The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To such an extent do the responsibilities
and duties growing out of the Spanish war
occupy the attention OF the President and
message is devoted 10 those topics. In Mr..
McKinley's first annual message all al
lusions TO the Cuban question could nave
been put into a single paragraph; now the
results of the war with Spain are the lead
ing topics of the message. The presenta-
ton of the facts and conditions. including
the Chinese affair. shows how far entirely
new problems and policies for which there
is no precedent have been forced upon the
President and Congress by the logic of
novelty of the questions which the Presi-
dent discusses at length force the problems
Of domestic policy into the background.
The President begins with the Chinese
question, which just now attracts more at
tention than others because more depends
upon the answer than upon any other
question. The issue regarding the Philip
pines may be said TO be settled. The United
States will hold the islands and give their
| population education, equal rights and
security. To the setting forth of what has
been done in those islands and to the work
that he has planned, much of the message
is devoted. The President has given all
the facts to the American people. He has
been equally explicit in regard to the Chi
nese troubles. The facts are stated and
the policy of the President is given for
public consideration without argument. the
President evidently assuming that there
are no weak places in his action or di-
plomacy. What he has TO say of Cuba
and Hawaii is equally clear. The pledge
made to the world in regard to Cuba is
to be carried out. The relation of the other
| possessions acquired by treaty to the
United States is not discussed. Present
duties and responsibilities demand the en-
tire attention.
For the rest the President considers
briefly the favorable conditions of public
affairs. He recommends the reduction Of
the war tax, while his statistics show the
unparalleled strength of the public treasury.
In a few lines he urges Congress ito pro-
vide whatever further legislation is neces-
sary to insure the continued parity under
all conditions between our forms of
money" He repeats his recommendations
regarding monopolistic and like combina-
tons and urges Congress to act. He urges
an increase Of the army and commends the
proposition to have officers detailed from
the line to fill vacancies in the various
the public service by extending it, under
rigid requirements. in the Philippines. and
by urging Congress TO make adequate ap-
preparations TO enable the Civil-service
| Commission to discharge its important
duties with p%romptness.
No more timely warning or more concise
| statement Of the Nations true policy could
be made than is embraced in the final
paragraph, as follows:
In our great prosperity we must guard
against the danger ii Invites of extraya-
gance in government expenditures ard ap-
preparations; and the chosen representa-
ives VI lnt ptOpic VIII, Il uOubl BOl, vi
nish an example in their legislation Of that
wise economy which in a season of plenty
husbands for the future. In this era OF
great business activity and opportunity
caution is not untimely. 1t will not abate,
but strengthen, confidence. 1t will not re-
tard, but promote, legitimate industrial
and commercial expansion. Our growing
power brings with 1t temptations and perils
| requiring constant vigilance to avoid. 1t
must not be used TO invite conflicts, nor
for oppression. but for the more effective
maintenance of those principles Of equality
and justice upon which our institutions
and happiness depend. Let us keep always
in mind that the foundation Of our govern
ment is liberty; its sup%erstructure peace.
In the closing sentences of this pregnant
paragraph is expressed the policy of the
President and the portion of the American
people whom he represents and who ex-
tended his period of usefulness another
term. Our growing power must be used to
extend the blessings of liberty and justice
through peace.