Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1885 — Page 6

THE MESSAGE.

President Cleveland’s First Communication to Congress, He Urges a Suspension of the Coinage of Silver. Recommends a Reduction of the Tariff on the Necessaries of Life. Favors the Tehuantepec Ship Railway Across the Isthmus. A Plea for the Education and Civilization of the Indians. Our Relations with Foreign Powers in a Satisfactory Condition. Polygamy Denounced and CivilService Reform Commended.

A TRIBUTE TO Jilt. HENDRICKS. To the Congress of the United States: Tour assembly is clouded bv a sense of publio bereavement caused by the recent and sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks, Vico President of the United States. His distinguished public services, ids complete integrity and devotion to every duty, and liis personal virtues, will lind honorable record in his country’s history. Ample and repeated proofs of the esteem and confidence in which he was held by liis fellow-coun-trymen wore manifested by his election to offices of the most important trust and highest dignity, apd, at length, full of years and honors, he has been laid at rest amidst general sorrow and benediction. CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY. The Constitution, which requires those chosen to legislate for the people to annually meet in the discharge of their solemn trust, also requires tho President to give to Congress information of tho state of the Union and recommend to its consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary and expedient. At the threshold of a compliance with these constitutional directions, it is well for us to bear in mind that our usefulness to tho peoplo’s interests will be promoted by a constant appreciation of the scope and character of our respective duties as they relate to Federal legislation. While tho Executive may recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient, tho responsibility for legislative action must and should rest upon those selected by the people to make their laws. Contemplation of the grave and responsible functions assigned to tho executive blanches of the Government under tho Constitution will disclose the partition of power between our respective departments, and their necessary independence, and also the need for the exercise of nil the power entrusted to each, in that spirit of comity and co-operation which is essential to the proper fulfillment of the patriotic obligations which rest upon us as faithful servants of the people. The jealous watchfulness of our constituencies, great and small, supplements their suffrage; and, therefore, in the tribunal they establish every public servant should be judged.

FOREIGN RELATIONS. It is gratifying to announce that the relations of the United States with all foreign powers continue to be friendly. Our position, after nearly a century of successful constitutional government, maintenance of good faith in all of our engagements, the avoidance of complications with other nations, and consistent and amicable attitude toward the strong and weak alike, furnish proof of a political disposition ■which renders professions of good-will unnecessary'. There are no questions of difficulty pending with any foreign Government. THE ISTHMUS CANAL. The interest of the United States in a practicable transit for ships across the strip of land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific has been repeatedly manifested during the last half century. My immediate jiredecessors caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua a treaty' for the construction, by and at the sole cost of the United States, of a canal through Nicaraguan territory, and laid before the Senate. Pending the action of that body thereon, I withdrew the treaty for re-examination. Attentive consideration of its provisions leads me to withhold it lrom resubmission to the Senate. Maintaining as I do the policy of the Presidents' rom Washington’s day, which proscribe enlarging entangling alliances with foreign states, I do not .favor a policy of acquisition of new and distant territory, or the incorporation of remote interests with our own. The laws of progress are vital and organic, and we must be conscious of that irresistible tide of commercial expansion which, as the concomitant of our active civilization, day by day, is being urged onward by those increasing facilities of production, trailsportation, and communication to which steain and electricity have given birth. But <nl£4uty in the present instincts us to addgpjisc^arsc 1 ves mainly to the development of, SjtofvOßt resources of the great area commitcHa tb our charge, and to the cultivation of tlid ttnfH of peace within our borders, though jealously alert in proventing the American Hemisphere from being involved in the political problojns and complications of distant governments. Therefore I am unable to recommend propositions involving paramount privileges of ownership or rights outside of our own territory, when coupled with absolute and unlimited engagements to defend territorial integrity of the state where such interests lie. SHIP RAILWAY. While the general project of connecting the two oceans by means of a canal is to be encouraged, I am of opinion that any scheme to that end, to be considered with favor, shall be free from the features alluded to. The Tehuantepec route is declared by engineers of the highest repute and by competent scientists to afford an •entirely practical transit for vessels and cargoes by means of a