The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-07
LONDON SAYS IT'S WEAK.
Telegraph Thinks 1t VIII Wound
Spain's SusceptihiIities.

London, Dec. THE Daily Telegraph.
commenting editorially on President Nc
KinIey's message. this morning. says: cit
has been Americas proud boast that she
had no foreign policy. Judging from Pres
ident McKinley's message the new word
is no more free from the burdens of dip
lomatic negotiations than the old.
"In a document of portentious length,
mostly intended for Spanish Consumption,
President Mckinley devised specious
pretext for gaining time. 1t contains pas
sages that will certainly wound SPANS
national susceptibilities. The whole tone
though meant to be; concilatory, savors
too much of the magistrate awaiting him
self of the first Offenders act TO be very
acceptable at Madrid. Spain may not be
so thick skinned as we are to these deli
cate usages of Americas diplomatic
courtesy.
Moreover, there are serious dangers of
revolution In Spain and the indiscreet ad-
jectives President Mckinley applies to
yGen. Wev1er's policy will not lessen the
latter's popularity. Much depends upon
the attitude of congress. If, as our cor
respondent thinks. the jingoes acquiesce
in the decision of the executive and give
the Spaniards chance. all may yet be
well, but recent experience does not make
us oVer-sanguine.
The Daily Mail says, 'tt is very salts
factory that President Mckinley comes
out so strong against the jingoes."
The Daily Chronicle describes the mes
sage "as weak and colorlesS, as compared
with the vigorous handling of public
questions to which Mr.. Cleveland accus-
toned us" 1t says: The explanation of
this Is simple. MIR. Cleveland was in front
of congress-; Mr.. Mckinley as behind it,
The President s comments on the currency
issue are positively child-like in their sim
plcity. 1t is safe to prophesy that his
treatment of the Cuban question will be
received with a storm. The annexation
of Cuba would be a deplorable mistake
but the reasons for refraining from that
course are not the milk and water ones
Mr. Mckinley advances"
The Morning Post, after paying a trib-
ute to the Presidents fine sense of duty
in the face of domestic trouble, in sending
the message at the appointed hour, says
THE message adumbrates a scheme Of
legislative effort less hort-sighted and less
calculated to set class against class than
the misguided policy of the last session.
On the Cuban question the President is
vague and diffuse, but studiously correct.
Cuban matters however are unimportanJ
as compared with the grave issues of do
nestle affairs. The big battle of the ses-
sion will be fought on the ground of home
politics and finance" The editorial spe-
clally praises President McKinley's views
on the currency question.
The Times says: Its tone of patroniz-
ing tolerance will make the message not
wholly agreeable to Spain. Probably the
President calculates that if he can salts
fly the jingoes for a time with eloquent de-
nunciations and warning, he will find it
easier to pursue a moderate policy.
Regarding his currency proposals, it
seems too probable that Mr. Mckinley still
chngs to the notion that something may
that will o. wisp he can hardly be ex-
pected TO attempt any thorough-going re-
form of the currency"
The Standard says: 1.-THE best that can
be said of the message is that it is abso-
lutely uneXciting. AS a distinguished pol
itician the President labored under grave
difficulties, and it is no reproach to his
skill that he has failed to surmount them.
IF Mr.. Mckinley represents anything
so far, il is the new tariff which is con-
fessedly a palpable failure. The whole
currency plan hangs upon the condition of
an exchequer surplus; but when will that
happy day arrive?
Foreign affairs are treated temporarily.
With regard to Cuba the President has
taken care to keep within the limits of in
ternational comfy and good feeling
With reference to his declaration that
should America be compelled to inter-
'vene. it will only be because the necessity
for such action win be SC clear as to com
mand the support and approval of the civ
ilized world" The Standard exclaims:
THE Spanish ministry can sleep in
peace"