Newspaper Page Text
The Jones County News
M. C. GREENE, PUBLISHER.
A REVIEW OF TIIE AFFAIRS OF
OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS.
Currency lteform unci Cuban Question
t!»c Most Salient Features of
the Document.
To the Senate and House of Represen¬
tatives:
It gives me pleasure to extend greet¬
ing to the Fifty-fifth oongress assom-
bled in regular session at the seat of
government, with mauy ot whose sen-
ators and representatives I have been
associated in the legislative ser-
vice. Their meeting occurs under fe¬
licitous conditions, justifying siiiGBre
congratulation and calling for our grate¬
ful acknowledgement to a beneficent
providence, which has so signally blessed
aud prospered us as a nation. Peace
and good will with all the nations of
the earth continue unbroken,
A matter of great satisfaction is the
growing unification feeling of fraternal regard and
of all sections of out 1 coun¬
long try, the delayed incompleteness of Which has too
realization of the highest
blessing of the Union. The spirit of
patriotism is universal and is ever in¬
creasing in fervor. The public questions
which now most eugross us are lifted
far above either partisanship, prejudices
or former sectional differences. They
affect every part of ourcotttmon country
alike and permit of no division ou anci¬
ent lines. Questions of foreign policy,
of raveuue, the souudnes* of the cur¬
rency, the inviolability of national obli¬
gations, the improvement of the public?
service, appeal to the individual con¬
science of Overy earnest citizen to What-
ever party he belongs or iu whatever
section of the country he may reside.
-.ho extra session of this congress
Which closed during July, last, enacted
effect important has legislation, aud while its full
not yet been realized, what it
has already accomplished assures us of
its timeliness and wisdom. To tost its
permanent value further time will be
required and the people, satisfied with
its operatic',, and results thus far, are
in no mind to withhold from it a fair
trial.
Tariff logislatiou having been settled
by the session of cougress, the
question next pressing for considera*
doit fe that of the currency.
The work of putting our finances upon
a sound basis, difficult as it may seem,
will appear easier when we recall the
financial operations of the government
since 1806. Ou June 16 of that year we ..;
had outstanding demand liabilities in
the sum of $728,368,447.41. On Jan. 1,
18<9, these liabilities had beeu reduced
ing toifq-JjpS'y,495.88. Of uur interest bear¬
Obligations, {the figures are even
more striking, of the On July 1, 1860, the
principal interest bearing debt of
the government was $2,882,831,208. On
July J, 1893, this sum had been reduced
to $585,087,100, or an aggregate reduc¬
tion of $1,747,284,108. The interest bear¬
ing debt of the United on Dec. 1, 1897,
was $847,305,620. The government
sists money of now $346,681,016 outstanding United (Deo. 1) con¬
of States
notes, $107,793,2$0 of treasury notes is¬
sued by authority of tho iaw of 1890,
$844,963.-504 bf silver certificates, and
$01,286,761 of standard silver dollars.
No Tima to Hesitate,
With the great resources of the gov¬
ernment and with lionorablo example
of the past before us, we ought not to
hesitate to enter upon a currency re¬
vision which wil. make our demand ob¬
ligations less onerous to the govern¬
ment and relieve our financial laws
from ambiguity and doubt.
The brief review of what was accom¬
plished makes from the close of the war to
1893 unreasonable and ground¬
less any-distrust, either of our financial
ability or soundness; while the situation
from 1893 to 1897 must admonish con¬
gress of the immediate necessity of so
legislating as to make the return of the
conditions then prevailing impossible.
There are mauy plans proposed as a
remedy for the real evil. It is not that
our currency of every kind is not good,
for every dollar of it is good—good be¬
cause the government’s pledge is out to
keep it so, aud that pledge will not be
broken. However, the guaranty of our
purpose to keep tiie pledge will be best
shown by advancing toward its fulfill¬
ment.
