The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06
SIXTEEN PAGES.


HlOTullS lHe oldHudIu gives
to its readers the full text of
the presidential message, which
on yesterday was laid before the SEN
ate and house of representatives in
congress assembled.
Respecting the merits Of the docu-
ment, the expressed opinions Of peo-
pie will vary with their views upon
the more important subjects treated
Those who agree with the president
will pronounce it g wise. patriotic and
statesmanlike paper; those who differ
from him will be certain to criticise
it adversely, and perhaps in some cases
with undue severity. 81
1t is scarcely NECESSARY to say that
upon the leading Issues before the
country the Standard does not agree
with President Mckinley. AT the
same time it will be our endeavor to
deal with the message in a spirit of
the most perfect fairness, although we
are fully aware that any adverse COM
snent will be ascribed to partisan pref
udice. However, the message must
stand upon its merits and If it cannot
run SUCCESSFULLY the gauntlet even of
nntagonistic, partisan comment, it will
paper
The greater portion of the message
is devoted to mere general narrative
of matters relating to the normal af-
fairs Of the country, either domestic
or foreign. These may be passed over
at once with the simple remark that
nothing appears to indicate whether
they have been dealt with in a man
ner better or worse than if some other
party had been in power or some other
man had occupied the presidential
chair.
The subjects of which he treats that
are uppermost in the public mind are
four in number. These are the money
question, the Philippine situation, the
trusts, and the status of the island of
Cuba. The money question Is doubt
less OF the first Importance because Of
its far reaching effect upon the home
life of every individual, while that of
Cuba is OF the least moment, because
it directly concerns but few people,
and because further the question has
not yet reached the acute stage. We
will, therefore, invert the order in
which the questions have been named
and glance briefly at each, beginning
with what we deem to be the least
smportant, namely, tina. of Cuba,
The president declares that the "high
purpose" proclaimed by congress in the
Joint resolution of April 10, 1898, not to
exercise sovereignty jurisdiction or
control over the island except for the
pacification thereof, must be sacredly
kept" This is eminently right and If
The president has been moving steadily
and consistently to that end, his course
is to be highly commended.
The trouble has been that we have
had no visible sign of such purpose
in the general conduct of Cuban affairs.
The island has been governed by mill
tary rule, the American money stand
ard has been forced into use at the Gus
toms houses. the entire revenue sys-
TEN of the island being adjusted
thereto, and the wishes Of the Cubans
in regard to their own government ap-
PAL thllg nave DttH DIS OtIipltIelY IL
nored as if they had been a conquered
people. All of this may have been nee
essary, but the fact docs not appear
The president assumes that we have
taken upon ourselves the responsibility
of erecting government in Cuba that
shall be exempt from the possibility OF
failure. That is going entirely too far
There are elements Of weakness in
every government and in the character
Of all peoples. We have no right tC
demand what we consider to be perfec-
ton in the people of Cuba before en-
trusting them with the reins OF self
government. The president rightly says
that our relations with the island will
always be close. No doubt we shall be