The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1903-12-22


line of the currency, strongly advo-
Gates the continuance of the commits
sion to confer with other nations upon
the adoption of settled rate of ex-
change between countries that have
the gold standard and those that cling
to the silver standard, of which the
number is constantly growing less.
He is very forcible in his expressed
desire to have the statutory laws i'm
proved so as to keep out undesirable
immigrants, but there is nothing in
the message to conflict with his state
ment to Bishop Restarick that he
would not object to a limited importa-
tion of Chinese, to work on the Ha-
waiian plantations, under proper re-
strictions, limiting their stay in the
Islands, removing any possibility of
their admission to citizenship, and
avoiding competition between them and
other departments of labor, in which
citizens are entitled to preference. The
Necessity Ior the local tHOOlHcdlloll
of the Exclusion Act, it may be OBJ
served, is now becoming understood
and is being advocated in various
parts of the Union and has met with
some endorsement among labor men,
who are awake to the prospect Of an
increased demand for skilled work
men, and among some of the leading
Senators and Congressman.
Upon the land and postal frauds and
the general subject of bribery, the
President is remarkably vigorous and
fearless, and adheres strictly to his
views expressed in many speeches and
public documents that such crimes
should never be extenuated or palliated.
'-Other Offences" he says, violate one
law, while corruption strikes at the
accepts a bribe, no matter how dex-
terously covered UP, he declares to be
worse than the thief, for the thief
robs the individual, while the corrupt
official plumbers an entire city or state.
He is as wicked as the murderer, for
the murderer may only take one life
against the law, while the corrupt Off :
cial and the man who corrupts the Off
cial alike aim at the assassination of
the commonwealth itself. Government
of the people, by the people, for the
people, will perish from the earth if
bribery is tolerated.
These are bold and pregnant words.
that will command the assent of Amer
lean citizens, without distinction of
party. The anicabie settlement of the
boundary controversy in Alaska, in
which Lord Alverstone bore so honor
able a part, is hailed by President
the submission of claims against Vene-
zuela to the Permanent Court of Arbi-
tration at the Hague, as indicating the
fact that the great powers, though
maintaining large and expensive mill
tary and naval establishments. are be-
coming more and more inclined to the
peaceful solution of the many serious
questions that grow out of the in
tricacies of modern civilization. He
also firmly supports the extension of
trade and commerce by all lawful and
honorable methods and decidedly rec
| ommends practical legislation for the
benefit of American shipping and the
resumption of our position in the car
rying business of the world. He favors
internal Improvements. limited to ma
| tional wants, and in that behalf the
reclamation of the deserts and arid
wastes of the West. The extension OF
| the army, to the American navy, and
| the complete adoption of merit as the
| test for promotion, and the broaden,
| ing and deepening of the civil service
| plan, are also incisively urged, and thus
the logical symmetry and harmoniou:
working of American institutions in al
othclal departments are kept steadily II
view.
Upon the situation in the Philippines
President Roosevelt is sanguine. H
sees great progress, but also necessit!
for revision of the tariff and other leg
islative improvements, with the objec
of benefting business and bringing tn
native population into closer affiliatiol
with American conditions. In dealin
with the territories, he does not neglec
Hawaii, but recommends that the Gov
ernor, without legislative consent
should have the power to suspend or re
move officials appointed by himself
that existing lighthouses should b
taken over by the Federal authoritie
and the Territory reimbursed for ii
expenditure in that direction, and tha
! new lighthouses should be constructed
8 The President does not allude t
diplomatic questions pending in Asi