The evil of the present system is
found iu the great cost to the govern-
ment of maintaining the parity of our
different forms of money, that is, keep-
ing all of them at par with gold. We
surely cannot be longer heedless of the
burden this imposes upon the people,
ever under fairly prosperous conditions,
while the past four years have demon-
etrated that it is not only and expen-
sive charge upon the government, but
a dangerous menace to the national
credit
It is manifest that we must devise
Bome plau to protect for the government
against bond issues repeated re-
demptions. We must speculation, either curtail made
the opportunity for
easy by the multiplied redemptions of
our demand obligations, or increase the
gold reserve for their redemption. We
have $900,000,000 of currency which the
government by solemn enactment lias
undertaken to keep at par with gold,
Nobody is obliged to redeem iu gold but
the government. The banks are not
required to redeem in gold. The gov-
erument is obliged to keep equal with
gold all its outstanding currency aud
coin outstanding, while its receipts ar*<
not required to be paid in gold. They
are paid in every kind of money but
gold, and the only means by which the
government can with certainty get gold
is by borrowing. It can get it ju no
other way when it most needs it. The
government without any fixed gold
revenue is pledged to maiutaiu gold re-
demptiou, which it has steadily and
faithfully done, and which, under the
authority uow given, it will continue
to do.
The law which requires the govern-
ment, after having redeemed its United
States notes, to pay them out again as
current funds, demands a constant This re-
plenishmeut of the gold reserve.
is especially so in times of business
panic aud when the revenues are in-
sufficient to meet the expenses of the
government At such times the gov-
eminent has no other way to supply its
deficit and maintain redemption but
through the increase of its bonded debt,
ns dnriug the administration at bit
predecessor, bonds when $262,816,400 Of 4)jj
per cent were issued.and sold and
the proceeds Used to pay the expanses
of the government in ev.caSs of the rev¬
enues and sustain the gold reserve.
While It Is true that the greater part of
the proceeds of these bonds wore used
to supply deficient revenues, a consid¬
erable portion was required to maintain
the geld reserve.
With our revenues equal to our ex¬
penses, there would be no deficit requir¬
ing the issuance of bonds. Biit if the
gold reserve falls below $.100,000,J00
how will it be replenished except by
selling l'noro bonds? Is there any other
way practicable nndCr existing law?
The serious question then is, shall we
continue the polioy that has been pur¬
sued in the past; that IS; that when the
government reserve reaches the point of
danger, issue more bonds and supply
tile needed gold, or shall ibb provide
other means to prevent those recurring
drains Upon the gold roserve? If no
further legislation is had and the policy
of selling bonds is to be continued, then
oongress should give thoseorotatv Of the
treasury short authority to sell bonds at long
or periods, bearing it lbss rate of
interest thttu is Uow authorized by law.
As to United State, Notes.
I earnestly recdnilHenii as soon as the
receipts of Hie government are quite
Sliiiioieut to pay all the expenses of the
government that when any of the
United States notes are presented for re¬
demption in gold and Are Wdeeffled in
gold-, such Dotes shill be kept and set
upapt gold. ihd Only paid out in exchadgo for
This is mi obvious dity.
If the holder or tiie United States pre¬
fers the gold aud gets it from the gov¬
ernment he should not Vtsc&ive baok
from the government a United States
uotu Without paying gold iu exchange
for it. The reason for this is made all
the more apparent when the govern¬
ment issues UI1 Interest bearing debt to
provide gold fur til® redemption of
United elites notes—a noninterest hear¬
ths debt. Surely it should not pay
them out again except ou demand and
for gold. If they are put. otit ill any
other Wap, they return again to be fol¬
lowed by ttlWtller bond issue to redeem
them-— Another interest bearing debt to
redeem a noniutorest bearing debt.
