Saint Mary's beacon., 1899-12-14
Saint Yarg|s Beacon.


exception In that it contains sever
81 pieces Of news not heretofore an
nounced.
Several Of the principal features
Of the message may be summarized
briefly. Emphatic Endorsement of
the gold standard, recommendation
for steamship subsidies-thus. as
the head Of the party, making II Q
party question-and legislation reg
ulating and restricting trusts. and
Government aid for the Nicaragua
Canal.
One piece Of news given By the
President 10 the positive and final
declination OF the Government TO
acknowledge any liability for the
killing Of the Hungarian laborers
in the mining riots in Pennsylvania.
The recommendation in this con-
nection, and in connection with the
lYnching Of Italians in louisiana,
for legislation assuming Federal
jurisdiction in such cases was well
received and the opinion expressed
that it is the duty Of Congress to
act. The Presidents thorough dis
posal Of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain .
assumptions by the emphatic state
ment Of the purpose to contiue .
neutral attitude in all difficulties
between other Governments not af-
fecting our own interests was freely
commented upon with much satis-
faction.
Something Of a sensation was cre-
sted by the sllusions to the Alssks
boundary question, for although the
President expresses "hope" that the
troublesome questions involved may
be speedily settled, the whole tons
of his language would seem to In
dicate that the hope 10 not very
strong.
Undoubtedly, by far the most
interest attached to the message
was involved in what be had to say
about Onba and our new island
possessions. The country 10 in
formed officially that We have eta.
ken in" four Of the Samoan Islands
and from the cheerful and trIum.
phant tone Of the Executive the in.
ference may not be unfairly drawn
that il he finds any more islands
lying around loose in the Pacific
he will see it the glory Of the Uni,
ted States cannot be further en-,
hanced BY gobbling them up also
He 10 altogether pleased with ths
beauties Of the extensive policy oi
acquisition upon which he has en-.
tered.
Startling Miiitary Statistics.
The military statistics furnished
by the President will give the peo'
pie Of the country Q very striking
obiect.lesson Of one Of the effects
Of the new policy. In the Who'll.
United States, stretching from the
Atlantic to the Pacific across the
whole vast continent, containing
10000. 600 Of people, there are ol
the army only about Is, 900 officers
and men included. In the Philip,
pines there are or will be q very
short period IS, 900. In Cuba there
are IL. 900; in Puerto Rico nearly
5000, and in the Hiwaiian Islands
about 500. That 10, the people oi
this country must provide more
than four times a. large an army e
keep our new possessions in ordel
as are required 81 home. Public
cariosity 90 to what the Presidents
views and purposes are on this line
will De abundantly satisfied, fol
there 10 no attempt to conceal the
meaning Of his words.
We are to keep our pledge with
Cuba. "but" the time 10 not ripe
and it il ell indefinite as TO when
it viii be. The President talks very
sweetly about Cnbs, and jet il ID
apparent, according to his ideas,
lit may be for years. and it may
be forever" before we release our
iron grip on the gem Of the Antilles.
Puerto Rico is in due time to have
representative government and 10.
cal government. The mailed hand
will haze thorough and complete
supervision until the people OF the
island have been properly educated
mp 20 the standard of freedom. AS
said bY . Southern member, the
kind OF government proposed for
the island is exactly similar to that
which existed in the Southern States
under the military commanders
during the reconstruction era