The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-06
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


President McKinley's message must
| rank as one of the longest, if not act
iually the longest, ever submitted to con-
lgress. Half of it, however, is devoted to
the Spanish war. so that if this could
be eliminated, the message would be
of only about average length. The
president gives an interesting and clear
resume of the war and the diplomatic
| intercourse with Spain that led up to
it, but he contributes little or nothing
that is new. 1t is worth something,
however, to have the facts from an
authoritative source.
Those who look for recommendations
or the outlines of a policy in our newly
acquired possessions, will be disap-
pointed. Except for the passages relat-
ing to Hawaii to the increase of the
army and navy and to the establish
ment of American steamship lines, no
hint is given of what the president in
tends to do or would have congress
do with the colonies. He decorously
reserves such recommendations till
after the treaty has at least been sub
mitted to the Senate, and perhaps till
that treaty has been ratified. At the
present time, recommendations of this
sort would be inappropriate, prema-
ture and futile.
In regard to Hawaii the president
makes no recommendation except to
urge prompt action upon the forthcom-
ing report of the special commission
which he sent to the islands to investi-
gate and devise a frame of government.
He also calls attention to the necessity
of revising the consular arrangements,
especially those relating to the return
of destitute seamen from the recently
acquired ports.
The presidents urgent advice for the
establishment of steamship lines
means, of course, more mail subsidies,
in accordance with the precedent set
when the international Navigation
Company received a subvention. These
proposed West Indian and Pacific
steamers would then also become avail
able as a part of the auxiliary navy,
just as the American liners already are.
Such a policy certainly would be a
boon to American ship builders. 1t
also must materially increase the gov
eminent expenses.
The president sticks rigidly to the
original Cuban program. There is no
thought of annexation in his words;
1T should be our duty to assist in every
proper way to build up the waste
places of the island, encourage the in
dustry of the people and assist them
to form a government which shall be
free and independent" These words
should be reassuring to the Cubans,
and if their leaders are sensible, they
will be grateful rather than critical
because the president insists that their
government shall be just, humane and
impartial and capable of performing all
international obligations, and that I'M
til the island is entirely pacified and a
stable government inaugurated, mill
tary occupation by the forces of the
United States shall continue.
Although the president advises in
creasing the army to a round 100, 600
men. including native colonial forces,
he thinks that number may not be i'm
mediately needed, but it may be soon,
and the authority for the increase
should be given. AS soon as there
are regulars enough to fill their places,
the volunteers will be mustered out, so
there is an inducement for congressman
to vote the increase desired. AS to
the navy, the president simply en-
dorses the recommendation of Score
tary Long.
Currency reformers have no cause to
find fault with the presidents mes
sage. He is emphatic on this point as
before, and the fact gives reason to ex-
pect that currency reform will be at
tempted in the next congress. Other
wise, fiscal matters get but brief con-
sideration in the message, and of
course there is no suggestion Of any
remission of taxation. The financial
tone is optimistic, but not unreasonably
so.
The necessity of an isthmian canal
is adequately set forth, and action at
the present session is urged, but the
president avoids committing himself to
any one project. He is properly wait
ing for the report of the commission.
Caution and reserve are among the
most prominent characteristics of the
message. The president is waiting.
and there is nothing for the people to
do but wait likewise. The things
which they most wanted to know have
been for the most part omitted, and
there was no help for the omission.
Such recommendations as are made
may be heartily approved.