In my view it is of the utmost impor¬
tance that the government sliodld be
relieved from the bufdfeii Of providing
all tho gold required for exchanges and
eiport. This responsibility is alone borne
by tho government without any"of the
usual and necessary baukiug powers to
help itself. The banks do not feel the
strain of the gold redemption. Tho
whole strain rests Upon tile government
and the size of the gold reserve ill the
treasury has come to be With, or with¬
out reason, tho signal of danger or of
security. This ought to be stopped if
We are to have an ora of prosperity in
the country. With sufficient receipts
for the expenses of tile government we
may feel Uo immediate embarrassment
from our present currency, but the dan¬
ger still exists, ana will be ever present,
menacing us so long And as the existing sys¬
tem continues. besides, it is in
time of adequate revenues and business
tranquility for that the the government Wo should
prepare worst. cannot avoid
without serious consequences the wise
consideration aud prompt golution of
tnis The question. of
secretary the treasury has out¬
lined a plan iu great detail for the pur¬
pose of removing tiie threatened recur¬
rence of -a depleted gold reserve aud
savo us from future embarassinent on
that account. To tiiis plan I invite
your oareful consideration.
I concur with the secretary of tho
treasury in his recommendation that
national banks be allowed to issue notes
to the face value of the bonds which
they have deposited for circulation, and
that the tax on circulating notes se¬
cured by deposit of such bonds be re¬
duced one-half of 1 percent per annum.
I also join iiim iu recommending that
authority be given for the establishment
of national banks witli a minimum cap¬
ital of $25,000. This will enable the
smaller villages ami agricultural regions
of the country to be supplied with cur¬
rency to meet their needs.
I recommend that tiie issue of na¬
tional bank notes be restricted to the
denomination of $10 aud upwards. If
the suggestions I have herein made shall
have the approval of congress, then I
would recommend that national banks
be required to redeem their notes iu
gold.
NO CUBAN INTERFERENCE,
President McKinley Follows In the Foot¬
steps of His Predecessor.
The most important problem with
which this government is now called
upon to deal pertaining to its foreign
relations concerns its duty toward Spain
and to the Cuban insurrection. Prob¬
lems and conditions more or less in com-
mon with those now existing have con-
fronted this government at various
times iu the past. The story of Cuba
for many years lias been one of unrest;
growing discontent; an effort toward a
larger enjoyment of liberty and self con-
trol; of organized resistance to the
mother country; of depression after dis-
tress and warfare and of ineffectual set-
tlemeut to this by renewed revolt. For
uo enduring period since the eufran-
chisement of the continental possessions
of Spain in the western continent lias
the condition of Cuba or the policy of
Spain toward Cuba not caused concern
to the United States,
The prospect from time to time that
the weakness of Spaiu’s hold ou the
island aud the political vicissitudes and
embarrassments of the home govern-
ment might lead to the transfer of Cuba
to a continental power called forth be-
tween 1823 aud 1860 various emphatic
declarations of the policy of the United
ba’s to permit no disturbance of Cn-
connection with Spain unless in
the direction of independence or aequi-
sitiou by us through purchase; nor has
there been any change of this declared
policy since upon the part of tiie govern-
ment.
The present insurrection broke ont in
February, 1895. It is not my purpose
at this time to recall its remarkable in-
crease or to characterize its tenacious
resistance against the enormons forces
massed against it by Spain. The revolt
and the effortss to subdue it carried de¬
struction to every quarter of the island,
developing wide proportions and defy-
ing the efforts of Spain for its suppres
sion. The civilized code was regarded
no less so by the Spaniards than by the
Cubans.
The existing conditions cannot bat
fill this government and the American
GRAY, JONES CO., GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 1897.
people with the gravest apprehension.
There is ud desite oil the part of our
pdopid to We profit by the misfortunes of
Spaiii. have oiily the desire td see
tho Cubans prosperous add Contented,
eiijoyilig that measure of self oontrol
which is the inalienable right of man,
protected in their right to reap the ben¬
efit of the exhaustless treasures of their
country.
Th4 cruel policy of concentration was
initiated Feb. ltl, 1890. The productive
districts controlled by the Spanish ar¬
mies were depopulated. The agricult¬
ural iuhnbitiiiits Hrere Horded iii and
aboht the garrison towns, their lands
laid waste This and policy their qf the dwellings lateteabiuet de¬
stroyed. Spain
of iViis justified as a nooessary of
measure of war and os a means cut¬
ting off supplies from the iiisnrgeuts.
It has Utterly fitilbd as a war measure.
D was not civilized warfare. It was
extermination, tile
Agajnst Lave this, abuse df lights Hf
it’ll!', I felt constrained on re¬
peated occasions to enter the firm aud
earuest protest of this government.
