The age-herald., 1898-12-06
The Annual Message.
Editor
EzNNxxGa

We now have two official histories of the war-one by the distinguished lumberman from Michigan, and the other from the pen of the president himself. The one is near ly as long as the other, and neither throws additional light on the recent stirring scenes of the war. Nearly one-half of the message is devoted to story of the rise, progress and elimination of the war; and the only recommendation in 1t relates to Cuba. The president undoubtedly has a right to rehearse the story of the war by way of self-gloriication and party justifi- cation; he may incidentally and slyly claim it as the fruit of republicanism: but there is nothing in the constitution that calls for any such matter. It affords no "informa- ton of the state of the union." It is in- tended as a bid for reelection and the con- tinuance of the republican party in power and is not otherwise valuable.
 His recommendations of measures grow ing out of she war are very brief and very indefinite, confined as they are to two or three sentences at the end of the war half of the message; but no man living is mind reader enough to determine from those sen- tences what the president wishes to do or proposes to do. These recommendations, if they may be called by that name, relate to Cuba One must really read between the lines, and when that is done it becomes somewhat apparent that the Cubans will be several years older before they are per mitted to govern Cuba
 The last half of the message relates to subjects usually discussed in such state papers There are, however, a few excep- tions The miners strike in September of last year at Lattimer, Pa, is an exceptional subject, and the president almost intimates that the wicked slaughter of the miners by the sheriff, and the posse was proper and necessary.
 The Nicaragua canal is briefly treated, the approval of the country. The president considers an nter-oceanic canal indispensa- ble in view of the annexation of Hawaii
 
 land the prospective expansion of our in- fluence and commerce in the Pacific." He thinks, too, that the canal should be con- trolled by the United States. All that the president has to say in relation to China will also command approval throughout the country, especially in the south. He is advocate of open-door policy, and he practically urges congress to support him in his endeavors to secure fair field to our commerce in that country.
 The annexation of Hawaii Is told, but no recommendations accompany the informa- tion The president cordially accepts the invitation of the czar of Russia to represen- tation at the proposed peace conference. disregarding MT. Kipling's advice to the contrary.
 The presidents tariff figures will not prove a comfort to Dingleyism; and his recommendations as to the currency are strictly in line with the desires of the cam paign subscribers upon whom his political manager relies. He wants all redeemed greenbacks held until gold is offered for them. He desires the formation of a gold redemption fund. He remits the remainder of the currency problem to congress in a hazy way that has the flavor of an ap- preaching electoral campaign.
 The cleansing of Havana and other West Indian ports, with a view to the control of yellow fever, Is given adequate treatment in the message, and congress is urged to give the subject proper attention.
 The president says the regular army now stands at 57,S67 men, the officers being n- cluded in this number Like all other re- publicans, the president desires to rush the regular army up to 100000. He says such gress hesitate before 1t acts on this beyond question recommendation. Neither the president nor the secretary of war pre- sents even plausible excuse for such an increase of the army. No reason for 1t ex- ists. It is simply part of the policy that considers a strong government the only sovereign remedy for all public ills. It Is militarism of the most aggressive sort If, instead of great regular army, the naval recommendations of the president and Sec- retary Long were adopted, the country would gain strength where it most needs 1t. without mourning any of the heavy ex- penses that attend @ great army in peace times