Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-06


men of Europe. Comprehensive, can
did and able, it makes plain and unmis-
taxable the views and policy of the ad-
ministration in regard to every ques-
/ ton and problem that confronts the gov
! ernment
The president favOrs legislation to in
sure the continuance OF the gold stan
/ dard and thinks the present, with pros
! perity general and financial confidence
| strong, the most fitting time for its
enactment He urges that If this is
! done 1t will remove the only remaining
cause Of apprehension and embarrass-
ment to the financial and business in
terests Of the country. 1t is to be in
ferred from what is said in regard to
the currency that the president ap-
proves the measure framed by the
house caucus committee. The message
speaks plainly respecting the trusts.
Such of them as control the market by
suppressing natural and ordinary com
petition, whereby prices to the consumer
are unduly enhanced, are declared to
he obnoxious alike to the common law
and the public welfare and it Is urged
that there must be a remedy for the
evils involved in such organizations
IF the present law says the president
referring to the antitrust act of $780,
"can be extended more certainly to con
troll or check these monopolies or trusts
it should be done without delay. What
ever power the congress possesses over
this most important subject should be
promptly ascertained and asserted"
The president makes no recommends
tions, leaving the matter wholly with
congress, but it may reasonably be
hoped that his earnest presentation of
the subject will impress that body with
the duty of dealing with it. a forceful
argument is made for merchant ma
rine, the president expressing the opn-
ion that the Judgment of the country
favors the policy of government aid. He
says that our national development will
be one-sided and unsatisfactory so long
as the remarkable growth of our in
land industries is unaccompanied by
progress on the seas.
There is much of interest in the re-
view of our foreign relations, which are
of the most friendly character with all
countries In regard to Cuba the presi-
dent says that the fulfillment of the
trust we have accepted calls for the
sternest integrity of purpose and the
exercise of the highest wisdom He
declares that whatever are to be the
future relations of Cuba to the United
States 1--WE must see to it that free
Cuba be a reality, not name; a
perfect entity. not a hasty experiment
bearing within itself the elements Of
failure" The language of the president
should convince the Cubans of the pur-
pose of the government to keep faith
with them, according TO the letter and
spirit of it's promise, but it will require
that the government established there
shall be of a character to insure sta
bility and to command the approval not
only of the American people, but also
of the civilized world. We are respon-
sible, says Mr.. Mckinley, for the fu
ture good government of Cuba and it
Is otlI uuty W SIC thttt plOptI lOllh VI
government is instituted there. The
professional agitators and politicians i'll |
the island may object to this view, but |
it will doubtless be approved by the !
conservative element of the population. |
The presidents statement of the Phil !
ippine situation is frank and admits of |
no doubt as to the position of the ad- |
mlnistraton. He declares that the |!
islands are ours by every title of law
and equity and that they cannot be |
abandoned. "If we desert them we leave !
them at once to anarchy and finally to !
bnrbarism. We fling them, n golden !
apple of dlscord, among the rival pow
ers, no one of which could permit an |
other to seize them unquestioned" The !
suggestion of independence and pro,
tectorate the president regards as un-
worthy of serious attention, since such
an arrangement would involve at the |
outset a cruel breach of faith. The pres
ident states that until congress shah
have made formal expression of its will
he shall use his constitutional authority
to uphold the sovereignty of the United
States in the Philippines "as in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats"
No recommendation is made in regard
to the future government of the islands
which must be evolved by congress In
regard to Porto Rico the message says
that the time is ripe for the adoption of
n temporary form of government for
the island and it is to be expected that
this will speedily be done, probably
along the lines recommended in the re.
port of the secretary of war.
Such are the more prominent features
of one of the most important state pa
pers communicated to congress in re-
cent years and which should be care
fully read by every citizen who is inter-
ested in the public questions and prob
lens that await solution.