ship railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The obvious advantages of such a route, if feasible, over others more remote from the axial lines of traffic between Europe and the Pacific, and particularly between the valley of the Mississippi aud the western coast of North aud South America, are deserving of consideration. Whatever highway may be constructed across ~the barrier dividing the two greatest maritime areas of the world, must be for the world’s benefit —a trust for mankind, to be removed from the chance of domination by any singlo power, nor become a point of invitation of hostilities or a prize for warlike ambition. An engagement combining the construction, ownership, and operation of such a work by this Government, with an offensive and defensive alliance for its protection with the foreign states whose responsibilities and rights we would share, is, in my judgment, inconsistent with such dedication to universal and neutral use, and would, moreover, entail measures for its realization beyond this scope of our national policy or present means. The lapse of years has abundantly confirmed the wisdom and foresight of those earlier administrations, which, long before the conditions ■of maritime intercourse wero changed and enlarged by the progress of the age, proclaimed the vital need of inter-oceanic traffic across the ■commercial isthmus and consecrated it in advance to the common use of mankind by their positive declaration and through the formal obligation of trade. Toward such realization the efforts of my administration will be applied, ever bearing in mind the principles on which it must rest, and which were declared in no uneortain tones by Mr. Cass, who, while Secretary «f State In 1858, announced that “what the

United States want in Central America, next to I the happiness of the people, is the security and i neutrality of the inter-oceanic routes which may be laid through it.” TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAYS The construction of three transcontinental lines 1 of railway, all in successful operation, wholly within our territory, and uniting the Atlantic ; and the Pacific Oceans, has been accompanied by results of a most interesting and impressive nature, and has created new conditions, not in tho routes of commerce only, but in political geography, which powerfully affect our relations toward, and necessarily increase our interests j in, any tr&nsisßtbmian route which may he | opened and employed for the ends of peace and j traffic, or in other contingencies, for uses inirn- | ical to both. Transportation is a factor in the cost of com- ! modifies scarcely second to that of thoir produc- j tion, and weighs as heavily upon the consumer, j Our existence already has proven the great im- | portance of having the competition between | land carriage and water carriage fully devel- ] oped, each acting as a protection to the public I against the tendencies of monopoly, which is inherent in the consolidation of wealth and power in the hands of vast corporations. These suggestions may serve to emphasize what I have already said on the score of the necessity of a neutralization of any inter-oceanic transit, and this can orfly be accomplished by making the uses of the route open to all nations and subject to the ambitions and warlike necessities of none. Tho drawings and report of a recent survey of the Nicaragua Canal route, made by Chief Engineer Menocal, will he communicated for your Information. CHILI, TERU AND BOLIVIA. Tho claims of citizens of the United States for losses by reason of the late military operations of Chili in Peru and are the subject of negotiation for a Claims Convention with Chili, providing for thoir submission to arbitration. CHINA AND THE CHINESE QUESTION. The harmony of our relations with China is fully sustained in the application of the acts lately passed to execute the treaty of 1880, restrictive of the immigration of Chinese laborers into tho United States. Individual cases of hardship have occurred beyond the power of the Executive to remedy, anil calling for judicial determination. The condition of the Chinese question in the Western States and Territories ||is, despite this restrictive legislation, far from being satisfactory. The recent outbreak in Wyoming Territory, where numbers of unoffending Chinamen, undisputably within the protection of the treaties and tho law, were murdered by a mob, and tho still moro recent threatened outbreak of the same character in Washington Territory, are still fresh in the minds of all, and there is apprehension lost the bitterness of feeling against the Mongolian race on tho Pacific slope may find vont to similar lawless demonstration. All the power of this Government should be exerted to jnaintain the amplest good faith toward China in the treatment of those men and tho inflexible sternness of the law in bringing the wrong-doers to justice should ho insisted upon. Every effort has been inode by this Government to prevent these violent outbreaks and to aid the representatives of China in their investigation of these outrages, and it is but just to say that they are tracealjo to the lawlessness of men not citizens of the United States engaged in competition with Chinese laborers. Race prejudice is the chief factor in originating those disturbances, and it exists in a large part of our domain, jeopardizing our peace and the good relationship we try to maintain with China. The admitted rights of a Government to prevent the influx of elements