The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The message to Congress of President
Mckinley, printed today, is one of the
most remarkable official documents that
has been promulgated in this country
for some time. though both Mr. Mckin-
ley and his predecessor have been re-
sponsible for messages of no mean
novelty. In all fairness to Mr.. Mckin-
ley it can be said that the paper is
fresh proof, if such We're needed, that
the nation has a politician for president,
and one withal who LACKS the fertility Of
expedient and the decisiveness that go
To the make no &c even the iirs. class
politician. The message, SO palpably III
many parts defense Of the course of
montade where IN able advocate would
have put clever justification, while the
references to the market price of iib-
ertya and the stringent antitrust law
that his Attorney General has mace a
dead weight on the Federal statute
books can scarcely be considered happy
in the present State cf the public mind.
Emergencies take the measure of men
and of parties. They bring the oppor-
tunity of the highest success or danger
of the deepest disaster. No president of
the republic since 1868 has had So many
emergencies to meet as Mr.. Mckinley.
His was the opportunity to indicate to
70,000,000 of people what wonla be the
clear policy of victorious party of
which he is the Official head ami there
fore what will be the policy Of the Gov
eminent in conditions of the gravest
possible import in both domestic and
foreign affairs. Let him Who can find
aught of clear policy in Mr. Mckinley )
message as regards the two most abb
sorbing public questions-tsusts and the
disposition of Cuba and the Philippines.
In regard to trusts there is only deal
of awkward stump oratory. a warning
not to act rather than an encouragement
to his party to act vigorously, while we
are told how naughty the .ebels have
been in the Philippines, and how the
broad mantle of executive "clemencs
will descend upon them, instead OF what
should be done with the islands. Like
when tho Maine was blown up IN Ha-
yana harbor. the Chief Executive has
nothing to recommend. As to Cuba
there is the citation of the Congressional
pledge to let Cubans govern themselves,
followed by picture of the dire things
Hawaii is to have the unutterable bliss
of a Federal judge, and Porto Rico 4
ready-made temporary government,
though everybody had supposed that il
had that boon already.
Though Mr.. Mckinley indicates no
policy for his party in the crisis which
confronts the country, it is plain enough
that his procrastination means Laying
on The new world burdens of the DID,
BY lodging and delay it is hoped to IN
press the public that militarism and
Imperialism have been fixed on the eoun-
try by force Of circumstances and not by
the deliberate choice of the Republican
party. Congress can be spared the neces-
sity Of action or declaration Of intention,
beyond voting men, ships and money to
prosecute the war on the Filipinos. while
the people are tickled with reports of
victory and habituated, without sudden
jars, to bearing the expenses Of war.
BY and by when reckoning is called
the Republican party can hold up its
hands and exclaim: Thou can'st not say
| did it."
Upon few points, however, Mr.. Me-
Kinley is clear-the Hanna-Payne ship
subsidy steal is to be put through, the
existing gold standard is TO be main
tanned through a patent process for is
suing and selling gold bonds, and the
control Of the currency is to be more
than ever turned over to national banks.
Mr.. Mckinley advice to Congress may
be summed up as follows:
Let Cuba and the Philippines rock
along.
Cayort and cuss the trusts but don't
touch them.
Tickle bond buyers with u promise
of bonds whenever they want them.
Keep campaign contributors in good
humor by fixing the gold standard more
firmly OH the country.
Prepare to retire the grcenbacks and
give national banks free hand.
Yank the Eagles tail.
Hooray for the flag!