The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-09
PRESIDENT McKINLeY'S MESSAGE.

sent IN a long message filling eleve
pages of the Congressional Record
The message is more remarkab
for what it does no. say than f
what it says. He makes no recon
mendations whatever as to our new
ly acquired islands, but promises
say something about them after th
treaty OF peace is agreed to.
lie give an interesting resume {
the history Of the war, tut disclose
nothing that has not heretofore bee
published in the newspapers gen
er'lly. 1t is worth preserving how
ever, as an official declaration @
the cause and conduct Of the war
the latter Of which he highly praises
without saying anything about the
unnecessary suffering and deaths
caused by incompetency Of politi
clans appointed to responsible mill
tary positions.
Referring to the work of the peace
commissioners in Paris the presi
dent says:
1.-The negotiations have made
hopeful progress, 50 that l hope
soon to be able to lay definite treaty
Of leace before the senate, with q
review Of the steps leading to its
signature.
81 do not discuss at this time the
government or the future Of the new
possessions which will come to us
as the results Of the war with Spain.
CUBA MUST Be FREE.
''As soon as we are in possession
Of Cuba, and have pacified the ISL
and, it will be necessary to give
aid and direction to its people to
form government for themselves.
This should be undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with
safety and assured success. II is
important that our relations with
this people be Of the most friendly
character and our commercial re-
lations close and reciprocal. 1t
should be our duty to assist in
every proper way to build up the |
waste places Of the islands, encour-
age the industry Of the people, and
assist them to form a government
which shall be free and Independent,
thus realizing the best aspirations
Of the Cuban people,"
He says it is imperative that the
United Strtes must control the MIC
aragua canal, to be built to connect
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
He also intimates that if this
country is not accorded ar "open
door" and free show tor the trade
in China, Il will be his duty to in
terfere to secure thst result for his
friends, the manufacturers, that
contributed SO literally to the fund
which secured his election.
He refers thankfully to our friend
ly relations with Great Britain, and
hopes they will continue.
GOVERNMENT oE HAWAII.
The president reports that the
Hawaii commission has fulfilled its
mission and that its report will be
laid before congress at an early day.
Referring to the proposal from the
Car OF Russia for general reduc-
ton of the great military establish
the president says: "His
was at once informed Of the
cordial sympathy Of this govern.
ment with the principle involved in
his exalted proposal, and of the
readiness of the United States to
take part in the conference.
He then asks Congress to increase
our standing army to 100, 900 men,
and the navy u 10000, and recon-
mends that privateering, heretofore {
our safest naval defence, be abol. {
shed. He says he will hold the
volunteers necessary in service un-
ill Congress agrees to his demand I
Tor a larger regular standing army, I
when it will be subs tituted for vol 9
lnteers. {
On financial matters he recon-
nends the gold standard, and shows {
hat the Dingley tariff will produce ,
/ deficit next year of $112, 600, OOC, !
md with the extraordinary receipts :
his year Of $64, ISL, 223 from the :
Pacific railroads, and a large sum /
rom the war tax, there is yet an ex- !
penditure of $38, O47 PAT in excess !
II receipts, but he fails to recon. '
mend any way to meet the defcien- f
y.
On the whole the Message is a :,
Disappointing one to almost all Of !,
lis party friends-as he totally fails
o point way out Of the wilderness.
Secretarv Of the Treaaurv haa ALI