The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-12
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matter. 1t is long, heavy and ponder
GUS but still it is silent ON great many
interesting topics, treatment OF which
might be reasonably hoped for.
The president represents that there is
a great state of prosperity in the coun-
try, but the reaction from period of
business and industrial distress does not
appear to be especially appropriate to
the document under consideration, in
asmuch as the government under Will
liam Mckinley has done nothing to pro-
mote that prosperity, but, on the con-
trary, has been a laggard in redeeming
the promises so unctiously and fire.
quently made in the campaign of 1896
and in the earlier months of the pre-
sent administration.
The chapter on trusts is timidly and
apologetically written. The president
seems to have looked upon it as neces-
sary to take up this subject, and, taking
it up, there could be no other course
than to take grounds against the COM
binations. 1t must strike the reader,
though, while he is pursuing this portion
of the message, that the writer is in
almost every line giving notice to the
trusts: "I have to do this. gentlemen,
to satisfy a public yearning; but you
understand very well that 1t means
nothing, and that no action hurtful to
you will be taken during my admins
tration."
There is nothing in the message likely
to discourage liberal campaign con-
tributions in the presidential year. Quo
tations are made from the messages of
former presidents to show that the
present administration could do moth
ing better in the direction of the re-
moval of the trust evil than to do
nothing.
The treatment of the subject of fin
ance is scant, and, standing alone
would hardly be satifying to any phase
| of belief on the money question. 1t Is
not as radical as either of the measures
proposed in congress The moneyed mer
| care little, though, for the opinions
or judgment of William Mckinley. They
| feel that in every crisis he will be pliable
to their demands. He needs them in his
campaigns. The exposure of Mr.. Nc
| Kinleys changing attitudes on finance
| in 1896 did not have an impression or
| his candidacy for the presidency Ever
the proof that he stood shoulder tc
shoulder with Silver Dick Bland fol-
the free and unlimited coinage of the
white metal was as nothing against
the assurance given by those who were
! raising campaign funds that Mr.. Nc.
Kinley would not be fractions.
1t would be an improbable occupa'
| tion of space to review at length tha
portion of the message which deals
with the Philippine question. TIL,
president reiterates his well known
position on the subject. He assumes
1t to be a virtuous thing to make wal
on people who are making Legitimate
struggle for liberty, but holds out M
hope of self-government after the wal
is over-only vassalage Two of the con
spicuous inaccuracies in the message, t.
call them by no sharper name, are II
a single short paragraph In the Philip
pine chapter. 1.-The islands were cede(
by the government of SPAIN" says th'
president, (which had been in undis
puted possession of them for centuries
/ have every reason to believ,
and still believe, that this transfer o
sovereignty was in accordance with tn,
wishes and aspirations of the great mas
Of Filipino people" These are such balc
statements that they suggest the nee
cessary combative comment to an.
mind. The compact with the slave
holding and polygamous sultan of Sull
is lightly alluded to. 1t would not o
course, bear extended treatment. /
would doubtless have been lodged al
together had II not been for The fea