The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A Strong and Conservative Paper That
Has Called Forth Almost Univer-
sal Commentator,

The President sent his message to Congress on
Monday. There has never been period in the
history of the country, says the Baltimore
Herald, when the people were more concerned
in the progress of their Government, nor when
the formal communication of their President,
as required by the Constitution. has been more
eagerly looked for. In many essential respects
the Presidents message is mirror which faith
fully reflects the condition, progress and hopes
of the Republic, and. therefore, the popular
eagerness with which its reading before Con
gress is anticipated.
Mr. McKinley's message not only contains
comprehensive review of the conditions, domes-
tic and foreign, which environ the Government,
but it is also document which is redolent with
the spirit of patriotism. The opening sentences
bear tribute to the individual and national pros
perity, and to the growing strength of the Re
public at home and abroad. As The President
truly says, american liberty is more firmly es-
tablished than ever before. and love for it, and
the determination to preserve it, are more uni
versal than at any former period in our history;
the Republic was never so strongly intrenched
in the hearts of the people as now"
As might have been expected, the Chinese stu
alton - given gIeaL t n ~ rs inter-
course with foreign nations. After reviewing
the history of the troubles now existing IN
China. ana the QlpIOudllc Steps WniCh HuNc
been taken by this country toward the settle
ment of those troubles, the President expresses
the view that due compensation Tor the r DANA
made in part by increased guarantees OF Sc
curity for foreign rights and indemnities, and,
most important Of all, by the opening OF T ThIna
70 the equal commerce of all the world. These
views, the President declares. have been and
viii be earnestly advocated by our Representa-
tives.
The financial operations of the Government
for the past wear are TeeaQst4letea 4at. aeRetlf
20 the fact that the surplus revenues for the
fiscal year ended june 30. 1900. were Sl9,52I C6O
IL. whereas for the six preceding years we had
only deficits, the aggregate of which from 1884
20 1899. inclusive. was S2e3 or, 99l.l4 Concern
ing the disposition OF the surplus. reduction
OF the internal revenue war taxes to the amount
OF S3O.OO0,OO0 is advised. As to what subjects
now taxed should be relieved from their bur-
dens. the President leaves TO the discretion OF
Congress. though he does especially urge the
removal of the tax which the present law i'm
poses on literary. charitable and educational
Inc remarkable record of the country's com
mercial ana industrial progress is noted with
evident satisfaction, well as the growth of
manufactures. the latter incident being evil
denced by the fact that the exports of manu-
featured products largely exceeded those of any
previous year, their value for 1900 being $751;
SOL 1855, against $3.50 JAG in lS99an increase of
2S per cent. The President recommends the
adoption of measure to promote American
shipping. As to the Nicaragua Canal, he an
nOunces that the Nicaraguan Government after
declaring the Eyre-Cragin option void, mani
the waterway. In the meantime he recon-
mends the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which is
now pending in the Senate. to the early atten-
ton of that body as being condition precedent
to progress on the proposed Isthmlan water
way.
the vital interests which the United States has
in Cuba, he announces that when the Constitu-
tional Convention in Cuba, which is now in
session, finishes its work, he will transmit to
Congress the organic law which it has framed
for such action as Congress may see fit to take
upon it.
AS to the needs of the Army, the opinion is
expressed that the new territorial acquisitions,
the army posts and the coast defenses will re-
quire an army of at least $1,000 men, and a re-
commentator is submitted that the President
should have authority, during the continuance
of existing conditions in the Philippines and
Cuba, to increase the force to the present num-
Der to 100000 He also advises that authority be
given to raise 1900 native troops in the Philip
pines-a plan which has been approved by the
Taft Commission.
The Philippine situation is comprehensively
reviewed, much of the Presidents statement
being taken up by succinct narrative of the
events that have occurred on the archipelago
during the past year. Congress is again re-
minded that 1t must provide a government for
our new possessions in the Orient, and is in
formed that the work of pacifcation and the
institution of local government are progressing
satisfactorily. As showing the Presidents
ser1 be M WIN III Ine rpnos ne refers
duty he declares. $50 to treat them that our
flag may be no less beloved in the mountains of
Luzon. in the fertile regions of Mindanao and
Negros, than il is at home; that there. as here,
IL shall be the revered symbol of liberty. en-
lightenment and progress in every avenue of
development" As 10 what Mr.. Mckinley hopes
for the Philippines is evidenced by his remark
that "he would be rash who, with the teachings
of contemporaneous history in view, would fix
a limit to the degrees of culture and advance
ment yet within the reach of these people, il
our duty toward them be faithfully performed"
The concluding passages of the message show
unequivocally that President Mckinley is fully
alive to the dangers that may ensue from the
growing power of the Republic. Our growing
power" says he. brings with it temptations
and peris requiring constant vigilance to avoid.
s~-.z=t ct - t.oCd invite COunlCIS, or Tor
oppression. but for the more effective mainte-
nance of those principles of polity and justice
upon which our institutions depend"