hostile to its internal peace and security may not be questioned, even whoro there is no treaty stipulation on the subject. That the exclusion of Chinese labor is demanded in other countries where like conditions prevail, Is strongly evidenced in the Dominion of Canada, where Chinese immigration is now regulated by laws more exclusive than our own. If existing laws are inadequate to compass tho end in view, I shall lie prepared to give eaniest consideration to any further remedial measures within the treaty limits which the wisdom of Congress may devise. THE CONGO STATE. The independent state of the Congo has been organized as a government under the sovereignty of his Majesty the King of the Belgians, who assumes its chief magistracy in his personal character only, without making the new Rtato a dependency on Belgium. It is fortunate that a benighted region, owing all it has of quickening civilization to the beneficence of the philanthropic spirit of this monarch, should have the advantages and security of his benevolent supervision. The action taken by this Government last year in being the first to recognize tho flag of tho International Association of the Congo has been followed by formal recognition of the new nationality which succeeds to its sovereign powers. A conference of delegates of the principal commercial nations was held at Borlin last winter to discuss methods whereby the Congo basin might he kept open to the world’s trade. Delegates attended on behalf of the United States on the understanding that its piart should he merely deliberative, or without imparting to the result any binding character, so far as the United State were concerned. This reserve was due to the indisposition of this Government to share in any disposal by the International Congress of jurisdictional questions in remote foreign territories. The rosults of the conference were embodied in a formal act of the nature of an International Convention, which laid down certain obligations purporting to he binding on the signatories, subject to ratification within one year. Notwithstanding the reservation under" which the delegates of tho United States attended, their signatures were attached to the general act in the same manner as those of the plenipotentiaries of other governments, thus making tho United States appear, without reserve or qualification, as signatories to a joint international engagement imposing on the signers the conservation of the territorial integrity of distant regions, where we have no established interests or control. This government does not, however, regard its reservation of liberty of action in the premises as at all impaired, and holding that an engagement to those in the obligation of enforcing neutrality in the remote valley of the Congo would be an alliance whose responsibilities we are not in a position to assume, I abstain from asking the sanction of the Senate to that general act. The correspondence will be laid before you, and the instructive and interesting report of the agent sent by this government to the Congo country, and liis recommendations for the establishment of commercial agencies on tho African coast, are also submitted for your consideration. THE COMMERCIAL COMMISSION. The commission appointed by my predecessor last winter to visit tho Central and South American countries and report on the methods of enlarging the commercial relations of the United States therewith, has submitted reports which will he laid before you. AMERICAN PORK ABROAD. I regret to Say that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork into France continue, notwithstanding the abundant demonstrations of safety from danger in its use; hut I entertain strong hopes that, with a better understanding of the matter, this vexatious prohibition will he removed. It would be pleasing to be able to say as much with regard to Germany, Austria and other countries where such food products are absolutely excluded without present prospect of reasonable change. THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND NATUALIZED AMERICANS. The interpretation of our existing treaties of naturalization by Germany during the past year has attracted attention by reason of an apparent tendency on the part of the Imperial Government to extend the scope of the residential restrictions to which returning naturalized citizens of German origin are asserted to he liable under the laws of the empire. The temperate and just attitude taken by this Government with regard to these questions, will doubtless lead to a satisfactory understanding. THE CAROLINE ISLANDS DISPUTE. The dispute of Germany and Spain relative to the domination of the Caroline Islands has attracted the attention of this Government, by reason of extensive interests of American citizens having grown up in those parts during tho last thirty-nine years, and because the question ot ownership involves jurisdiction of matters affecting the status of our citizens under civil and criminal law. Whilst standing wholly aloof from tile proprietary issuos raised between powers to both of which the United States are friendly, this Government expeets that nothing in the present contention shall unfavorably affect our citizens carrying on a peaceful commerce on thejr domicile, and has so informed the Governments of Spain and Germany. GREAT BRITAIN. The marked good will between the United States and Great Britain has been maintained during the past year. THE BRITISH-AMERICAN FISHERIES. The termination of the fishing clauses of the Treaty of Washington, in pursuance of the joint resolution of Maroh 3.1883, must have resulted

