Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-02
MKtNLEY's FORTHCOMING MESSAGE

The other day Washington dispatches
| to a New York paper gave, on what
was claimed to be very high official au-
thority, an outline of the Forthcoming
message of President Mckinley to Con-
| gress. 1t was stated that while the
message would be the longest ever sent
| to Congress, it would also be the weak
| est, and the most devoid of definite
policy. 1t was stated that it would be
the most unsatisfactory message read to
Congress since the administration OF
Pierce.
OF course, every Republican organ in
the country. which knew nothing about
the matter, denied, off-hand, the truth
of this statement, all except the most
trusted administration organ in New
York-the New York Mail and Express
| (which did not deny the general &C
curacy of the forecast Of the message
published, but, in an evidently inspired
statement from Washington, endeavor-
ed to explain it, and in doing so the ad-
ministration organ practically admitted
it's truth. For example it was
stated that the President would
assume responsibility for no recon-
! mendation of his cabinet officers,
) would commend none of them as wise,
and would not even endorse Secretary
Cages currency scheme. The official
versions, as given to the public through
| the Mail and Express, declares that
the financial portion of the message
ends with the sentence:
| I earnestly commend to the careful con-
sideration of Congress the recommended
lions contained i'm the report of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury.
This is exactly what the forecast said
Mr.. Cages elaborate scheme is earn
estly recommended" to 'the careful con-
sideration" of Congress. Gage has
opinions on currency reform. McKin-
ley has none, or if he has any he dare
not express them
Likewise as to the Cuban question
The message twill hold out the hope
says the administration press agent
that beneficial results may be expect
ed from the new policy adopted by
Sagasta, and either directly or indirect
ly will suggest to Congress the pro-
priety of taking no action with regard
to Cuba until time has been allowed for
| a trial of tho now nolicvo
In plain words, Mckinley, in his
message, will stick to the procrastinat-
| ing, evasive, trucking, humiliating and
cowardly policy he has pursued from
the start-making promises and de-
mand a little more and little more
time, and regularly breaking his prom
ises-fearing to injure his hackers in
Wall street by boldly voicing the senti-
ments of the American people in deal
ing with Spain, because it might bring
on "war scare" and depress stocks!
The Presidents message will be
weak because it will be in accord with
the character of Mckinley. 1t will be
devoid of positive declarations, definite
policy and aggressive purpose, because
McKinley's character is devoid of those
qualities.
The message will simply be re-
sumo of departmental reports, without
recommendation. Ayers recommended
tons with regard to the army will be
presented to Congress without recon-
mendation by the President. Postmas-
| ter General Gary's much discussed and
important plans with regard to postal
savings banks will be submitted tt
Congress without recommendation by
the President, for fear an endorsement
Of the plan might ALLEVIATE his hackers
the bankers. If any of these schemes
go through and prove success, the
credit will rebound to the administra-
ton, but if they fail or prove unsuc-
cessful it will be very easy to fasten TIC
blame on the cabinet officer who recon-
mended it, thus leaving the administra-
TONS skirts clear, so far as Mckinley
is concerned.
There is, we believe, one point, be-
sides the outrageous proposition to an
mex the half savage and leprous
Hawaiian Islands, on which Nc
Kinley ventures to express some
thing like positive opinion
namely international bimetallism
which he still clings to. In this he il
perfectly safe. International bimetal-
! lism in the manner in whicL McKin.
ley processes to believe it may be oh
tanned, is a chimera-a bubble already
exploded-and Mckinley and everybody
else know it. Indeed, McKinley's pro-
fessed friendship for international bi.
metallism is rather queer in view oil
the fact that the labors of the Wolcott
commission, which had this object in