Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1897 — PRESIDENT M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PRESIDENT M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE.

President McKinley's first annual message was read before both houses of Congress at noon Monday. Ho congratulated Congress upon assemblying under felicitous conditions. Peace and good will with all the nations of the earth continue unbroken. he says, and we should feel genuine satisfaction at the growing spirit of fraternal regard and unification in all sections of our country and the lifting of great public questions above party prejudice. Beginning with the subject of the finances the President says that while the full effect of the legislation of the extra session has not. yet been realized what it has already accomplished assures us of its timeliness and wisdom. To test its permanent value further time will be required and the people, satisfied with its operation and results thus far, are in no mind to withhold from it a fair trial. The next question pressing for consideration is that of the currency. With the great resource's of the Government and with the honorable example of the past before ns, we ought not to hesitate to enter upon a currency revision which will make out demand obligation less onerous to the Government and relieve our financial laws from ambiguity and doubt. The evil es the present system is found in the great cost to the Government of maintaining at a parity with gold our different forms of money and the experience of the past four years has demonstrated that this is not‘only an expensive charge upon the Government, but a dangerous menace to Jhe national credit. It is qianifest that we must devise some plan to protect the Government against bond issues for repeated redemptions. We have nine hundred millions of currency which the Government, by solemn enactment, lias undertaken to keep at par. and nobody is obliged to redeem in gold but the Government, which must borrow the gold. Redemption of Treasury Notes. The law which requires payment out «f the treasury of unredeemed United States notes demands a constant replenishment of the gold reserve, especially in times of panic and insufficient revenue and during the preeeeding administration $202,315,400 414 per cent, bonds were issued and sold to sustain the gold reserve and pay the expenses of the Government hi excess of revenue. While it is true that a greater part of this is used to supply deficient revenues, a considerable portion was required to maintain the gold reserve. If no further legislation is to be had to correct this and the policy of selling bonds is to be continued, then Congress should-give-the Secretary of the Treasury authority to sell bonds at long ■«r short periods, bearing a less rate of interest than is now authorized by law. The President says: "I earnestly recommend as soon as the receipts of the Government are quite sufficient to pay all the expenses of the Government that when any United States notes are presented for redemption in gold and are redeemable in gold, such notes shall be kept and set 'apart and only paid out in exchange for gold. This is an obvious duty; if the holder of the United States note prefers the gold and gets it from the Government he should not receive back from the Government a United States note without paying gold in exchange for it.’’ That amounts, to the President's mind, to giving an in-terest-bearing debt, a Government bond, lor a non-interest-bearing debt, a United States note. The Government should be relieved from the burden of providing all Che gold required for exchange, and exports. This ought to be stopped. With ■n era of prosperity and sufficient receipts :Tvc may feel, no immediate embarrassment, but the danger will be ever present. The President invites careful consideration for the detail plan of the Secretary the Treasury to protect the gold reserve. He concurs with him in the recommendation that national banks be allowed to issue notes to the face value of ntheir bonds deposited; that the circulating ■tax be reduced to one-half, of 1 per cent., land that national banks may be establishied with a capital of $25,000. lie also recommends that the issue of national bank incites lie" restricted to" the denomination Of $lO and upwards, and that they be required to redeem their notes in gold. Tlie Cuban Question. Turning to foreign affairs the President devotes much space in his message to a ...'consideration of the Cuban question, •which he says is the most important problem with which our Government is now leaded upon to deal in its foreign relajtions. Summarizing the history of the reformer outbreaks, the President comes down to the present insurrection. Speaking of its remarkable increase, its tenacious existence against enormous forces massed by Spain, the widespread destruction of property and the disregard of the civilized code of war on both sides, lie •ays these conditions give rise to gravest apprehensions. There is no desire <*l •ur part to profit by Spain's misfortunes, •nd we have only the desire to see the Cubans enjoying that measure of selfcontrol which is the inalienable right of man. Of the concentration policy of tWeyler he says: “It has utterly failed as • war measure. It is not civilized wark; dare—it is extermination.” t Against this abuse ol’ the rights of war 4he President says he has felt constrained «n repeated occasions to enter the firm •od honest protest of this Government. jßedatiinos his instructions to Minister Woodford, which were in substance to Impress upon the Spanish Government £ Jpksinecre wish of the United States to lead its aid toward the ending of the war If reaching a peaceful and lasting result, fast and honorable to Spain and to the

