The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The PRESiUEMI'S MESSAGE.
Elsewhere we print the full text of
President Roosevelt's message, which was
read to Congress yesterday. 1t speaks Tor
itself 1t is written with the accustomed
poweg and vigor of the literary man III
the White House. There are few men
who write so clearly and so interestingly
as Mr.. Roosevelt. The thing that makes
his books and magazine articles popular
is that he writes like he talks-strenuous-
ly. graphically and in an original manner.
The message deals mainly with the
He presents the position of the admins
tration in its most favorable aspect and
in a most plausible light AS you read 1t,
without recalling the real history of the
transaction, it sounds so smooth and nice
that even a follower of Grant could
scarcely blame the administration for
recognizing the doctrine of Secession. Of
course the President does not tell Congress
that the Republic of Panama was born in
the back lot of the White House and the
denizens of Panama didn't know they
had ''revoluted'' and their Republic was a
reality until a cablegram was received
from New York, telling them that the Re-
public of Panama had been born and
would he recognized.
With reference to the policy of the adj
ministration as to capital and labor, the
President utters some wise platitudes and
seems to be satisfied with what has been
done to check trusts. The trusts also are
satisfied all except the Northern Securities
Company, the officers of which will prob
ably find another way to monopolize the
Transportation of the country.
The postal frauds are touched upon
very lightly. There is no demand for a
thorough Congressional investigation, the
President contenting himself with recon-
mending the appropriation of more money
so the Attorney General could employ as
sistants to prosecute. The last Congress
appropriated a large sum to enable the
Attorney General to enforce the anti
trust law 1t is surmised that the law
yers have been employed, but where are
the convictions? Congress should thor
oughly investigate the postal scandals,
which surpass in magnitude and turpitude
any official corruption since the Star
Route fraud of Grants administration.
The President recommends the extern
sion of the rural free delivery system and
the building Of good roads. 1t is to be
hoped that Congress will greatly extend
the free rural delivery until every county
is honeycombed with them. With refer
ence to the canal the President wholly
ignores the law which provides that if
the Panama route cannot be secured by
treaty the canal shall be constructed by
the Nicaragua route. He declares that
the question of route has been definitely
and irrevocably decided" 1t was neces-
sary to thus in an off-hand manner to
issue this ipse dxit in order to defend
his action in establishing the Republic
of Panama. He traces the steps by which
the Colombian Congress refused to vote
for the treaty, and then says: 'Imme-
dlately after the adjournment of Congress
a revolution broke out in Panama" 1t is
strange that nobody heard of this ''revo-
luton" 1t is certain that the people Of
Panama had no revolution. until inspired
by interests in this country worthy the
name. Continuing, we are told that with
astonishing unanimity the new Republic
OF Panama was started That is correct.
The administration at Washington and
agents of the Panama Canal Company,
with astonishing unanimity'' established
the Republic of Panama. Then Mr..
Roosevelt says: THE duty of the United
States in the premises was clear The
story of the whole proceeding is detailed
with Just enough of the facts to make
the action taken look fair and just. He
then reviews the number of disturbances
that have occurred on the Isthmus since
1S46 and it is asserted that 'the ex-
perielce of over half century has shown
Colombia to be utterly incapable of keep
ing order on the Isthmus.' But she has
maintained her sovereignty there and
would have continued to do so but fol