The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Mckinley, in his first annual
message, has made it clear to the American
people that he has we'll defined ideas upon
public questions, which he entertains with
the tenacity of conviction and that he has
the ability to express them. His views are
those Of a statesman who has confidence in
the patriotism and intelligence of the people.
In no sentence does he betray any DISPOSE
ton to indulge in vague generalities. The
man who can read plain English can have
no doubt regarding President McKinley's
views.
The arrangement of the message is an in
novation-a change for the better-in that
he takes up the most important subject first,
the currency, instead Of devoting it's first
pages to a resume of our foreign relations
The next important question or topic, the
Cuban situation, has the second place, and
Hawaii is the third
The courageous and masterful manner in
which the President handles the currency
question must cause those who are trim
mers by nature 10 tremble There can be
no doubt of the Presidents position. He is
not only in favor of a sound but of a safe
currency. Instead of being a source of
weakness in seasons of doubt, the President
would make the treasury a tower Of defense
The plan he suggests is simple, does rot
involve an issue of bonds and does not con-
tract the currency.
No part of the Mckinley message will be
read with greater interest than the portion
devoted to the Cuban question. AS the posi-
ton which the President presents with such
force and candor is that the Journal has
favored, no change of sentiment is neces-
sary to approve of the just and temperate
policy of Mr.. Mckinley. The temper of his
discussion is admirable. Without Appro wing
of Spanish rule the President shows that,
as government, Spain has rights, and,
now that the Spanish policy has become
humane, rights which the United States is
in duty bound to respect. If the situation
We're that of year ago, when Weyler was
pacifying Cuba by a scheme of depopula-
tion it is very evident from the general tone
of the President that he would favor inter
ference. But the situation is changed, a hui
name policy has been adopted, and, as far
as possible, the work of Weyler is being TN
makes the policy which the President advo-
Gates both wise and just Most of the people
in the country who think will approve
most heartily the policy which the Presi-
dent urges. The demagogue who thinks
there is politics in war with Spain, and
the yellow journals will denounce the policy
which gives the Spain of to-day a chance
n 90 ~, NIB
shall be made toward permanent pacifica-
ton in six or eight months the United
States will have justification for interfer-
ence.
President Mckinley displays the same
comprehensive grasp in regard to every
topic which he touches. He takes high
grounds and broad views. Probably he
knows of the acute hostility of part of the
people against the civil-service law and the
orders based upon 1t. To all these he deems
the statement that under the operations of
the law the civil service has been vastly
improved, a sufficient answer for his advo-
cacy of it and a sufficient reason for his
action.
President Mckinley has not numbered his
message with abstracts of the reports of
members of his Cabinet and bureaus. 1t is
a relief from an unnecessary burden, since
members of Congress have the reports and
the newspapers have published abstracts.
BY the omission he has added much to the
interest of his message, since it is, in fact
a message of the President, and not a dull
summary of the work of the departments.
There is reason to believe that the message
Will meet with the cordial approval of all
those who do not feel it a duty to criticise