The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-09
News In the Message
The Baltimore Sun saws:
,GTba p,aeeooa of tho prasidanl


briefly. Emphatic endorsement OF
the gold standard, recommendations
of steamship subsidies-thus, as the
head of the party, making it II party
question and regulating aud re-
stricting trusts, and Gogernment aid
for the Nicaragua Cana.
One piece OF news given by the
President is the positive and fnal
decliuation of the Government to
acknow wledge any liability for the
killing of the Hungarian laborers in
the mining riots in Pennsylvania.
The recommendation in this con.
nectiOn, and IN the connection with
the lynching of Italians in Louisiana,
for legislation assuming Federal
jurisdiction in such cases was well
received and the opinion expressed
that il is the duty of Congress to set.
The Presidents thorough disposal of
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain's assump
tions by the emphatic statement Of
the purpose TO continue a nuetrsl
attitude IN all difficulties between
other Governments not affecting our
own interests was freely commented
upon with much satisfaction.
Something OF a sensation was
created by the illusions TO the Alaska
boundary question, for although the
President expresses hope that the
troublesome questions involved may
be speedily settled, the whole tone OF
bis Language would seem to indicate
that the hope IS not very strong.
Undoubtedly, by far the most IN
terest attached TO the message was
involved in what he hsd to say sbout
Cuba and our new islands possess
ions. The country is informed Off
cially that We have taken in four
of the Samoan Island and from the
cheerful and triumphant tone of the
Executive the inference may not be
unfairly drawn that II he huds any
more islands lying around loose IL
the Pacific be willlsee if the old glory
Of the United States cannot be fur
ther enhanced by gobbling them up
also. He is altogether pleased with
the beauties of the extensive policy
of acquisition upon which be has en-
tered.
STARTLING MILITARY STATISTICS.
The military statistics furnished
by the President will give the people
Of the country very striking object
lesson Of one of the effects OF the new
policy. In the whole United States,
stretching from the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc across the whole vast continent
containing 70, 900, 900 of people, there
are of the army only about $4,000
officers and men included. In the
Philippines there are or will be in
very short period $4,000 In Cuba
there are IL 900; in Puerto Rico
nearly 5000. and in the Hawaiian
Islands about 500. That is, the peo
pie of this country must provide
more than four times as large an
army to keep our new possessi ons in
order as are required at home.
Public curiosity as TO what the Presi
dents views and purpose are on this
line will be satisfied, for there is no
attempt to conceal the meaning
Of bis words.
We are to keep our pledge with
Cuba, but the time is not ripe and
it is ell indefinite as to when it will
be. The President talks very sweet
ly about Cuba, aud yet it is appar-
ent, according to bis ideas, 1T may be
for years, and it may be forever"
before we release our iron grip on the
gem Of the Antilles Pneto Rico is
in due time to have representative
government aud local government.
The mailed hand will have thorough
and complete supervision until the
island have been properly educated up
to he standard Of freedom. AS said
by a southern member, the kind of
government proposed for the island
is exactly similar to that which ex-
listed in the Southern States under
the military commanders during the
reconstruction era.
In regard to the Philippines, the
President makes q most remarkable
statement. He expresses his con.
viction that the great mass OF the
Fllipinos are friendly to this Govern
ment and anxious for its rule. How
can the President possibly be in
position to form even an approx
mstely just and correct opinion on
this subject Up to the time of his
reception of the last mail advices our
lines were still restricted to within
very few miles around Manila.
Neither the Philippine Commissioners
nor Gen. OTIS nor any of his officers,
have had any opportunity to ascer
tain the sentiment of the Fllipinos
AS to Manila itself, we have General
Otis own words that q widespread
and bitterly. hostile sentiment exists
there.
The President minces no words
about-the Philippines. He is going
to Stick He could not communi
cate the capture of Aguiualdo, and
has to satisfy himself with repeti
tion Of the oft-repested assurances
that the suppression of the REBEL
ion' is approaching speedy COM
pletion.' Whether it is speedy or
not, the President indicates his de ter
mination to exhaust all the resources
Of our country in the pursuit of his
object of conquest. The entire OBJ
ject of any recommendation to Con
gress for legislation affecting the
Philippines is proof sufficient of his
opinion that military rule is to con-
tinna for an indefinite periodu