Cuban people. It was also asked whether Spain of her own volition should not make proposals for settlement, and it was said that he could not contemplate an indefinite period for the accomplishment of this result. The Spanish reply to Mr. Woodford was. in the President’s opinion, in the direction of a better understanding. It admitted -our friendly purposed and doe-p interest, and declared that the new government was bound to a change of policy that should satisfy the United States and pacify Cuba within a reasonable time. To this end political reforms will be put into effect and military operations conducted on humane lines. It was suggested that Spain be left free to conduct military operations and grant political reforms, while the United States, for its part, should enforce neutral obligations and cut off the assistance which the insurgents, it was asserted, received from this country. Early and complete pacification is hoped for. Spain's Charge Is Baseless. The President declares that the Spanish disposition to charge us with failure to meet international duties is baseless, and points to the efforts this,government have made at the cost of millions, and by the employment of the administrative machinery of the nation to perform its full duty. He also says that the fact that no military expedition or armed vessel has left our shores has been diplomatically represented to Spain. Premising that throughout all the horror and danger to our own peace, the United States has never abrogated its right to determine its policy as to Cuba, tlie President points out that of untried measures there remains only; Recognition of the insurgents as belligerents, recognition of tlie independence of Cuba, neutral intervention to end tlie wgr by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, ail intervention in favor of one or the other party. He says: “I speak not of forcible annexation, for that cannot l>e thought of. That, by our code of morality, would lie criminal aggression.'’ Taking up the question of belligerency, the President quotes at length from Presi del it Grant’s message of December 7, IST.), wherein he declared that the conditions in Cuba warranted neither the recognition of independence nor the recognition of belligerency. He adds that moreover a recognition of belligerency would confer upon neither party to the conflict a status not theretofore actually possessed, while it would weigh heavily in Spain’s behalf, giving her the right of search on the high, seas and extending her maritime rights to the margin of our territorial waters. I'orognitioii Unwise. For these reasons the President regards recognition of the belligerency of the Cuban insurgents as now unwise and therefore inadmissible. Should that step hereafter be deemed wise, as a matter of right and duty, the executive will take it.” He points to the hopeful change in the Spanish -policy to the pledge of reform and to the abatement of the horrors of war as reasons against intervention on humanitarian grounds. The first acts of the new government lie in the honorable paths it has outlined; the policy of rapine and extermination has been reversed; broad clemencies proffered; measures have been taken to relieve the horrors of starvation. The power of the Spanish armies, it is asserted, is to be used not to spread ruin and desolation, but to protect the resumption of agricultural industries. The President sketches the autonomy scheme of the Spanish government and says that it is honestly due to Spain that she should be given a reasonable chance to realize her expectations and to prove the asserted efficacy, of the new order of things to which she stands irrevocably, committed. He points to the many concessions already made, to tlie modification of the horrible order of concentration, to the release of the Competitor prisoners, and the fact that not. a single" American citizen is now under arrest in Cuba. He says the, near future will demonstrate whether a righteous peaee is likely to be attained: if not. tile exigency of further and other action by the United States will remain to be taken. Sure of the right, the government will continue its watchful cases over every American citizen, and. its efforts To bring about honorable peace, and, says the President. “If it shall hereafter appear to in* a duty imposed by our obligations to ourselves, to civilization and to humanity to intervene with force, it shall be without fault on our part and only because the necessity for such action will he so clear as to command the support and approval of the civilized world.” Hawaiian Annexation Favored. The President next takes up the subject of the annexation of Hawaii, which, he says, should be accomplished. Rapidly reviewing his former arguments