The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-06
THE PREsIDENT.s MESSAGE.

pected, Of course, that the war ana its
causes would receive great deal Of at
! tention in the message, and therefore there
is not likely to be any disappointment or
| that point. but it is not improbable that
there will be a feeling of disappointment
| because the message contains nothing in
! respect TO the administrations Philippine
policy. There is no question in the public
mind as 10 what the administrators in
Denuon is in respect TO Cuba. Indeed. the
President caves no doubt on that point.
The island viii be occupied by our army
until there is a stable government there.
and all reasonable assistance will be given
the Cubans in establishing a just benevo-
lent and humane government. 1t is clear
~ the purpose of the administration to so
as far as Congress viii permit it to go in
bringing about a prosperous condition of
affairs in Cuba. There is nothing in the
message that should cause any fair-minded
Cuban uneasiness. If The purposes express
ed in it are carried out, and the Cubans
prove themselves equal to the responsible
ties which viii soon devolve upon them, it
" III AAeA " many years bSAbAN NAANAA AEAAi@
will be on the road to far greater pros
perity than il has ever yet known. Every
thing depends upon the Cubans. If they
cannot agree among themselves, but divide
into factions always ready to resort 10
force to get control of the government,
there win be no free Cuba. Our army Will
occupy the island until a stable govern
ment is established so firmly that there
will be little prospect of its overthrow.
How soon such a government will be es-
tablished VIII depend on the Cubans them
selves. In other words, At depends upon
the Cubans whether our stay in the island
will be permanent or of comparatively
short duration.
There is, of course, some force in the
reason which the President gives for not
discussing the Philippines at this time, and
the administrations policy in respect to
them. In his opinion these are subjects
which win not be ready for discussion until
the treaty of peace is ratified. Still, It is
certain that some discussion of them was
locked for. The wisdom Of taking posses
sion of far distant Islands, containing a
vast territory and a large population of
mi-barbarous people, is questioned by a
very large part OF the American people, in
GLIDING some of the abIest of the nations
public men.
The President doesn't make prominent
the fact that he was much opposed to war
with Spain, and that he held back from
tokipa q eto, tou,arde NOR ,,nti1 he ,,oe
forced 10 act by the rising tide of public
sentiment. 1t is not to his
dlscredit, however, that he neld
the country out of war as long
as ne could. The war has resulted in
bringing great glory to our arms on land
and sea, but it may eventually prove not
to have been good thing for the coun-
try. There are troubles to come growing
out of the war. The sacrifices which we
have already made may be small in com
parson with those We shall have to make
before all the questions growing out of it
are settled.
The President calls attention to our in
creasing need for canal joining the At
landc and Pacific oceans. Our possessions
in the Pacific have become so great and
our commerce promises to increase to such
enormous proportions that Congress ought
20 act promptly In the matter of the Mic
aragua canal. Stil the President does net
think it would be advisable TO take definite
action until all the facts bearing upon the
concessions for and on the construction of
the great work are in hand. 1t can. be
stated with considerable certainty that
nothing of binding character will be done
in respect to the canal by this Congr ass.
What the President says about our reia-
tons with other nations and about the ct
Element which has been made of claims
against other governments are routine
matters in which the general public feels
very little interest. IL Is gratifying To
know, however, that our relations with
other governments are of the most pleasant
character. II is appropriate to remark in
this connection that it is not probable that
we shall be interfered with by other nations
in carrying out our plans and purposes in
respect TO our new possessions. The exhibit
ton of craftsmanship made by our navy
in the litt.e affair with Spain is calculated
TO create the impression ON the minds OF
War Lords and others that the hands-on
policy is the wiser one.
The President thinks that we ought t.
spend a million dollars at least in making
ain exhibition Of our products at the Paris
exposition We shall be fortunate if we
spend no more than that amount. We hav,
appropriated S65O,0OO already. and the expo
siton is nearly two years away. The ex
position is a good thing, however and mon.
ey spent upon it win doubtless help us &c
capture the trade of the world-an under.
taking which We think we can accomplish
The President doesn't recommend thar
currency reform shall be attempted at thi.
session of Congress. He intimates howev
er. that it ought to be undertaken at ~
early day. But he does think that step,
should be taken az once to retire the green
backs He says that having an abundance,