I in the abrujit cessation <m the Ist of July of this I year, in the midst of their ventures, of the operations of citizens of the United States engaged ; in fishing in British-American waters, hut for a I diplomatic understanding reached with her 1 Majesty’s Government in June lact, whereby ! assurance was obtained that no interruption of 1 those operations should take place during the current fishing season. in the interest of good neighborhood and the commercial'lntercourse of adjacent communities. A COMMISSION RECOMMENDED. The question of the North American fisheries ! is one of much importance. Following out the i intimation given by me when the extensive ar- [ rangements above described were negotiated, I ! recommend that Congress provide for the ap- ! jtoiutment of a commission, in which the Gov- | eroments of the United States and Great Britain shall he respectively represented, charged with the consideration and settlement upon a just, equitable, and honorable basis of the entire i question of the fishing rights of the two Governments and their respective citizens on the coast of the United States and British North America. The fishing interests being intimately related to other general questions dependent upon contiguity and intercourse, consideration thereof in all their equities might also properly come within tho purview of such commission, and tho fullest latitude of expression on both sides should be permitted. The corresp ndenee in relation to the fishing rights will be submitted. THE ALERT. The Arctic exploring steamer Alert, which was generously given by Her Majesty’s Government to aid in the relief of the Greely expedition, was, after the successful attainment of that humane purpose, returned to Great Britain in pursuance of the authority conferred by the act of March 3, 1885. EXTRADITION WITH GREAT BRITAIN. The Inadequacy of the existing engagements for extradition between the United States and Great Britain has been long apparent. The fourth article of the treaty of 1342, one of the earliest compacts in this regard entered into by us, stipulated for surrender in respect of a limited number of offenses. Other crimes, no loss inimical to the social welfare, should be embraced, and the procedure of extradition brought in harmony with present international practices. Negotiations with Her Majesty’s Government for an enlarged treaty of extradition have been pending since 1870, and I entertain strong hopes that a satisfactory result may be soon attained. CHOLERA AND EPIDEMIC DISEASES. An International Conference to consider the means of arresting the spread of cholera and other epidemic diseases, was held at Rome in May last, and adjourned to meet again on further notice. An oxpert delegate in behalf of the United States has attended, and will submit a report. FRATERNAL RELATIONS WITH MEXICO. Our relations with Mexico continuo to be most cordial as befits those of neighbors between whom the strongest ties of friendship and intimacy exist as the natural and growing consequence of the similarity of our institutions and geographical propinquity The relocation of the boundary line between the United States and Mexico eastward of the §,io Grande, under the convention of July 29, 1882, has been unavoidably delayed, but I see no difficult*- in securing a prolongation of the period for its accomplishment. The lately concluded commercial treaty with Mexico still awaits the stipulated legislation to carry its provisions into effect, for which one year's additional time has been secured by a supplementary article signed in February last, and since ratified on both sides. As this convention, so important to tho commercial welfare of the two adjoining countries, has been constitutionally confirmed by the treaty-making branch, I express tho hope that legislation to make it effective may not he long delayed. The large influx of capital and enterprise to Mexico from the United States continues to aid in tho development of the resources and in augmenting the material well-being of our sister Republic. Lines of railway, penetrating to the heart and capital of tho country, are bringing the two people into mutually beneficial intercourse, and enlarged facilities of transit add to profitable commerce, create new markets, and furnish avenues to otherwise isolated communities. I have already adverted to the suggested construction of a ship railway across the narrow formation of the Territory of Mexico at Tehuantepec. AMERICAN CITIZENS MUST BE RESPECTED. The United States must hold, in their intercourse with every power, that the status of their citizens is to he respected and equal privileges accorded to them without regard to creed, and affected by no considerations save those growing out of domiciliary return to the land of their original allegiance or of unfulfilled personal obligations which may survive under municipal laws after such voluntary return. THE VENEZUELAN AWARDS. The negotiation with Venezuela relative to the rehearing of the awards of the Mixed Commission, constituted under the treaty- of 1806, was rosumed in view of the recent acquiescence of the Venezuelan Envoy in the principal point advanced by this Government, that the effects of the old treaty could only bo set aside by the operation of a new convention. A result in substantial accord with the advisory suggestions contained in the joint resolution of March 3, 1883, has been agreed