Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-12-12
Tho PresIdsnt's Recent Message.

|
For The Speci ator.
Note we say RECENT message. Il
would Lot beproper to speak of this az
his LAST message. But bis deliverance
two years hence will be his LAST
In the outset let it be understood
that we have no disposition to deal
harshly with the President, and We
shall be grieved if anything may BE-
said in this criticism to wound or dis
courage him. But we must be candid
and truthful. and, to use the Presi
dents own words must not shirk from
the struggle before u.s. y
1t must be admitted that the message
is disappointing. Instead of bristling
with strenuosity, as we naturally ex
pected, it is AZ mud and innocent as d
lamb. The storm which ragged in tn.
| breast OF its author whs N delivering
bis recent Campaign speech. seems To-
have subsidized entirely. Whether the
Improvement is permanent remains to
be seen.
No one can find fault with the rec
concentrations OF the message; for it
really recommends nothing, not even
ITSELF
In the opening paragraph of the
message the President makes the start
ling announcement that this nation is
seated on continent faDked by two
oceans" BY referring to recent maps
1t will be seen that, strange as it may
seem, this statement is literally true;
aud our position would be one of great |
peril, but for the protective tariff.
which prevents the foreign water from |
pouring in upon our land. 1t goes |
without saying that our small inland |
streams and lakes could not success |
fully compete against the waters OF
the great deep.
The President also makes another
important discovery, which is doubt
less due to his military instinct and |
training. He says: :Our people, the
sons of the men of the civil war, the
sons of the men who had iron 10 their
blood. rejoice IN the present and face
the future high I b cart and resolute of
will" This utter an &c clears up great
many mysteries concerning the Amer
lean people. Ii, as the President DIS
SUI es US after the most careful lnves
LEGATION, we are sons OF the men of the
civil war, it is easy to account for the
numerous SONS OF GUNS IN the United
States. This Iron in the blOod'' the
u di6O dCOOOhOo 1OG Juc ldCb tudt
most persons get RUSTY. We do not
Know that facing the future has any
hing to do with getting iron in the
blood, but it is doubtless true that
many linen of tie civil war got LEAD
n their blood by facing the enemy.
The principal suggestion of the mes
age concert the treatment of trusts ,
The President tells us they must lie I
yIrh hi n. hr1f in nh to
d against adopting any harsh method
hat might injure or provoke the ami I
nal. We must not use chain curb,
UGH as tse western COW punchers ]
dept, nor even one OF raw hide. These ]
re severe, and might cause the trust I
D buck and throw the rider. The 1
urb should be padded and elastic, {
nat it may not subject the trust to G
ne least discomfort or Inconvenience. .
he attitude of the President toward
)r the legislature in section divided
o the liquor question. When asked
ow be stood on that issue, he replied:
m in favor of rigid liquor laws. but
, not think they should be enforced"
We are cautioned to handle the tar
with tenderness We must dis
intimate between good and bad mo
opoiies. and it is understood that
lose are good which contribute to the
epublican campaign fund.
We are somewhat surprised that the
fails to recommend the
loption of federal game law, pro-
ding special protection for the
,uthern Coon, an animal for which
} has shown great fondness. Its con-
tion might be materially improved
Z favorable legislation administered
some efficient and sympathetic
me warden, such as John s. Wise.
The message on the whole is better
an some critics would have us be
We. We cannot endorse the extreme \
of the New Y Ork Sun, which
onounces the utterance "Seven =
unds lighter than straw hat" -Four =
d half pounds is in our opinion a
rer estimate. &. F. M.