The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-07

on one question OF foreign TeldlioiS
should fall so lamentably when he APP
| proaches another. Mr.. Mckinley gives
his unqualified approval to the scheme
for Hawaiian annexation; again, we
need hardly say, without furnishing a
single valid reason therefor. We have
| ceased to expect this, because the adj
vocates of that policy admit by their
silence that they have no reasons. Mr..
Mckinley, like the rest of them, shows
that for three-fourths of a century the
Independent life Of the Hawaiian
islands has been assured; our predomi-
nant interest there has been estab-
lished and the understanding that in
reference by any other power would
not be tolerated by us has been accept
ed by all the nations of the world.
He admits, therefore, at the outset
that every possible advantage of an
nexation already exists both for our
selves and for the people Of these
islands Nevertheless, he asks that we
violate the safe and sound policy of
hundred years simply to satisfy what
he calls "the logic Of events" Very
wisely, he shuns the practical problems
that show their heads forthwith. He
says that "the wisdom of congress will
see to it, that action is taken to "avoid
abrupt assimilatio of elements per-
haps hardly yet fitted to share in the
highest franchises of citizenship"
This is the presidential euphemism for
concealing the fact that we are asked
to incorporate into the United States
a population of 100000 people Of
whom only little more than 5000 are
Americans of whom $4,000 are persons
that would be excluded from our terri
tory by our own laws, and some 10000
are natives unfit for citizenship and I'M
alterably opposed to annexation by the
United States. Whenever was there
greater crime against the American idea
than this proposition to enforce upon
us, in the interest Of greedy ring, an
abhorred and unwholesome union?
They who advocate it do well to keep
silence when they are asked to show
cause. 1t is little to the credit Of Mr..
MCKinley's patriotism or his intelli-
gence or both, that he should not have
dealt with this subject in the same hon
orable temper and mind and with the
same care for the American state, that
he bestowed upon the section relating
to Cuba.
The remainder Of the message is de-
voted to the usual diversity Of topics
and touches them with an agreeable
conciseness. The absurd monetary
commission comes in for some words
of faint praise, and Mr.. Mckinley and
his secretary must have exchanged
grins when these words were written
down: ct is to be hoped that their
labors may result in an international
agreement which will bring about
recognition of both gold and silver as
that subsidies to shipping would not be
distasteful, as, indeed they are a log
ical part of the wicked protection re-
gime. The condition of the Indian Terri
tory is set forth at much length, and it
is made perfectly clear that the time
has come when that anomalous govern
ment and social system should be made
to conform to the conditions of life and
citizenship elsewhere.
The president takes the rather sur
prising position that the government
at the forthcoming sale, unless another
bidder appears who will pay it's claim
in full. With only ten days interview
ing, he announces to congress that, un-
less it takes action in the meantime, he
will make the necessary deposit and
authorize the payment, on behalf of the
public, of the $7,OOO,OOO of indebtedness
which constitutes lien prior to that of
the United States. 1t thus appears
that the contingency avoided by post
poning the sale of the Union Pacific is
likely to occur in the case of the Kan
sas Pacific and we may expect the peo-
pie to become the proud possessors of a
railroad line without independent bust
ness to keep it alive, at cost of many
millions of dollars, to serve as a basis
for future congressional scandals.
The closing words of the message
sustain in strong terms the system Of
civil service\ reform, and give a mild
hint to congress that economy in ap-
preparations will be appreciated. Had
pages, instead of a paragraph Of the
message, been devoted to this last duty,
to the necessity and propriety of cut
ting our annual expenses down by $780,
100000 per annum. Mr.. Mckinley
would have discharged, perhaps, his
greatest duty, and made an issue that
will yet be the winning war cry be-
tween parties in this nation, rushing
now so fast toward an abyss of profit
gacy.
BUT TT is NOT TRUE.
What makes the notes of national banks
good? Not the honesty OF the bank officials,
not the largeness of assets-but because Uncle
Sam guarantees that those notes will be
paid. If that is true, it would seem that
Uncle Sam could guarantee notes just
we'll without intermedary.-Little Falls
Herald
Very much of the prejudice in favor of