in favor of annexation, he says that legislation is required in the event of the ratification of the treaty and. while abrupt assimilations of immature elements of population should lir avoided, just provision should be made for self-rule in local matters with the largest political liberty to the Hawaiian*. lie says that the dispute between Japan and Hawaii over the immigration question is now in a satisfactory stage of settlement by negotiation: that our government has not intervened, and that it is learned that Japan is now confident in the intention of this government to deal with all possible ulterior questions affecting her interests in the broadest spirit of friendliness. Central American Matters. Reference is made to the failure of Mr. Merry to be received as minister to Nicaragua on account of the obligations of that country to the Diet of the Greater Republic of Central America. As there is no legal authority at present to accredit him to the Diet. Mr. Baker, the present minister at Managua, has been directed to present his letters of recall. Mr. \V. Godfrey Hunter is said to be likewise accredited to Honduras, a member of the greater Republic, and his case is awaiting, action. The Nicaragua Canal is spoken of as of large Importance to oar country and the promise is made of further reference to the subject which in the report of the commission now at work is sent to Congress. The President says of the international monetary commission that, notwithstanding diligent effort the envoys have failed so far to secure an agreement. Gratification is expressed at the action of France in this matter in joining in our efforts and it is said that tlie negotiations are still pending. Meanwhile the envoys have not made their final report, believing that the doubts raised in certain quarters respecting the feasibility of maintaining parity between gold and sll\er may yet be solved. The President earnestly hopes that their labors may bring about an international agreement. Mr. Kasson. of lowa, is said to be now conducting negotiations with several governments for reciprocity arrangements tinder the tariff act, and it is believed that by a careful exercise of the powers conferred by the act, some grievances of our own and other countries In our mutual trade relations may be removed or alleviated and the volume of our eommerela! exchanges enlarged. The President earnestly urges the improvement of our merchant marine, the inferiority of which, he says. Is humiliating to the national pride. The Sealine Conferences. Reference Is made to the recent conferences at Wlshlngton on the subject of the protection of seal life, the result of which

places beyond controversy. It Is said, the i duly of the government’s concern to adopt measures without delay for the preservation of the herds. Negotiations to this end are now in progress. International arbitration Is declared by the President to represent the best sentiment of the civilized world and treaties embodying these humane principles on broad lines, without In any way Imperiling our interests or honor, will have its constant encouragement. A lllieral appropriation is bespoken In order that the United States may make a creditable exhibit at the approaching Paris exposition, in which the people have, shown an unprecedented interest. Under the head of the navy, the President points to the necessity for speedy legislation to procure armor for the three liattleships now building, which would be otherwise useless. He speaks in terms of praise of the quality of our ships and thinks that the time lias now arrived when the Increase to which the country is committed should for a time take the form of increased facilities commensm'ate with the increase of onr naval vessels. He refers to the lack of docks and urges that three or four of the largest docks be provided on the Atlantic, at least one on tlio Pacific coast and a floating dock in the Gulf. There should also be ample provision for- munitions of war and an increase of officers and enlisted men. Additions are also necessary to navy yards and, as there are now on the stocks five large battleships, it is recommended that an appropriation be made but for one more battleship on the Pnelfle coast. Several torpedo boats are also necessaryLegislation for Alaska. Attention is called to the need for prompt legislation ns to Alaska and the extension of civil authority within the territory. There is need for surveys and for the establishment ff another land office at some point In the Yukon valley, for which an appropriation is asked. Military force is also necessary and tlie establishment of some flexible government. If the startling reports ns to the probable shortage of food for the miners lie fully verified, every effort should be made at any cost to carry them relief. The message deals at some length with the unsatisfactory condition of affairs in the Indian Territory. The large white element is said to be without protection and without schools or other rights of citizens; leading Indians have absorbed great tracts of lands and created an aristoerocy, and the friends of the Indians believe that the best interests of the five civilized tribes would be found in American citizenship. Reference is made to tlie failure so far of