The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 368, 8 December 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1898.

TilK message of the President of the United States has always been looked upon as an important political document. That of President McKinley, of which we publish a digest in another column, is of unusual interest, being, as it is, the first official announcement of the policy the great Republic purposes pursuing with regard to the two territories which the fortunes of war have added to her Government. As regards Cuba, the President is true to his statement before the commencement of the war: he has no intention of annexing the island. There v. ill be a military occupation until the inhabitants have recovered from the state of disorder which has prevailed in the unhappy country for many years, as to be able to form a just, benevolent and humane Government. A population which has been a victim of bad government for years will, no doubt, take some time to learn tho art of governing themselves, so that the military occupation of the country is likely to be for a lengthy period. There is certainiy to be a struggle for leadership which, in the absence of a controlling physical force would be calculated to make the position of the Cuban people as bad as it was before America stretched forth her arm to relieve them from Spanish oppression. The language of the President with regard to the Philippines is ambiguous. He confines himself to stating that the rebels have demanded independence and refused to be treated like merchandise. The implication is that President McKinley sympathises with the rebels, and will neither appropriate the islands on behalf of the United States, nor allow them to again come under the tyrannical sway of Spain. He alludes to the Nicaraguan Canal trouble and states that that work .whenever completed, must be under the control of the United Stales. This is a contention which is not likely to be disputed by any of the great Powers. The canal, under the control of the Republic, would be managed on commercial lines, and tho commerce of the whole would benefit. The President tells the American people that the relations of their Go* vernment with Great Britain are of a most friendly and happy character, thus confirming in some degree the declaration of Mr Chamberlain, that although there was no written treaty between the two nations, there was an understanding based on their mutual interests. The President made special allusion to Chinese affairs. He said America wanted equal treatment with other nations, and that the American Minister had been instructed to secure the fullest protection and instant reparation for any injury to Ainsrican interests. This declaration brings Groat Britain and America into line. Any action on the part of a European Power or of the Chinese Government calculated to injure tho trade of America would have a like effect upon that of Britain. It is more than probable that the first practical evidence of tho undertaking between the two nations will be afforded beforo tho Chinese question is brought to a satisfactory conclusion.