The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

annual message to congress, which was
read in both houses of that body yes
terday. The message contains about
nine thousand words. 1t is a clear and
concise statement, on most of the sub
jects discussed, of the financial. indus
trial and political conditions Of the
country from the presidents point Of
view. with recommendations for legis-
lation on several important subjects.
The chief topics touched upon are our
new position as d world power and the
rapid development Of the country In
this respect. trusts. the tariff. our none
tary system, Cuban reciprocity, the
isthmian canal. the Philippines al
capital and labor, although many other
subjects are discussed and action on
them by congress recommended.
He says we have become a great ma
ton among the powers Of the world and
he emphatically declares it to be our
intention to become a still greater on>:
that we are in a position where ne
cannot avoid this endeavor. In domeS-
tic affairs We have made as great
strides as in our relations with foreign
nations. Where there has been sucn
rapid growth some evils necessarily
creep in with the good. Evils do exist,
he says, and we must endeavor
in the proper way to eradicate them.
Here he takes up the question OF
trusts, the natural products of our
rapid progress and vast accumu-
tation Of wealth. He recommends legis-
lation for the control of these and the
stamping out of what evils exist in
them. He thinks congress has ample
power to do this, but if it has not then
it should be provided for by a constItu-
tional amendment. He is utterly op-
posed to reduction of the tariff on
trust-made goods as a means of rem
edy, for he does not think this would
effect a cure of the evils. but rath'r
produce others. He recommends pup
licity as an effective measure for con
trolling large corporations. He earnest
ly recommends to considera-
ton of the question OF better leglSla-
ton for the eradication of the evils d
monopoly. unjust discrimination. ami
fraudulent overcapitalization of the big
EOTDOI dIIOhS. II
himself thoroughly understood on this
point
The president advocates a protective
tariff and declares it exceedingly unde-
sirable that the system should DC de-
stroyed OF that there should be violent
and radical changes therein He at
tributes the great prosperity of the
country to this system, which would De
ENDANGERED by "ftful changes at short
intervals" He thinks it better to en-
dure for q time slight inconvenience
and Inequalities in some schedules than
to upset business by too quick and -
radical changes He recommends re-
ciprocity treaties as the proper means
by which readjustment where need i
can be made He recommends the re-
neal of the tariff on anthracite coal.
On the financial question the presi-
dent has little to say and that little =
indefinite and very general in terms, III
marked contrast with his manner OF
treating the other subjects discussed
In the message. He thinks it would BE-
unyise and unnecessary at this time to
attempt W ISNO4AoNA ~ 49,
system, but says some additional legts-
lation is desirable, but makes no sug-
gestion beyond saying that there should
be greater elasticity in our monetary
system and legislation with the view
of encouraging the use of such instru-
mentalities as will automatically sup
ply every legitimate demand of produc-
tive industries and of commerce not
only in the amount but in the character
of circulation" based, of course. upon
the gold standard.
On the question Of labor and capital
the president gives us a we'll worded
essay and nothing more.
He recommends the creation of the
cabinet officer OF secretary of COM
meroe, to have supervision over +"e>
whole subject of the great corporations
and the questions arising between Ia
Dor and capital.
In reference to the indians the presl-
dent uses this language: Our ain
should be their ultimate absorption into
the body OF III people," he
means by this amalgamation of the
white and the red men is shown by
these words which occur a lev lines
further on in the message: In por-
tons of the Indian territory the mix
ture OF blood has gone on at the same
time with progress in wealth and euu-
cation so there are plenty of men with
varying degrees Of purity of Indian
blood who are absolutely indistingush-
able in point of social, political and
economic ability from their white assoc
Gates" What will be the Indians final
destiny non can tell, but that they
should be absorbed into the white rae.
making q people Of mixed blood inha ,
Sting a large section of our country none
should desire. The Indian race $ as
distinct from the Caucasian as any
other of the five great races OF the
world. If amalgamation with the In
A. 1850 A4~ = ~a% u-srl -