upon, and will shortly be submitted to the Senate for ratification. UNITED STATES TRUST FUNDS. Under section 3059 of the Revised Statutes, all funds held in trust by the United States, and the annual interest accruing thereon, when not otherwise required by treaty, are to bo invested in stocks of tho United States, bearing a rato of interest not less than 5 per centum per annum. There being now no procurable stocks paying so high a rate of interest, the letter of the 'statute is at present inapplicable, hut its spirit is subserved by continuing to make investments of this nature in current stocks hearing tho highest interest now paid. The statute, however, makes no provision for the disposal of such accretions. It being contrary to the general rule of this Government to allow interest on claims, I recommend the repeal of the provision in question. CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION. The inadequacy of existing legislation touching citizenship and naturalization demands your consideration. While recognizing the right of expatriation, no statutory provision exists providing means for renouncing citizenship by an American citizen, native-born or naturalized, nor for terminating and vacating improved acquisition of citizenship). Even a fraudulent de-cx-ee of naturalization cannot now be canceled. The privilege and franchise of American citizenship) should be granted with caro and extended to those only who intend in good faith to assume its duties and responsibilities when attaining its privileges. It should be withheld from those who merely go through the forms of naturalization with ihtont of escaping duties with their original allegiance, without taking upon themselves those of the new status, or who may acquire the rights of American citizenship for no other than a hostile purpose toward their original government. These evils have had many flagrant illustrations. I regard with favor the suggestion put forth by one of my predecessors, that provision may bo made for a central bureau of record of the decrees of naturalization granted by the various courts throughout the United States, now invested with that power. Tho rights which spring from domicile in the United States, especially when coupled with a declaration of intention to become a citizen, are worthy of definition by statute. The stranger coming hither with intent to remain, establishing his residence in our midst, contributing to the general welfare, and by his voluntary act declaring his purpose to assume tho responsibility of citizenship, thereby gains an inchoate status which legislation may pxropierly define. The laws of certain States and Territories admit a domiciled alien to the local franchise, conferring on him the rights of citizenship to a degree which places him in the anomalous position of being a citizen of a State and yet not of the United States within the purview of Federal and international laws. It is important within tho scope of national legislation to define this right of alien domicile as distinguished from Federal naturalization. OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS. The commercial relations of tho United States with their immediate neighbors and with important areas of traffic near our shores, suggest especially liberal intercourse between them and us. Following the treaty of 1883 with Mexico, which rested on the basis of reciprocal exemption from oustoxn duties, other similar treaties were inflated by my predecessor. Recognizing the need of less obstructed traffic with Cuba and Port Rico, and met by the desire of Spaiu to succor languishing interest in the Antilles, stops were taken to attain those ends by a treaty of commerce. A similar treaty was afterward signed by the Dominican Republic. Subsequently overtures were made by her Britannic Majesty’s Government for a like mutual extension of commercial

intercourse with the British West Indian and South American dependencies, but without result. SPAIN AND SAN DOMINGO. On taking office I withdrew for re-examina-tion the treaties signed with Spain and Santo Domingo, then pending before the Senate. The result has been to satisfy me of the inexpediency of ent ring into engagements of this character not covering the entire traffic These treaties contemplated the surrender by the United States of large revenues for inadequate considerations. Upxin sugar alone duties were surrendered to an amount far exceeding all the advantages offered in exchange. Even were it intended to relieve our consumers, it was evident that so long as the exemption but partially covered our importation, such relief would be illusory. To relinquish a revenue so essential seemed highly improvident at a time when new and large drains upen the treasury were contempilated. Moreover, embaiTassing questions would have arisen under the favored nation clauses of treaties with other nations. As a further objection, it is evident that tariff regulation by treaty diminishes that independent control over its own revenues which is essential for the safety and welfare of any Government. An emergency calling for an increase of taxation may at any time arise, and no engagement with a foreign pxower should exist to hampier tho action of the Government. TUNNAGE DUES. By the fourteenth section of the shipping act, approved June 26, 1884, certain reductions and contingent exempitions from tunnage dues were made as to vessels entering pxoi-ts of the United States from any foreign port in North and Central America. Tho West India