There was much of public condemna¬
tion of American Citizens by alleged
arrests And long imprisonment, await¬
ing trial or pending jildiciiil proceed¬
ings. I felt it my first duty to make
iuatant demauds for the release bitifcenb or
speedy Arrest. trial of Before All American
under the change of tli e
Spaisli cabinet in October last 22 pris¬
oners, citizens of tho United States, had
been given their freedom.
Woodford’s
'tile instructions given to our hew
minister liis td Spain directed before iiiiii his td departure impress
fOr post
Upon that United government the lend sincere its did wish
of the States to to¬
ward Hie endiflg of the iVar in Cuba by
rbdSnmg a peaceful and lasting result,
just and honorable alike to Spain and
to the Cuban people.
Oct. Tho reply It to our note was received bet- ou
iiiid’drstiuiding. 28. is in the direction of a
tbr It appreciates the
friendly purposes of this government.
It. admits that our country is deeply
affected by the war iu Cuba aud that its
desires for pec.cc are jiist. It declares
that the present Spanish government is
bouud by every consideration to a
change of polioy that should satisfy the
United States and pacify Cuba within
a reasonable time. To effect this end politi¬ Spain
has decided to put into the
cal rofdriiis lieretiiford advocated by the
preseht premier without halting for
any consideration in the path which, iu
its judgment, leads to peace. The mil¬
itary operations, it is said, will con¬
tinue, but will be humane and con¬
ducted with all regard for private
rights, leading being accompanied by political Cuba,
action to the aiit.oiiouly of
while guarding Spanish sovereignty.
This, it is claimed, will result iu invest¬
ing Cuba with a distinct personality;
tho island to be governed by an execu¬
tive and by a local council dr chamber,
reserving to Spaiii the control of the
foreign relations, the army and navy
and the judicial administration. To ac¬
complish this tiie present government
proposes to modify existing logislatiou
by decree, leaving the Spanish cortes,
with the aid of Cuban senators and dep¬
uties, to solve the economic problem
and properly distribute the existing
debt.
Ill tho absOUco at a declaration Of the
measures that tho government proposes
to take in carrying out its proffer of
good offices it suggests that Spain bo
left free to conduct military operations
and grant political reforms, while the
United States for its part shull enforce
its neutral obligations and cut off the
assistance which it is assorted tho insur¬
gents receive from this country. The
supposition of an Indefinite prolongation
of the war is denied. It is asserted that
the western provinces are already well
nigh reclaimed; that tile plautitlg of
tobacco therein lias been resumed and
that by force of arms and new and am¬
ple reforms very early aud complete
pacification is hoped for.
Discussion of the question of interna¬
tional duties and responsibilities of the
United States ns Spain understands
them is presented with an apparent dis¬
position to charge us with failure in this
regard. This charge is without any
basis in fact. It could not iiave been
made if Spain bad been cognizant ,of
the constant efforts this government has
made at the cost of millions and by the
employment of tiio administrative ma¬
chinery of the nation at command to
perform its full duty under the law of
nations. That it has successfully pre¬
vented the departure of a single mili¬
tary expedition or armed vessel from
our shores iu violation of our laws would
seem to be a sufficient end.
Throughout all these horrors and dan¬
gers to our own peace, this government
has never iu any way abrogated its sov¬
ereign prerogative of reserving to itself
the determination of its polioy and
course according to its own high sense
of light and iu consonauce with the
dearest interests and convictions of our
own people should the prolongation of
the strife so demand.
Of the untried measures there remain
only recognition of the insurgents as
belligerents; recognition of the inde¬
pendence of (Juba; neutral intervention
to end tho war by imposing a rational
compromise betweeu the contestants,
aud intervention iu favor of one or the
other party. I speak not of forcible an¬
nexation, for that cannot be thought of.
That by our code of morality would be
criminal aggression.
Opposed to Kecog'iiitlon,
I regard the recognition of the bel¬
ligerency of the Cuban insurgents as
now unwise and therefore inadmissible.
