The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Reciprocity and the Isthmian
Canal Are Strongly
Urged.
THE WORK OF A GREAT STATESMAN.
President ROosevelt's First State Paper
Contains Many Suggestions to Fifty
Seventh COngress-Eulogizes Late Chief
Executive and Condemns Anarchy.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The Presi-
dents message is unique among such
state papers in that it devotes a min
imum of space to the foreign rela-
lions of the government, mentioning
only the Chinese situation at length,
and that at the close OF the paper.
The custom heretofore has been for
the message to be mainly devoted to
foreign relations, those matters occu-
plying the first portions. Naturally
the message treats primarily of the
assassination of Mr.. Mckinley, and
this leads directly to the discussion of
anarchy and the best methods of gov
ernmental cure. In logical sequence
comes discussion of the prosperous
condition of the country in emphasis
of the declaration that the anarchists
have no ground for operating here.
Then follows discussion of the trusts
with the / recommendation that Con-
Sress enact laws giving the federal
government supervision over all cor
porations doing an interstate bust
ness. ~The President next recon-
mends the organization of a new cab
met Office. to conserve the interests { f
the commerce and industries of the
country, and in this connection urges
the immediate re-enactment of the
Chinese exclusion law to prevent the
influx of cheap labor from the far
east. After few words on the state
OF American labor, in which the Pres
ident reveals his sympathy with in
telllgent organization, he urges a re-
modelling of the immigration laws to
further protect the home worker and
to elevate the standard of citizenship.
Passing to the consideration of the
tariff the President declares that reci-
procity is essential to the furthering
of the American export trade. He
says that reciprocity is the hand
maiden of protection" and specially
calls the attention of the Senate to
the treaties laid before it by President
Mckinley. He next recommends some
measure for the rehabilitation of the
American merchant marine as a fur
ther essential in the substantial
growth of the export trade. He be-
speaks the maintenance of the gold
standard and suggests that changes
be made in the currency and banking
laws still further. to guard against
the deranging influences of crisis and
panics. He warns against too radical
reduction of the revenues and urges
economy in expenditures. The inter
state commerce act should be amend
ed, he says, to give the commission
more power to insure justice to both
shippers and railways.
One of the most striking features of
the message is the Presidents urgent
recommendation that steps be taken
at once toward the further preserva-
ton of the forests of the country and
that the government undertake the
establishment of irrigation systems
on large scale to open up the arid
lands of the West to settlement. He
speaks encouragingly of affairs in the
lnsular possessions, and as to Cuba
declares that 1--WE are bound by every
consideration of honor and expedi-
ency to pass commercial measures in
the interest of her material well be-
ing" AS to the Philippines he holds
that our work there is being well
done, toward the end of giving the
Fillpinos not only good government
in the present, but toward educating
them in the ways of future self-gov-
eminent. The President recommends
that laws be passed for the develop
ment of the resources of the islands
through the grant of franchises.
Mr.. Roosevelt declares in positive
terms in favor of the immediate con-
oOA uNoiOhl vi tllC anu
points to the newly negotiated Hay
Pauncefote treaty as opening the
way to this consummation of the
long deferred American plans. He
urges the construction of Pacific
cable. He reiterates the Monroe doc
trine as the governing principle in all
A i
powers in western affairs, and pro-
ceeds to urge the upbuilding of the
navy as one of the surest steps to-
ward the preservation of the peace.
He bespeaks the construction of addi-
tional battle ships and the mainten-
ance afioat of large squadrons COM
prising all classes of vessels to give
the personnel of the navy the fullest
possible drill in the actual handling
of war engines. On the same line are