The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04
The Message.

The Message.
President McKInley's fourth annual
message meets the assumed desire Of
Congress and the people for a condensed
history OF the operations Of the govern
ment during the past year as well as for
appropriate reflections on existing condi-
tions and suggestions as 10 the future.
Our republic is so young that only one Of
President McKinley's predecessors has
addressed Congress at the close Of a CEN
tury. and that was in the early infancy
OF the more perfect Union" IL was nat
ural, therefore, that this message should
begin with a brief but comprehensive
summary Of the growth of the republic
during the century in population. in the
number OF States. and in area. He says
truly that education, religion, and NOR
ality have kept pace with our advance
ment In other directions. Pessimists can
treat that assertion with incredulity, but
they cannot refute IL. And let us nope
that the future may fully demonstrate TO
our own and all other peoples that while
extending its power, the government has
adhered to its foundation principles and
abated none OF them in dealing with our
new peoples and possessions
Much space is devoted 10 "the recent
troubles in China" the various stages in
the saddest Of all International tragedies
being clearly detailed. At the most acute
stage Of the crisis the world was notified
that 'the policy OF the government of the
United States is to seek a solution which
may bring about permanent safety and
peace TO China, preserve Chinese terri
torial and administrative entity, protect
all rights guaranteed TO friendly 2cwers
by treaty and international law, and safe
guard for the world the principles of
equal and impartial trade with all parts
OF the Chinese empire
To that policy our government has
steadfastly adhered, and from that line
there will be no departure. The most cap
tiOus criticism would be baff1ed in an at
tempt 10 find a flaw in the adminlstra-
uon's treatment of this, the most difficult
of all the subjects that have demanded
its attention. In concluding his remarks
on the Chinese question the President
says that the government of Russia has
put forward a suggestion that in the
event OF protracted divergence of views
in regard TO indemnities the matter may
be relegated to the court OF arbitration at
The Hague. To this he is favorably IN
clined. believing that high tribunal could
not fail to reach a solution no less con-
dueive to the stability and enlarged pros
perity OF China itself than Immediately
beneficial 10 the powers.
Referring to the modus vivendi in the
matter of the Alaska boundary, the Pres
ident says that, however necessary such
an expedient may have been to tide over
the grave emergencies of the situation, II
Is at best but an unsatisfactory make
shift, which should not be suffered to de-
lay the speedy and complete establish
ment of the frontier line TO which we ara
entitled under the Russo-A American treaty
for the cession of Alaska.
The President makes a brief but oosi-
tive mention of an alleged fatal defect I'm
the currency act Of last March. He SAYS
It Will be the duty, as he is sure it viii be
the disposition, of the Congress to pro-
vide whatever further legislation Is need
ed to insure the continued parity under
all conditions between our two forms of
metallic money, silver and gold.
The President treats the Philippina
question at considerable length. but states
no facts in that connection not already
known. He makes clear the lofty pur-
poses Of our government toward the
strangely mixed the abnormaIly homo
geneous population of the islands and
holds out hope OF peace and progress IN
der our flag. He says that "the Filipinos
are race quick to learn and to profit by
knowledge, lie would be rash who, with
the teachings OF contemporaneous history
in view would fix limit TO the degree Of
culture and advancement YET within the
reach Of those people If our duty toward
them be faithfully performed"