Should that step hereafter be deemed
wise as a measure of right and duty the
executive will take it.
Intervention upon humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
and lias not failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when
it is apparent that a hopeful change has
supervened iu the policy of Spaiu to¬
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in tiie mother country. It
is pledged in advance to the declaration
that all the effort in the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace iu Cuba by the
bayonet; that vague promises of reform
after subjugation afford no solution of
tiie insular problem, that with a substi¬
tution of commanders must come a
change of the past system of warfare
for one in harmony with a new polioy
which shall not longer aim to drive the
Cubans to the “horrible alternative of
taking to the thicket or succumbing in
misery,” that the reforms must be in¬
stituted in accordance with the needs
and circumstauces of the time and that
these reforms, while designed to give
full autonomy to the colony and to ore-
ate a Virtual entity and self controlled
administration, shall yet conserve and
affirm the sovereignty of Spain by a just
distribution mutual Of powers and burdens Untainted upon
a basis of interest by
methods of selfish expediency.
It is honestly due to Spain and to out
friendly relations with Spain that she
should be given a reasonable chance to
rcaliie nor expectations and to prove
the asserted efficacy of tho new order of
things to whioh she stands irrevocably
committed. Sho has reoalled the com¬
mander whose brutal orders inflamed
the American mind and shocked ths
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order of concentration and un-
dertalcilij to wiio cure desire for the helpless and
permit those to festlula the
cultivation of their fields to do so, and
assures them df the p'roteoviuil of the
Spanisn government She has id just their released IdsHifl the Oc¬
cupations. ‘'Competitor” prisoners, heretofore
sen¬
tenced to death; Hod Who hate been Coffoit- the
subject of repeated diplomatic
pondence during both this and the pre
ceding administration.
Not a single American citizen is now
Under arrest or in confinement In Cuba
Ot Whqiri this government has any
knowledge. Tlld ntiaf f tit lire Will dem¬
onstrate whether the indispensable belli-
'(iition Cubaris of it righteous anil id peace, just alike
to the Spain as well as
equitable to nil our interests id hlti-
mutely involved in the welfare of Cuba,
is likely to be attaiued. If not, the ex¬
igency of further and other aotion by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes that ac¬
tion Will .be determined ill the lino of
indilpiitable right misgiving and dtity; It hesitancy will be
faced without dr
in the light of the obligation this gov-
brntnmit owes to itself; td the pdopld
who have confided* to it the protection
of their interests and honor and to hu¬
manity. of the right, keeping free from
Sure
all offense aiid oujselvee, actuated only by
Upright patriotic Danrldcratloiis,
moved neither by passion or solfishiioss,
the government will oontinue its watch¬
ful care over the rights and property of
American citizens and will abate none
of its efforts to bmig about by peaceful
agencies a peace whioh shall be honor¬
able and enduring. If it shall here¬
after appear to be a duty imposed by
our obligations to ourselves, to civiliza¬
tion and humanity to iutervoue fault with
force it shall be without an Our
part, and duly bedatise the necessity for
sucli action will be so olear as td ooirf-
maud the support and approval of the
civilized world
THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION.
Itntliioatloit df tilti Annotation Treaty
tii-gnd My til3 President.
Hy a special mdssigd dated JUuo 16,
last, I laid before the senate a treaty
SI gnddlhat day by I ha plenipotentiaries
bf the United Stdfcb ! £?r and bf the Vepiiblic
bf Hawuii, having its purpose the
incorporation of tile Hawaiian islands
Us an integral part bf the United Seated
and undor its sovereignty. The senate
having removed the injunction of so-
creoy, although the treaty is still pend¬
ing before that body, the subject may
be properly referred to in this mossage
because the necessary action of the don-
gre-is latibu is required to determine by iegis-
many details df tile eventual
Union; should the fact of annexation he
accomplished, as I belive it should bo.
