New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The fhESIDEnl - mEcph"H'
Those parts of the Presidents Message which
relate 10 the new possessions Of The United
States. and especially to National Obligations
and opportunities arising ont of their acqulsl-
tion and which are therefore naturally or pecu-
liar interest at time when Congress Is called
upon TO deal with these grave problems, are
discussed in a separate article. The purely
domestic topics of the Message also are deserv-
ing of the careful consideration Of intelligent
citizens who desire not only TO comprehend the
discussion of them In Congress. but to con-
tribute TO that enlightened public opinion by
which the legislative department of the Govern
ment is expected to be controlled. That the
President deals with these matters frankly ana
sensibly viii be generally admitted by fair
minded persons. OF course, among the oppo-
pents Of an Administration there are always
some who take a curious sort of pleasure In
pretending to find fault because on stated occa-
sions il does not settle out of hand every ques-
ton which ii brings 10 public attention.; but
such criticism Is Intellectual and unimportant.
As whole the Presidents Message Is an In
structive exposition Of National affairs, and Its
recommendations are sufficiently explicit
On the subject Of currency and finances the
President speaks ia manner which must tend
to strengthen the majority in Congress In Its re-
solve to establish the gold standard and fortify
the Treasury still more firmly, if possible. 1t Is
true that positive enactments long In force
seem to many persons to be entirely salts
factory and sufficient but 1t is also true that
still more prevalent sentiment demands some
thing in addition. and. as the President saga
ciously remarks. the fortunate situation now e1-
tl1n SAINT
time TO make adequate provision to insure the
continuance of the gold standard and OF public
confidence in the ability and purpose OF the
| Government to meet all its obligations In the
money which the civilized world recognizes as
| 1.-THE best" AS one means TO this end he renews
his prudent recommendation that greenbacks
once redeemed in gold shall not be paid out
again except for gold.
What the President says concerning the I'M
portance to every commercial nation of an extern
| sive mercantile marine and the melancholy con-
dition into which our own foreign shipping has
fallen will scarcev be disputed anywhere, while
the policy which he advises for the rehabilita-
ton of PROSTATE and still decaying industry Is
sure to encounter the opposition Of all to whom
the word subsidy is offensive. In that class
are not few patriotic and intelligent citizens,
| but we think it Is being constantly diminished
| by the desertion OF men who are not ashamed
| TO get instruction and profit from the expert
| ence of other nations The great maritime
| Powers of the world have built up their ocean
| commerce. and are still building II up by giving
pecuniary inducements and rewards to individ-
| uals This is done in various ways, some Of
| them more or less circuitous But the practical
encouragement is steadily and deliberately be
slowed whatever form II takes. and the prac-
| teal results are great and enduring. We be-
| lieve that the Government Of the United States
| is more than justified in doing the same thing.
| Just how il should be done the President does
not attempt to determine, nor should Congress
| prescribe without a more thorough discussion Of
| the question than 1t has heretofore received.
| On other proposals affecting our commercial
| progress and relations the President delivers a
| sound and positive Judgment without rehears-
| ing al length arguments already employed and
familiar. In truth, there Is at this time, while
the latest Commission Is pursuing Its nvestiga-
tons, no need 10 use more than few emphatic
words concerning the wellnigh Indispensable
| necessity OF an isthmian canal uniting the
| oceans, and the immense convenience, TO say
the least OF a Pacific cable. If on the subject
Of trusts the Message arrives at no new and
decisive conclusions, honest critics will not find
serious fault with It's author. The simple truth
is that this is problem which an extraordi-
nary amount of discussion has failed to pro-
duce anything like agreement. even as to
the evils for which a remedy Is demanded. The
Presidents final topic, which touches the whole
circle Of National interests is the Civil Service
He takes occasion to affirm, what there has
been no general disposition 10 deny, that his ex-
ecutive order Of last May was designed to effect
"a more efficient and satisfactory administra
ton of the system Of appointments" We
thought it dscreditable and menacing that in
various quarters his modification of the system
was at once accepted a warrant for rather
thnly yelled attacks upon the system itself. II
is gratifying to learn that in the opinion Of those
who possess superior means Of forming an In
telligent Judgment after a brief experience tho
mischief thus done not so serious as II ap
reared and that "the merit system has beer
greatly strengthened and its permanence as
"sured" through the flexibility impaired TO II by
the President.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.