Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
The Presidents Message.

The message is very long. but readable
throughout. 1t is packed with matter in
which the people are interested-matter
which by speeches and other deliverances
the President has made of moment. Some
of IT is ripe for action by Congress, and
action should be taken, while other por-
lions are for discussion, and should re-
ceive good deal of discussion.
Our foreign affairs. the President points
out, are in excellent shape. We are at
peace with the world, and nothing threat
ems change In those fortunate relations.
The reference to Secretary Roots visit
to Mexico Is couched in terms of warm
appreciation of our southern neighbor,
and the recommendation respecting Amer
lean representation at the Toxic exposi-
ton in 1912 should meet with the most
cordial response in the way of a liberia.
appropriation. Congress should see that
the greatest republic in the world makes
the proper appearance at a celebration
where all the world will be on view, and
in country strongly attached to us and
to which we are strongly attached.
The President gives his space largely
to domestic affairs. His range of sub
jects is wide. stretching all the way from
the currency questionable most pressing
of all our questions-to the campaign ex-
penses of political parties. which just now
is in the hands mainly of those with moth
ing else to do. Except that the President
is man of serious mind, he might be
suspected of quizzing the reformers by
proposing that the government foot the
bills of our national campaigns and keep
its own account of expenditures.
~ II.
the right spirit. but need working out.
That establishment undoubtedly is Ian
gushing. and the wide advertisement Of
the fact discredits US in the eyes of the
nations. But the fact exists. and unless
in some way it is remedied we shall be
discredited in our own eyes, AS to the
navy we have the most definite word in
the whole message. The President wants
four new battleships, and they should be
voted. The cruise to the Pacific invites
great attention to our sea power and how
much we expect of it, and 1t should be
made. and kept, equal to every possible
demand.
The President wants additional trust
legislation, ana argues his case very per-
suasiveiy. He asks also for currency leg
isiation, though he does not go into the
subject beyond the generalities of the day
Perhaps he Is wise in that. An elastic
currency and an emergency currency are
safe texts for use in discussing present
conditions, but law which will meet the
requirements and at the same time safe
guard values and business Is something
that must come from a conference of
many men with many minds. The fresi-
dent is justified in quoting from his previ-
Gus deliverances on both the trust ques-
tion and the currency question, and in
doing SO makes effective reply to those of
his critics who charge him with failure in
the one case. and with responsibility for
disaster In the other.
At last we have a word about the tariff
not as straight word as the subject
warranted, but sufficient to show that the
President favors and expects revision, and
that the time for it will come in the
spring of 1900. Meanwhile, sentiment may
be taken as to an income tax and an in
heritance tax, as, should the country
favor the one or the other, or both, the
tariff will thereby be affected. Mr.. Cor
mans work in 1894 was rendered all the
more abortive by the decision Of the
Supreme Court ruling out the income tax
which he at that time had provided.
First and last, the President, as usual
has provided many texts for discussion.
and all Of them, both in Congress and in
the press will be freely used.