The sun., 1900-12-04
The Last Message ~ tho Century.

Q narrative n prosperity ~ home ana "f
diplomatic and military achievement not
less than growing trade abroad
The most important recommendations
touching the immediate business Of Con
gress are these:
1 That the present revenue from war
taxes be reduced by about S3OOooOo The
financial exhibit warranting this recom-
mendation Is Of highly satisfactory char
acter The last fiscal year showed a sur
plus Of 90 bCO. 900. after an uninterrupted
series Of six years Of deficits aggregating
S?s3 10000. The Secretary OF the Treas
ury estimates an excess OF revenue over
expenditures for the current year amount
ing again to $4,000 600. The available
cash balance in the Treasury exclusive Of
the gold reserve Is Si3s, ,3os. 7ea; the gold
reserve is sl5o.OO.ooO The two per cent
continued bonds OF 1901 have been paid
on since June 80 to the amount Of s23.-
as. 100 The refunding Of three, four and
Ave per cent. bonds into two per cents.
under the act Of last March. has proceeded
TO the extent of about 1895, coo. 900 out OF a
total Of the outstanding issues of $500
OO0.oo0. the net saving TO the Government
by the exchange being nearly SO, coO. 900.
with g., 600 600 reduction of interest charges
annually for the next three years. The
President is justified in Reporting that
the present condition of the Treasury
is one of undoubtcl strength"
2. Aid to American shipping The figures
he gives Of the nations foreign commerce
bear directly on this recommendation.
They are even more gratifying than the
Treasury exhibit. Last year our exports
and imports combined exceeded two bill
lions Of dollars. the highest point ever
reached Exports were greater than ever
before The exports Of agricultural products
alone about equallcd the total of imports Of
all sorts; and OF manufactured products we
exported si33. .s5l. $50. an increase Of nearly
sir,noco. or twenty-eight per cent.
over the preceding year At the same time
the importation Of finished goods Of foreign
manufacture IL steadily decrea sing in its
ratio to the total Of imports. This is
development in the right direction The
record Of it renders impressive the Prcsi-
dents earnest appeal to Congress to legis-
late at once for the upbuilding Of our mer-
chant marine. At present American ships
are carrying less than one-tenth Of the
two billion dollars worth of our commerce,
outgoing and incoming. The President
does not specifically mention the Frye
Grosvenor Shipping bill now before Con-
greSs, but his remarks leave little room for
doubt that he has that measure in mind
when he calls for aid to our merchant
marine which will broaden our commerce
and our markets and upbuild our sea
carrying capacity for the products Of agri-
culture and manufacture. which, with
the increase Of our navy, mean more work
and wages to our countrymen. as well a.
q safeguard to American interests In all
parts Of the world" Tho principle under
lying the so-called Subsidy bill is the same
A. that which justlfes the general policy
Of protection. for which Mr. MCKINLEY
has done 30 much. and which has brought
TO this nation such magnificent results
B. In the same line is the Presidents
reference TO the importance OF the inter- |
oceanic canal We can only wish that
his remarks on that subject specially ad-
dressed to the Senate had included a frank
announcement that the State Department
was ready to welcome any such suggested |
change in the Hay Pauncrfote treaty as
might make the canal thoroughly Ameri- |
can and American for all time
T. The prompt construction Of n Pacific !
cable to Hawaii, Guam and Manila.
g. For the Fipinos. as soon "a NAV be.
an enduring self supporting and self |
administering community" We quote !
the Presidents words because they are |
likely 10 give rise to as much discussion as |
anything in the message His remarks |
on the nations duty to the people whom |
he styles is wards may be interpreted |
by some over.hasty ant-imperialists "a |
meaning Independent self government for !
the Filipinos AT some future dav. There |
n no warrant, however. for the asslImption |
that the President ~ reCeding a step from !
the position he took when he declared that
our flag must remain in the Philippinss
He makes this tolerably clear when he goes
on TO say that We must so treat the Filipinos
that our flag may he no less beloved in
Luzon than II IL at home. and that there |
"a here 1t shall be tho revered symbol OF |
liberty. enlightenment and progress in
every avenue Of development"
q. The increase of the army. The Presi. |
dents recommendations are in accord with
the well-known requirements Of the s,ua-
uon that is to say an army OF 10000. with
authority on the part Of the Executive to
increase the force to 100 900 while conditions
remain as at present in the Philippines and
Cuba. The President asks for power TO in.
clude in the 10000 about 1900 native
troops in the Philippines. the Taft Commits
sion believing that such troops would he
more effective even than our own sol.
dlers in operations against guerrillas and
ladrones.
7. Reapportonment, but significantly with.
out any reference to the curtaiment of
representation.
:. Finally. and by way Of general ex-
hortation rather than Of formal recon-
mendation. reminder to Congress OF the
peculiar dangers of the present session
resulting from abundant prosperity, a
full Treasury and "A Republican majority
with no check. save lis own self-control.
upon its natural disposition To go ahead
At high pressure and full speed BE eau
Hon Nv A,.I !