ade-
uuate to dismiss as not in the larger
sense Immediately urgent all that is said
except the deliverance on the silver
commission and the currency pro-
gramme.
AS to the tariff, the success of the
measure is, as stated. success based
4,4on hope and not upon an assertion.
| Fer the good results are alleged to be
Kings to come, but seemingly as aa|
earnest of the lack OF confidence IN is
eveIue producing lt"er, anxious al
nonit on is given to congress against
full appropriations, lest the day OF de
lie ances be continued. We do net final
.ault with desi.e for economy N ap-
,ropl ations, even though, n the light
# pensionS layishness. it seem fe:gned,
but with the cause in the inadequate
.aIin bill OF such retrencaReat.
After the tariff-one of the two basic
questions before the country, COS the
Presidents tug of war at the Currency
Problem.
The Presidential conscience is, for
sooth, seemingly alive to its guilt in that
contrary to the usual custom,
President Mckinley devotes his atten-
ton first to the financial question" In
deed he would at once be rid of the
embarrassing theme.
Thus with curtness equal to its impu-
dence, it is, we might say, in humilia-
ton, tossed off with adroit bravado.
! As to the Bimetallic Commission, the
message confesses failure in the follow
ing passage: 1.-THE special ENJOYS repre-
senting the United States in the effort
to secure such an agreement Ii. e., inter
national coinage) have been diEgent in
their efforts to obtain the cooperation of
European countries, but up to this time
have not been able to secure an agree
ment contemplated by their mission"
But the belief is expressed that doubts
may yet be solved by further
negotiations"
/ 1t is a case, then, of the Mexican
Manyana tomorrow both with regard
to the tariff and the currency-the only
two things with which the people in
relationship to the presidency were most
seriously concerned.
To meet this state of facts comes
this fascinatingly phrased message.
AS a remedy for deficiency under the
tariff Bill, retrenchment is urged in APP
preparations.
As remedy for failure of the Bimetal-
lie Commission, the plan of Secretary
Gage is offered.
That, it would seem, is in, nutshell,
the present Republican attitude-the
dominant note of it all being "we have
left undone those things which we ought
to have DONE"
Only one more mention would seem
to be needful in order properly to have
done with just comment upon the mes
saage-namely to state the nature of the
remedy and the merits of it. We can
| well leave to more convenient mo-
ment the discussion of the merits, and
for the present will refer our readers to
the text of the message for the terms of
the remedy also.
1t is a gold-bug scheme hatch
ed in the brain Of bankers,
something which has not been
submitted to the people, and which will
be duly characterized when taken to
pieces by the Democrats in Congress.