The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
Circulation Statement.
The Presidents Message.


The new century, and also one year after
his sturdy and patriotic declaration to
them of our plain duty to Porto Rico"
He says: Your countrymen will join with
you in felicitation that American liberty
is more firmly established than ever be-
fore and that love for it and the determi-
nation to preserve it are more universal
than at any former period of our history"
How true. The difference is that novel
conceptions Of liberty have grown up OF
late Of the new kind we have abundant
examples before US; OF the liberty Of the
President to establish Crown Governments
in the colonies. 70 deny constitutional
rights to their inhabitants, and to engage
in foreign wars without reference TO Con
gress; of the liberty of trusts to monopo-
lie public utilities and the chief conlmod-
tiles of prime necessity 10 the cOmmu-
nity-
Mr.. Mckinley selects the Chinese GU s
ton as the subject for the first of the
historical essays with which his Mes
sage is enriched at great length. He
reviews the situation in China from the
time, several years ago. when the anti
foreign agitation began TO assume serious
proportions After narrating much Of the
story OF Pekin and the massacres with
which the public is entirely familiar, Mr..
Mckinley treats of his policy in the con-
neetIon. and refers to Secretary Hays
circular note of July 3, in which the ac-
lion of the Chinese Government in at
tacking The legations was assumed TO De
innocent. and due TO its inability to deal
with Boxers and anarchy, although the
Administration perfectly well knew on
The date mentioned that such IN act was
not justified, except in that it was the
only one upon which the President could
safely refuse 20 call Congress in eXtraoT-
binary session, and continue 20 prosecute
strictly executive war. AS soon, says
The Message, as the sacred duty of re-
Iieving our legation and its dependents
was accomplished. NE withdrew from &C
live hostilities, leaving cur legation IN
der an adequate guard in Pekin as
channel of negotiation and settlement"
This is the only even indirect reference
10 the De WoIIant incident, the agree
nent with Russia precipitately entered
into by amateur diplomats without no
lice to the Powers. the breaking of the
concord at Pekin by the United States.
and the cut and scuttie policy which has
cost this young world Power all the pres
tiCe it had gained to that time among the
nations. Mr.. Mckinley regards the cues
ton of indemnity as "a question of grave
concern bat does not commit himself
further on the subject. He reminds Con-
gress that Russia has suggested arbitra-
ton at The Hague in the event OF q pro-
tracted divergence of views and thinks
that high tribunal could not fail to reach
solution no less conducive 10 the sta
bility and enlarged prosperity Of China
itself, than Immediately beneficial 10 the
Towers
After devoting a few thousand words TO
Ions and able dissertations On a treaty
with Argentina, trade interests IN South
America. the insurFection in Colombia,
the Paris Exposition. and the peaceful
settlement Of the Samoan question. Mr.
Mckinley reaches the second important
division Of his annual essay, and talks
about Che South African War in two short
paragraphs, He says merely that ''our
friendly relations with Great Britain con-
tinue. . and that the var raised important
questions concerning the rights OF neutral
ships to land cargoes at neutral port
destined for one Of the beiIigerents. The
matter was amicably settled after seizure
OF some eGrgoes from this country bound
for Lourenco Marquee by the British Gov
ernment's agreement 20 buy all seized
property belonging 10 American citizens
There Is not 4 word about the sudden ex-
the expression OF Il hope that the work Of
devastation and carnage nov going on in
the stricken Dutch States may soon he
ended
The Hay-TCwer Alaska modGs vivendi
IS handled most gingerIy and, We must
say, with extreme diplomatic reserve
The work OF marking certain provisional
points Tor convenience Of administration
around the head of Lynn Canal. in accord
snce with the temporary arrangement of
october, 1898. was completed by a joint
survey in July last" This is only a deli
cate way of falling TO remind Congress in
terms that before October, 1899. the Cana
dams had seized the Porcupine district. to
which they had no shadow of claim, in
military manner. and the modus vivendi
confirmed them in that invasion and oc-
cupation. All the buttered rhetoric of
which Mr.. Mckinley is master cannot
make that fact look any less ugly than 1t
Is With few wary words on the Alas
kan boundary. generally the subject is
dropped.
While regrettably economical of space
where matters Of vital interest are con-
Cerned- the Message is an encyclopedias Of
saiuor things connected with old CT pro-
posed legislation. Administration, and mi
nor relations Of the Government Of one sort
or another We shall not attempt to con-
sider them at this time 4Ir. Mckinley
praises the Sultan for His Maiesty's good
disposition shown in ordering the Ameri-
can College at Harpoot 10 pc rebuilt, and.
we presume, also IN refusing an exequa-
tUr to cur consul there The state Of cur
commercial relations is noted. and the de-
stability OF more reciprocity. There is
rejoicing over the finances. but more gold
legislation will be needed. and how thank
tul We ought to feel for the unexampled
growth OF national banks!
A!most the first vigorous or asssrtige