Islands, the Bahamas and Bermudas, Mexico and the Isthmus as far as Aspinwall and Panama; the Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Sweden and Norway, have asserted under tho favored-nation clause in their treaties with the United States, a claim to like treatment in respect to vessels coming to the United States from their home ports. This Government, however, holds that the privilege granted by the act is purely geograj)hical, inuring to any vessel of any foreign power that may choose to engage in traffic between this country and any port within the defined zone, and no warrant exists under the most-favored nation clause for the extension of the privileges in question to vessels sailing to this country from piorts outside the limitation of the act. Undoubtedly tlie relations of commerce with our near neighbors, whose territories form so long a frontier line difficult to be guarded, and who find in our country and equally offer to us natural markets, demand spiecial and considerate treatment. It rests with Congress to consider what legislative action may increase facilities of intercourse which contiguity makes natural and desirable. THE GOVERNMENT FINANCES. The repxort of the Secretary of the Treasury fully exhibits the condition of the public finances, and of the several branches of the Government connected with his department. The suggestions of the Secretary relating to practical operations of this important department, and his recommendations in direction of simplification and economy, piarticularly in the work of collecting customs duties, are especially urged upion the attention of Congress. REDUCTION OB’ DEIST. The amount paid on the public debt during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885, was §45,993,245.43, and there has been paid since that date and up to Nov. 1, 1885, the sum of §300,828, leaving the amount of the debt at the last named date §1,514,475,860.47. There was, howevor, at that time in the Treasury applicable to the general piurpxoses of the Government the sum of §66,818,292.38. THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. The total receipts for the ourrent fiscal year, ending June 30, 1880, ascertained to October 1, 1885, and estimated for the remainder of the year, are §315,000,000. The expenditures, ascertained and estimated for the same time, are §245,000,000, leaving a surplus at the close of the year estimated at §70,000,000, VALUE OF EXPORTS. The value of expiorts from the United States to foreign countries during the last fiscal year was as follows: Domestic merchandise §726,682,946 Foreign merchandise 15,506,809 Gold 8,477,892 Silver 33,753,633 Total §784,421,280 Some of the principal exports, with their values and the percentage they respectively bear to the total exportation, are given as follows: Per Value. centage. Cotton and cotton manufactures §213,799,040 29.42 Manufactures 150,370,820 22.07 Breadstuffs—provisions.... 107,332,456 14.77 Oils—mineral, vegetable. and animal 54,326,202 7.48 Tobacco and its manufactures 24,767,305 3.41 Wood and its manufactures 21,464,322 2.95 OUR IMPORTS. Our imports during the year are as follows : Merchandise.. §579,580,053.87 Gold 26,691,896.00 Silver 16,550,627.00 Total §622,822,376.80 The following are given as prominent articles of imports during the year, with their values and with the percentage they bear to the importations : PerValue. centage. Sugar and molasses §76,738,713 13.29 Coffee 46,723,318 8.09 Wool and its manufactures. 44,656,482 7.73 Silk and its manufactures... 40,393,002 6.99 Chemicals, dyeings and medicines 35,070,816 6.07 Iron and steel, and other manufacturers 34,563,689 5.08 Flax, hemp), jute, and their manufacture 32,854,874 5.69 Cotton and its manufactures 28,152,001 4.88 Hides and skins other than fur skins. 20,686„443 3.56 THE REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF. The fact that our revenues are iu excess of the actual needs of an economical administration of the Government justifies a reduction in the amount expected from the people for its support. Our Government is but the means established by the will of a free people by which certain principles are applied which they have adopted for their benefit and protection. And it is never bettor administered and its truer spirit is never better observed than when the pieople’s taxation for its suppiort is scrupulously limited to the actual necessity of expenditures and distributed according to a just and equitable plan. The proposition with which we have to deal is the reduction of the revenue received by the Government and indirectly paid by the people from customs duties. The question of free trade is not involved nor is there now any occasion for the general discussion of the wisdom or expediency of a protective system. Justice and fairness dictate that in any modification of the piresent laws relating to revenue, the industries and interest which have been encouraged by such laws, and in which ourcitizens have largo investments, should not be ruthlessly injured or destroyed. We should deal with the subject in such manner as to protect the interests of American labor, which is the capiital of our workingmen. Its stability and pxroper remuneration furnish the most justifiable pretext for a protective policy. Within these limitations a certain induction should be made in our customs revenue. The amount of such reduction having been determined, the inquiry follows • Where can it best be remitted, and what articles can best be released from duty