The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

the lsthmian canal reciprocity with
Cuba and the condition of our new pos
sessions. The president discusses the
trusts, much as he has oftentimes be-
fore, saying that the sole purpose OF
any legislation in regard to them should
be to prevent them from using their
power to the detriment of the people.
Anything like raid on corporations is
to be deprecated as blow at our pros
perity. The President is not very spe-
citic as to legislation that will be desir-
able, but he earnestly recommends
the subject to the consideration Of Con-
greSS with view to the passage OF a
law reasonable in it's operations, upon
which the. questions can be finally adj
Indicated that now raise doubts as to
the necessity of a constitutional amend
ment," and he adds if it prove impossi-
bic to &C complish the purposes desired,
then, assuredly, we should not shrink
from amending the constitution SO as
to secure beyond peradventure the
power sought" The President takes
no stock in the cutting of the tariff as
cure for the evils of the trusts. Such
policy would cripple small industries
as we'll as the trusts. The effect of
such a remedy would be to destroy
manufacturing by making it unprotita-
BILE
The question of regulation OF trusts,
says the President, stands apart from
the question of tariff revision. While
it is evident that the President thinks
no general revision is called for, and
that the tariff should be stable, its sta
CHI
and he expresses an earnest wish that
the tariff might be treated as business
question, and commission appointed
to consider and report from time to
time what changes may be required by
changes in the conditions of business
and industry. ''There must never be
any change he says, ''that will jeopar-
die the standard of comfort, the stan
dard of wages of the American wage
worker Some establishments of the
tariff which may be desirable can, he
thinks, be effected through reciprocity.
The President specifically recommends
the repeal OF the duty on anthracite
coal. This would have no effect eX-
cept in crises: and in crises it might be
of service to the people,
The President says he expects soon
to be able to lay before the Senate a
reciprocity treaty with Cuba, and he
urges Its adoption, mot only because it
is eminently for our own interests to
control the Cuban markets and by
every other means to foster our SUI
premacy in the tropical lands and wat
ers south of us, but also because we, of
the giant republic of the North, should
make all Of our sister nations of the
American continent feel that whenever
they will permit it we desire to show
ourselves disinterestedly and effectively
their friend''
Regarding the isthmian canal the
President says it has been settled that
good title can be secured to the
French canal property, and that nego-
tiations are still pending with Colombia
for concessions on the isthmus.
Turning to our new possessions, the
President says that the prosperity of
Porto Rico and the wisdom with which
1t has been governed have been such as
to make it serve as an example of all
that is best i'll insular administration"
Peace and amnesty were promulgated
in the Philippine islands on July 4 of
this year, There has been some trouble
with the Moros but with the Filipinos
the war has ceased. ''No policy ever
entered upon by the American people
has," he thinks, "vindicated itself in
more signal manner than the policy of
holding the Philippines" The people
OF the Philippines, taken as whole,
now enjoy more f-gOvernment than
is granted to any other Oriental people,
save the japanese alone. He pays a
glowing tribute to the work of the army,
and believes that Notwithstanding a
cruel act here and there it was done
with more humanity than ever charac-
terized a like work
The President deals with many other
topics in the message and makes many
recommendations. He urges the crea-
ton OF a secretary of commerce; points
out the need Of passing proper immi-
grafton law; congratulates the country
on the successful arbitrations before
the Hague tribunal; urges the need of
passing bill providing for a general
staff for the army and for reorganiza-
ton of the supply department; says
there should be no hating in the work
OF building up the navy and in this con-
nection calls attention to the deficiency
Of the supply of men for manning the
ships; recommends the further extern
sion of the rural delivery service; COM
mends the inauguration of a system of
Irrigation and suggests legislation for
the protection of game; urges that the
remaining public lands be held, rigidly
for the home builder, the settler who
lives on the land, and recommends
legislation for Alaska.