The Opelousas courier., 1900-12-08
YHE LEADING

OSSCIolOi13 dloOs W IltthC Il p1O
nouncement against lynching
without, however, recommending
any action by Congress on the
subject. ,.s,.r
Much space in the message is
given to setting forth the extent
Of the national commerce and the
satisfactory state of the national
finances. The exports and i'm.
ports for the year past aggregate
the enormous sum of two billions
of dollars while the public reve.
nues show IL surplus, instead OF
the deficiency that has loemed up
for several years of late. The
President recommends that de-
crease of $50, 100000 of dollars be
made in the war tax.
On the subject Of the Nicaragua
Canal little is said beyond a rec
emmendation that measures
should be taken to secure, in
place of the Clayton-Bulwel
treaty, some international agree
| ment favorable to ownership by
the United States of ali isthmian
inter-oceanie waterway. The san
guine advocates of such canal
will yet find further patience, if
not a virtue, at least a necessity
The President is plainly in fa-
ver of the Payne-Hanna ship-sub-
sidy grab, although no indiviual
reference is made to it but the
fact is apparent from the earnest
nesss with which he urges that
something decisive be done to
build up the mercantile marine.
In the matter Of trusts, the
Presidents views are entirely
nebulous and indefinite. He ia
vors repression of the bad mo-
nopolies or combinations, and the
protection and fostering of the
good. No suggestion is ventured
as to how the good and bad are
to be distinguished, or what quail
tiles in the premises are good and
bad.
Much space is devoted to the
Philippine possessions. Necessa-
rily the islands will have to be
kept under military contreI until
all hostilities shall he subdued ];
but, through the instrumentality
of the Taft Commission, the CIV
ilized natives are to be protected
in personal and property rights
and given some degree of politi-
cal liberty. The wild tribes are
to receive the same treatment as
was given to the American In
dams. No guarantees, under the
national Constitution, of citizen
ship are contemplated in the
Presidents purvieW.
The policy proposed for Porto
Rico, although embracing a cer-
tain degree of legislative self-gov-
ernment, does not promise any
guarantees of American citizen
ship, but leaves the matter open
for the continuance of the colo
nial policy adopted for all the
new possessions. As to Cuba, its
people through their delegates,
IRE now engaged in framing a con-
stitution which must be submit
ted to the United States Congress
for consideration. Cuba, in all
probability, will be accorded some
sort Of independence under vir-
tual protectorate.
An army of at least 100, 900 men
is considered necessary under ex-
listing conditions, and without any
sort of doubt it is SO. When and
whether these conditions shall be
so changed as to permit the Re
public to return to a peace estab-
Iishment are matters still left out
Of the discussion but it is plain
that, with the possession of dis
tant colonies, many of whose
people are in armed rebellion, re-
quiring large military forces to
subdue them, and the mainte-
nance Of a foreign policy which
countenances, if it does not re-
quire, constant interference in the
affairs of foreign nations, it is
clear that an army of 100000
men will be as small a force as
can be depended on, and in all
probability will prove much too
small. The embarking by the
Republic upon a policy Of con-
quest and colonization in far-off
foreign lands must necessarily de-
pend on the strong arm of power
TO support it, and the question of
a powerful military force inn
presses itself upon the Govern
lnent with an emphasis that can
| not be disregarded.
Good milch cows with young
calves for sale cheap fer cash.
Apply to III. L. Garland.
Buy your Oysters and Oyster
Loaves at City Hotel Restaurant.
j. r.. CoTTINGHAM, PRoP.