in the interest of our citizens? I think the reduction should be made in tho revenue derived from a tax upon the impxorted necessaries of life. We thus directly lessen the cost of living in every family of the land, and release to the piublic in every humble home a larger nxeasuro of the rewards of frugal industry. THE NATIONAL BANK CIRCULATION. During tho year ended Nov. 1, 1885, 145 national banks were organized, with an aggregate capital of §16,938,000, and circulating notes have been issued to them amounting to §4,274,910. The whole number of. these banks in existence on the day above mentioned was 2,727. The very limited amount of circulating notes issued bv our national banks compiared with tho amount the law pxermits them to issue, upion a depiosit of bonds for thoir redemption, indicates that the volume of our circulating medium may be largely increased through this instrumentality. THE SILVER QUESTION. Since February, 1878, the Government has, under the compulsory provisions of law, purchased silver bullion and coined the same at the rate of more than 2,000,000 of dollars every month. By this process up to the present date 2115,759,131 silver dollars have been coined. A reasonable appreciation of a delegation of power to tho General Government) would limit Its exercise, without express restrictive words,

to the people’s needs and the requirements of the public welfare. Upon this theory the authority “to coin money” given Congress by the Constitution, if it permits The jnxrchase by the Government of bullion for coinage in any event, does not jnstifv such purchase and coinage to an extent beyond the amount needed for sufficient circulating medium. The desire to utilize the silver product of the country should not lead to a misuse or the pierversion of this pjower. The necessity for such an addition to the silver currency of the nation as is compelled by the silver coinage act is negatived by vhe fact that up to the present tfme only about fifty millions of silver dollars so coined have actually found their way into circulation, leaving more than one hundred and sixty-five millions in possession of the Government, the custody of which has entailed a considerable expiense for construction of vaults for its depiosit. Against this latter amount there are outstanding silver certificates amounting to about 93,000,000 of dollars. Every’ month §2,000,0000f gold in the public Treasury are paid out for §2,000,000 or more of silver dollars, to be added to the idle mims already accumulated. If continued long enough this opxeration will result in the substitution of silver for all the gold the Government owns applicable to its general purpxoses. It will not do to rely upon the receipts of the Government to make good this drain of gold, because the silver thus coined, having been made legal tender for all debts and dues, public and private, at times during tlie past six months fifty pier cent, of the receipts for duties have been in silver or silver certificates, while the average within that pieriod hus been twenty pier cent. The proportion of silver and its certificates received by the Government will probably increase as time goes on, for the reason that the nearer the period approaches -when it will be obliged to offer silver in payment of its obligations, the greater inducement there will be to hoard gold against depreciation in the value of silver, or for the purpioso of speculation. This hoarding of gold has already begun. When the time comes that gold has been withdrawn from circulation, then will be apparent the difference between the real value of the silver dollar and a dollar in gold, and tho two coins will part compxany. Gold, still the standard of value and necessary in our dealings with other countries, will be at a premium over silver. Banks which have substituted gold for the depxisits of their customers may pay them with silver bought with such gold, thus making a handsome profit. Rich speculators will sell their hoai'ded gold to their neighbors who need it to liquidate their foreign debts at a ruinous premium over silver, and the laboring men and women of the land, most defenseless of all, will find that the dollar received for the wages of their toil has sadly shrunk in its purchasing power. It may be said that the latter result will be but temporary, and that ultimately the pirice of labor will be adjusted to the change, but even if this takes place the wage-worker cannot possibly gain, but must inevitably lose, sinco the price he is compelled so pay for his living will not only be measured in coin heavily depreciated, and fluctuating, and uncertain In its value, but this uncertainty in the value of the purchasing medium will be made the piretext for an advance in prices beyond that justified by actual depreciation. The words uttered in 1834, by Daniel Webster, in the Senate of the United States, are true today : “The very man of all others who has the deepxest interest in a sound currency, and who suffers most by mischievous legislation iu money matters, is the man who earns his daily bread by his daily toil.” The most distinguished advocate of bimetalism, discussing our silver coinage, has lately written: “No American citizen's hand has yet felt the sensation of cheapmess, either in receiving or expiending, the silver-act dollars,” and those who live by, labor or legitimate trade never will feol that sensation of cheapness. However plenty silver dollars -may become, they will not be distributed as gifts among the peopilo, and if the