Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-12-08
Synopsis of Presidents Message.

ver) and the equal power OF every dol
lar at all times in the market and IN
the payment Of debts the Secretary |
of the Treasury be given additional
power and charged with the duty to
sell United States bonds and to employ
such other effective means as may be
necessary to these ends"
IL am satisfied the judgment OF the
country favors the policy OF aid TO our
merchant marine. which will broaden
our commerce and markets and up
build our sea carrying capacity'for the
products Of agriculture and inanufac-
ture, which, with the increase OF our
navy, means more work and wages TO
oar countrymen, as well as safeguard
to American interests III every part OF
the world"
Combinations of capita. organized
into trusts to control the conditions OF
traC among our citizens, to stlile CON-
petition, limit productions, and deter
mine the prices of products used and
consumed by the people, are justly
provoking public discussion, and
should early claim the attention of the
Congress. 1t is universally conceded
that com binatlons which engross OF
control the market of any particular
kind of merchandise or commodity
necessary to the general community,
by suppressing natural and ordinary
competition, whereby prices are IN
duly enhanced to the general consumer,
are obnoxious not only to the common
law, but also to the public welfare.
There must be a remedy for the evils
involved in such organizations"
"This government has maintained
an attitude of neutrality in the unfor-
tunate contest between Great Britain
and the Boer states of Africa. We have
remained faithful to the precept OF
avoiding entangling alliances as to
affairs not of our direct concern. Had
circumstances suggested that the par
ties to the quarrel would have welcom-
ed any kindly expression of the hope
OF the American people that war might
be averted, good offices would have
been gladly rendered. "
This nation has assumed before the
world grave responsibility for the
future good government of Cuba. We
have accepted a trust, the fulfillment
of which calls for the steTnest integrity
of purpose and the exercise of the
highest wisdom. The new Cuba yet
to arise from the ashes of the past must
needs be bound to US by ties of sing
ular intimacy and strength if its en-
during welfare is to be assured. Wheth-
er those ties shall be organic or con-
ventional, the deStinieS of Cuba are in
some rightful form and manner irrevo-
cably linked with our own, but how
and how far is for the future to. de-
termine in the ripenesss OF events,
| Whatever be the outcome, we must see
to it that free Cuba be reality, not
a name, perfect entity, not hasty
experiment bearing within itself the
elements Of failure"
"Our plain duty is to abolish all GUS
toms tariffs between United States and
Porto Rico, and give her products free
| n ~, o,,r mo ,.ir
1.-The future government of the
Philippines rests with the government
of the United States. Few graver re.
sponsibilities have ever been c0ntided
to us. Ii We accept them in spirit
worthy of our race and our traditions
a great opportunity comes with them
The islands lie under the shelter of oul
flag. They are ours by every title Of
law and equity. They cannot be aban
doned. If we desert them, we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally tG
barbarism. We fling them, a colder
apple of discord, among the rival pow
ers, no uue of which could permit an
other to seize them unq uestioned
Their rich plains and valleys would bt
the scene OF endless strife and blood
shed. TIE advent of Dewey's fleet il
Manila Bay, instead of being, as We
hope, the dawn of a new day of free
dom and progress, will have been the
beginning of an era of misery and VIC
lence worse than any which has dark
ened their unhappy past. Until Con
gress hall have made known the for
NAL expression of it's will l shall ust
the authority vested in me by the Con
stitution and the statutes TO uphold
the sovereignty of the United States il
those distant islands as in all Other
places where our flag rightfully floats
shall pnt at the disposal of the i.rmy
and navy all means which the li5srali
ty of Congress and the people have
provided to cause this unprovoked anC
wasteful inSurrection to cease. F."