The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


We publish today the full text of the
Presidents Message, which was read in
both houses of Congress yesterday.
1t is long, dreary and lacks the IL
Elimination of q ringing sentence or
a noble sentiment. 1t is like McKin-
ey-common-place and wordy, full of
pious platitudes and double meaning.
1t contains much information and
every citizen ought to read it because
it is a plain review of the foreign and
domestic affairs from the administra-
ton standpoint.
The best part of the message is the
treatment of the Chinese question.
sued course altogether wise and
consistent with reference to the situa-
ton in China. He has resisted the in
clination of other powers to dismem-
Der the Empire. He has persistently
stood for the open door," and he has
demanded just treatment of American
business men and protection of mis-
sionaries in China. He has not sought
to impose conditions that were impos-
sible of acceptance, or that would re-
suit in unduly humiliating the Chinese
nation. The people of the whole coun-
try of all parties have applauded the
presidents Chinese policy and will up
hold his hands in carrying it out.
1t is a pity that the enlightened
Americanism that shines out so clear
" in his treatment of the Chinese, is
wanting in our relation to the Filipi-
nos. The president does indeed write
of our Philippine policy in a fatherly
and loving way, but it is the old ''How
art thou, my brother?' method of kill
ing with honeyed words. No definite
policy is outlined except in the recon-
mendation for a large standing army
in which he estimates that from $4,000
to G0000 soldiers will be needed in the
Philippines That recommendation
ought to be read in connection with
the pious platitudes about the Filipi-
HOS DellS TIC Wdiuo VI IlAC heu0iOh'
That, by the way, is a more correct
phrase than the president intended it
to be. First the Indians were 1.-The
wards of the nation" and they were
plundered and robbed and driven from
land solemnly given to them. Then
the negro during Reconstruction, be-
came 1.-THE wards of the nation and
instead of being given forty acres and
a mule" the negro has learned that
Republican talk of friendship was a
pretense that existed only in the hope
of Republican advantage through the
vote of the negro. The Indian and the
negro were nearby, in ''hollering" dis
lance, so to speak, and could make
themselves heard. The Filipino, far
across the waters, will never be able
to make his guardian hear him, or il
he is heard, the redress of his griev-
ances will be left to unworthy agents.
The message is not otherwise i'm
poaant, save as it details the financial
interests of the country and gives a
review of our relations with foreign
countries 1t has few recommended
tions. 1t is hazy in its approval of the
lsmthian canal, clear in it's approval
of the Hanna subsidy bill, perfunctory
in advocacy of the enforcement of
laws against trusts, and mid in de-
nunciation of lynchings.
To sum up: The message, dull and
wrong in most points, is relieved from
utter subserviency to wrong notions,
by the clear note with reference to
China. For that we give the president
all praise, and regret most of all that
Hanna's influence was marked enough
to compel a reimbursement of the in
equitable and un-American subsidy bill,
and that he takes long step toward
lnilitarism by favoring a much larger
standing army.