Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-12-12
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1901.
the PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

IHE FnE = MEOOHUG'
President Rooseyelt's first message to
the Congress is very lengthy but very
able paper While there has been DISPOSE
ton on the part Of some Of the Democrat
ic press to make adverse criticisms on the
message, upon the whole it has been we'll
received by the Presidents political adj
versaries. Ii lie so non.partisan and so
American in tone that it necessarily evokes
admiration where it docs not even win
assent to his views on the many impor-
tant questions discussed.
TIE opening paragraphs contain feel
ing and graphic account of the assssslna-
ton of President Mckinley. The life of the
martyr President is reviewed, his intimate
touch with the masses of the people dem
onstrated and the example Of his life held
ND as a model for the citizens of the Ma
ton. Speaking of the assassin the President
Gays: "That there might be nothing lack
ing to complete the Judas.ike infamy OF
his act he took advantage of an occasion
when the President was meeting the peo'
pie generally; and advancing as if to take
the hand outstretched to him in kindly
and brotherly fellowship, he turned the
noble and generous confidence Of the vic
tim into an opportunity to strike the fatal
blow. There is NO baser deed i'll all the
annals of crime"
The President then proceeds to show
that no matter calls more urgently for
Congressional action than the passage Of
laws for the punishment of the assasslna-
ton or attempted assassination of Presl'
dent or any of those who are in line Of
succession to the Presidency; and for the
suppression Of anarchy. He says: "Anar-
chy is crime against the whole human
race, and all mankind should band against
the anarchist"
He then proceeds to discuss the growth
of trusts and the creation of corporate
fortunes. This il done in an admirable
and forcible way. The over capitalization
evil is referred to, and it is recommended
that this danger should be removed by
Government regulation. II Congress has
not the authority to remove the evil it
should he done by constitutional enact
ment. We have seen no discussion of the
trust question that is as clear, conclusive
and at the same time as conservative as
that Of President Roosevelt.
The President recommends the creation
of anotEtr Cabinet officer to be known as
the Secretary of Commerce and Indus
try" and he would have that officer deal
With commerce Gin its broadcast eense."
He urges the re enactment of the Chin
csc labor exclusion act and insists that
more care full attention should be given to
the exclusion of undesirable immigrants
who may come to this country from Eu-
rope. The President congratulates the
country that wages are now higher in this
country than they have ever been before
and that they are much higher than they
a-e in any country. He recommends that
CJngress shall make strong efforts to assist
the various States of the Union in their
endeavor 10 get lid of the competition of
convict labor with the honest labor of the
country.
The President asserts that, "There is a
general acquiescence in our present tariff
system as national policy" and he is
decided in his opposition to any changes
in the tariff laws at the present, except
that he favors reciprocity" which he
pronounces "the hsndmaiden of protec-
tion."
The American merchant marine the
President says, "should be restored to the
ocean," The condition of this important
interest sis such as to call for immediate
remedial action by the Congress. He
favors the establishment of shipping lines
to the principal countries with which We
have dealings. and declares ''that this,
would be Of political as well as CONNER
cal benefit"
In his treatment of tie question of cur.
rency and banks he says: "Ihe Act of
March IA, 1900, intended unequivocally
to establish gold as the standard money
and to maintain at parity Herewith all
forms of money medium now in use with
US, has been shown to be timely and judi
cie u.s." Then he declares:
''ln many respects the National Bank.
ing Law furnishes sufficient liberty for the
proper exercise of banking function; but
there seems to be need of better safeguards
against the deranging influence of COM
mercial crises ard financial panics.
Moreover, the currency of the country
should be made responsive to the de-
mands of our domestic trade and COM
merce."
While acknowledging that the revenues
now being collected by internal taxation
ElI