laboring man should receive four silver dollars where he now receives rtiut two, he will piay in the depreciated coin more than double the price' he now piays for all the necessaries and comforts of life. Those who do not fear any disastrous consequences arising from the continued compiulsory coinage of silver as now directed by law, and who suppose that the addition to the currency of the country, intended aS its result, will be a piublic benefit, are reminded that history demonstrates that the pioint is easily reached in the attempt to float at the same time two -sorts of money of different excellence, whon the better will cease to be in circulation. The hoarding of gold which has already taken place indicates that we shall not escapie the usual experience in such cases. So, if this silver coinage be continued, we may reasonably expect that gold and its equivalent will abandon the field of circulation to silver alone. This, of course, must produce a severe contraction of our circulating medium instead of adding to it. It will not be dispiuted that any attempt on the part of the Government to cause the circulation of silver dollars worth 83 cents side by side with gold dollars worth 100 cents, even with tho limit that legislation does not run contrary to laws of trade, to bo successful must be seconded by the confidence of the people that both coins will retain the same purchasing power and bo iffterchangeable at will. Special effort has been made by the Secretary of the Treasury to increase the amount of our silver coin in circulation, but the fact that a large share of the limited amount thus put out has soon returned to the public treasury in payment of duties, leads to Hie belief that the pieopile do not now desire to keep it on hand, and this, with the evident disposition to hoard gold, gives rise to the suspiicion that there already exists a lack of confidence among the people touching our financial ’ processes. There is certainly not enough silver now in circulation to cause uneasiness, and the whole amount coined and now on hand might, after a time, be absorbed by the peopile without apprehension ; but it is the ceasoless stream .that threatens to overflow the land which causes fear and uncertainty. What has been thus for submitted upon this subject relateß almost entirely to considerations of a homejjnature, unconnected with the bearing w hich the pxdieies of other nations have upion tlie question, but it is pierfectly apparent that a line of action in regard to our currency cannot wisely be settled upxm or persisted in- without considering tlie attitude' on the subject of other countries with whom we maintain intercourse through commerce, trade, and travel. An acknowledgment of this is found in the act by virtue of which our silver is compiulsorily coined. It provides that: “The President shall invite the Governments of the countries compiosing the Latin Union, so called, and of such other European nations as ho may deem advisable, to join tho United States in aoonfereneo to adopt a common ratio between gold and silver fur the purpose of establishing internationally the uses of bimetallic money and securing fixety of relative value between these metals. This conference absolutely failed, and a similar fate has awaited all subsequent efforts in the same direction, and still we continue our c(finage of silver at a ratio different from that of any other nation. The most vital part of the Silver Coinage Act remains inopierative and unexecuted, and without an ally or friend we battle upxm the silver field in an illogical and losing contest. To give full effect to the design of Congress on this subject, I have made careful and earnest endeavor since the adjournment of the last Congress. To this end T delegated a gentleman well .instructed in fiscal science to proceed to the financial centers of Europe, and in conjunction with our Ministers to England, France, and Germany, •to obtain a full knowledge of the attitude and intent of these governments respecting the. establishment of such an international ratio as would procure free coinage of both metals at the mintß of those countries and our own. By my direction our Consul General at Paris has given close attention to the proceedings of the Copgress of the Latin Union in order to indicate our interest in its objects and repxirt its action. It may be said in brief as the result of these efforts that the attitude of the leading powers remain substantially unchanged since the Monetary Conference of 1881; nor is to be questioned thiSfc the views of these Governments are in each instance suppiorted by the weight of public opinion. The steps thus token have, therefore, only moro fully demonstrated the uselessness of further attempts at present to arrive at any agreement on the subject with other nations. In the meantime we are accumulating silver coin based upon our peculiar ratio to such ah extent; and assuming so heavy a burden to be provided for in any international negotiations, as will rendqr us an undesirable party to any future monetary conference of nations. It is a significant fact that four of the five countries comprising the Latin Union mentioned in our coinage act, embarrassed with their silver currency, have just completed an agreement among themselves that no more silver shall be coined by their respective governments, and that such as has been already coined and in circulation shall be redeemed in gold by the country of its coinage. The resort to this expedient by these countries may well