the Dawes commission to secure the consent of tlie tribes to an extinguishment of the tribal titles and a division of the lands. It is said that should the tribes still fail to ratify the agreement then some legislation should be had by Congress. The President approves the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury for an extension of the quarantine laws and also suggests the appointment of a special commission to ascertain the cause of yellow fever. Speaking of the pending sale of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, it is said that if no better bid is received than the upset price fixed by the court, the government would receive only $2,500,000 on its claim of nearly $13,000,000. He believes that the government has the authority to bid on the road and lias directed the Secretary of the Treasury to make the deposit of $900,000 required to qualify as a bidder and to hid at the sale 1. sum at least equal to the principal of the debt to the government. He suggests, however. that in a matter so important as the government becoming a possible owner of tlie railroad. Congress should enact some legislation to define its views. It is clear to hint, however, that the government should not permit the property to be sold at a price less than one-lmlf the principal of its debt and less than one-fifth of its entire debt, principal and interest. Improvement of the Civil Service. The President devotes the last chapter of his message to the civil service, the practical improvement of which, he says, has long been a subject of earnest discussion, and which has of late years received increased legislative and executive npprovnl. During the past few months the service has been placed upon a still firmer basis of business methods and personal merit. While the right of deserving veteran soldiers to reinstatement has been asserted, dismissals for merely political reasons have been carefully guarded against; the examinations improved and made practical and a distinct advance has been made by giving a hearing before dismissal upon all eases where ineompetency is charged or demand made for the removal of officials. This last has been done without impairing the power of removal, one of the vital safeguards of the system. Much rema’ns to be done before the system can be perfected, and the President says • that he shall not hesitate to exempt eases which he thinks have been improperly included in the elasifled service or include those which in his judgment will best promote tlie public service. The system has the approval of the people and it will be his endeavor to uphold and extendrtt. 111 conclusion, the President admonishes Congress not to encourage the Increase of the estimates for the maintenance of the government. They would admit of decrease in many branches and it is a commanding duty to keep the appropriations within the receipts of the government and thus avoid a deficit.

News of Minor Note. Gen. Charles E. Hovey, a well-known lawyer, formerly of Illinois, died at Washington) aged 70 years. Seuor Jorge Tezanos Pinto, father-in-law of President Uriburu of Argentina, and the Argentina consul in Lima, is dead at Lima, rent. Austin Porior, Colored, of Philadelphia, dropped dead while being congratulated upon liis election to the presidency of the Hotel Brotherhood. At Maplesville, Ala., seven men are dead and seventeen more arc not expected to live front the result of driiking a mixture of wood alcohol and cheap whisky. Tlie Government of Japan has sent an order to locomotive builders in Jersey City foT fifteen locomotives for use on heavy trains. Work on the locomotives will be begtin at once. An attempt to hold up and rob a passenger train on the Mexican. National road near Monterey, Mex., was made by nine masked and well-armed Mexicans. Tlie passengers made resistance and the outlaws were unsuccessful. District Attorney Finical of Albuquerque, N. M., has received a telegram from Dalm Graham, the constable at Brisbee, Ariz., saying that he had apprehended throe train robbers who held up rise Santa Fe and Pacific passenger train at Grant’s station. Jones & Laughlin of Pittsburg notified their 3,000 irou workers, known as day men, that commencing Dec. 1, their wages would be increased 10 per cent. This restores the reduction made some months ago as promised by the firm as soon as improved conditions would warrant. The depositors of the Bank of Minnesota at St. Paul will receive a 10 per cent dividend. It is now believed that the hank may pay 60 per cent to depositors. The Bank of Minnesota closed on Dec. 22 last, its failure precipitating the difficulty of last winter among the St. Paul banks. • A charter has been granted for the Southern Sugar Refining Company at Richmond, Va. The maximum capital of the company is to be $1,000,000. The object is to encourage the raising of sugar beets nnd the manufacture of beet sugar. It is the pioneer enterprise of the kind in that section. The stockholders of the California Winemakers’ corporation, which controls the bulk of the output of the State, have decided to enter the markets of the world and try to dispose of the immense stock now on band, and which, owing to trouble between the corporation and the wine dealers, cannot be sold to local dealers.