Iron County register., 1899-12-14
on THE MESSAGE.
Comment of Democratic Journal. on
the Presidents Pm per to
Congress.

OF the message that the people cannot
hope for anything but increase upon
increase of expenditure in aid of all
sorts OF projects, chiefly private, so
long as the party of which Mr.. McKin.
ley is the chosen head remains in DOW.
er.-Chicago Chronicle.
1t is a soothing document, with no
irritating touch upon any sore subject
of political controversy-precise
what might have been expected from
President Mckinley the year before
the presidential election. The irrita-
tlon Will come when congress shall un-
dertake the necessary task of forcing
the hand of the xecutive-Philadel-
phia Record.
In the 10000 words, more or less,
which the president unloaded yester-
day upon helpless congress, there is
not one clear-cut, inspiring thought.
Ihe message has some good points and
some bad, like any average report of a
bureau. clerk. The presidents views on
the Philippines are as vague as his ideas
about Cuba. His wisdom consists in
passing responsibility along.-N. Y.
Journal.
As to the trusts, the president is suffi-
ciently frank and direct. That what
ever power congress possesses over this
most important subject should be
promptly ascertained and asserted"
The Post suggests that as a beginning
congress might deal with few of the
worst culprits in an effectual manner
by making a reduction in the altitude
of the tariff schedules, under the shell
ter of which they are operating
Washington Post Qnd.).
With the exception of half a dozen
sentences there is nothing in it that
conveys any new information or any
new views of the presidents policy. 1t
has all been announced or foreshsd-
owed. 1t puts nothing in a very strik-
ing way. II is filed with 5Iatitudes and
ambiguous phrases, with high-sound-
ing declarations that mean nothing
indianapolis Sentinel.
The president has some pretty bold
words to say abOug the trusts. Let US
hope they are sincere and not merely
sop thrown to the powerful anti
trust sentiment among the people. How
much of sincerity there is in Mr.. Nc
Kinley's utterances will be shown by
the attitude toward the trusts of the
administration leaders in congress-
Wheeling Register.
The president alludes to the Flip
mos as rebels. thus intimating that they
have been citizens of the United States.
A man cannot well be a rebel or traitor
to a government to which he has never
owed or acknowledged allegiance. The
president apparently considers alle-
glance a purchasable commodity,
worth about two dollars per head
Grand Rapids Democrat.
Several things that the people would
like to have known, as they are the
government, with the president as
their executive representative, are not
hinted at. There is nothing as to the
rumored alliances that are agitating
the world, nothing about the plans for
keeping the Chinese door open, nothing
by the way of related facts that was
not before known.-Detroit Free Press.
When he says that all of the amend
ments to the rules promulgated by him
last May had for their main object a
more efficient and satisfactory admins
tration of the system of appointments
established by the civil service law"
he makes a statement widely at vari-
ance with the facts. The whole world
knows that he surrendered to the spoils-
men on that occasion. - Buffalo Cour-
Ter.
In two words the presidents pro-
gramme is extravaganza and empire.
He perfunctorily reminds congress of
IL 1.xs i =
is to congress that we must now turn
for defense against executive usurpa-
ton. The presidents message is in the
main a long record of change of ma
tional policy, wrought so far on his
own ilitiative.-N. y. Evening Post.
And what is his recommendation as
to trusts? Simply and solely that con-
gress shall give the subject studied
deliberation" resulting in wise and ju-
dicious action" 1t is a lame and i'm
botent conclusion. 1t would be gross
fiattery to call it statement of policy
or of principle. 1t is in effect a con-
fession of mental vacuity as to mat
ter of political discussion.-N. Y. Times.
In his treatment of the broad ques-
ton of a Philippine policy the presi-
dent slides easily from unctuous ex-
pressions CT benevoluence to blows
with the iron heel. The Filipinos are
insurgents" 'rebeis," and they must
be crushed. Mr.. Mckinley does not
see that these brown men are fighting
for the same right for which our ia
theirs of the American republic fought
a century and quarter ago.-Boston
Post.
The message is not frank, unequiv-
ocal declaration for Imperialism, but a
verbose and labored effort to conceal
the real purpose to drag the American
republic away from its early ideals,
and. with the glamour of expansion and
high-sounding phrases about the OBJ
LEGATIONS thrust upon us by destiny, to
hind a liberty-loving people to the
real character of the policy which it
In proposed to enforce.-Louisville Dis
patch.
Mr.. Mckinley practically says to
congress: "The Philippines are an
nexed-you can govern theAl when
take nv military hand off the desola-
tion l have made and called peace"
The presidents message is simply a no.
t;fication to this effect.-N. Y. World.
President Mckinley message to con-
oress is proof that imperialism has
come to stay as long as the republican
narty remains in power; our newly ac-
nuired territories are to be held under
1:1i+,ry erovernment their peoples not