While consis’ently disavowing from a
very early period any aggressive policy
of absorption in regard to tiie Hawaiian
group, a long series of declarations
through three-quarters of a century bus
proclaimed the vital interest of the
United states iu tiie independent life of
the islands and their intimate commer¬
cial dependence upon tiiis country. At
tho same time it has been repeatedly
assorted tiiat iu uo event cottld the en¬
tity of Hawaii statehood ceaso by the
passage of the islands under the domi¬
nation or influence or powor than the
United States. Under these circum¬
stances the logic of events offered required but that de¬
annexation, therefore
clined, should iu the ripeness of time
come about us tho natural result of tiie
strengthening ties that bind us to thosu
islands and be realized by the free will
of the Hawaiian state.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without umeudmont by the senate aud
president of the republic of Hawaii ou
Sept. 10. lust, and only uwaics the fa¬
vorable action of the American senate
to affect the complete absorption of tiie
islands into the domain of the Uuiteil
States. Wiiat tho conditions of suoh u
union shall be. United the political the relation char¬
thereof to tiie States,
acter of the local administration, the
quality and degree of the elective fran¬
chise of (he inhabitants, the extension
of the federal laws to the territory ov
the enactment of special laws to fit the
peculiar condition therefor, and the
regulation, if need be, of the labor sys¬
tem therein, the treaty has wisely dele¬
gated to congress. If the treaty is con¬
firmed, as every consideration of dignity
and honor requires, the wishes ot con¬
gress will see to it that, avoiding ab¬
rupt assimilation of elements perhaps
hardly yet fit to share in tiie highest
franchises of citizenship nud having
due regard to the geographioul condi¬
tions, the most just provisions for seif
rule in local matters with the largest
political liberties and an integral part
of onr nation will bo accorded to the
Hawaiian*. No less is due to a people
who, after nearly five years of demon¬
strated capacity to fulfill the obligations
of self governing statehood, come of
their free will to merge their destinies
in oar body politic.
The questions which have arisen be¬
tween Japan aud Hawaii by reason of
tho treatment of Japanese laborers emi¬
grating to the islands under the Ha¬
waiian-Japanese convention of 1888 are
iu a satisfactory stage of settlement by
negotiation.
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC.
Necessity of -Amending? Lswi to Mmko Na¬
tional Officers Paramount.
The recent prevalence of yellow fever
iu a number of cities and towns through¬
out tho south has resulted iu much dis¬
turbance of oommerce and demonstrated
the necessity of such amendments to
our quarantine laws as will make tho
regulations of the national quarantine
authorities paramount. The secretary
of the treasury, in the portion of his re¬
port relating to the operation of the
marine hospital service, calls attention
to the defects iu the present quarantine
laws aud recommends amendments
thereto whioh will give the treasury de¬
partment the requisite authority to pre-.
vent the invasion of epidemic diseases
from foreign countries aud in times of
emergency like that of the past sum-
mer, will odd to tho olfi ole licy of tl
sanitary measures for the protection of
the people and at the same time prevent
unnecessary restriction of comraeroo. I
OollotJr ill his recommendation.
In further effort to prevent tho inva¬
sion of tho United States by yellow
fever, tho importance of tho discovery
of the oxuet cause of the disease, which,
up to tho present time, tins been unde¬
termined, is obvious, nud to this oml n
systematic bacteriological investigation recommend
should bo made. I therefore
that congress authorize tho appoint¬
ment of a commission by the president,
to consist of four expert bacteriologists,
one to bo selected from the medical offi¬
cers of the marine hospital service, one
to be appointed from oivil life, one to be
detailed from the medical offices* of tiie
army and one from the medical oificors
of Hie navy.
SPECIAL MONEY ENVOYS.
PteAldtint suit Hopeful or Securing flu
liitStuStfumfl Agreement.
Under the provisions (it the act of
congress, approved March 3, 1897, lot
the promotion of an International agree¬
ment respecting bimetallism. I ap¬
pointed) oil April 14, 1897. Hfiu. Edward
(). Stevenson Wolcott of c>t Illinois, Colorado, aud Hijn. lion. Adlui Uharlett K.
J. Paino Of Massachusetts, United ns special
eilvo’yS td represent the States.
They have been dillgbut ill their efforts
to seoure the concurrence and on- opera¬
tion of European countries in tho inter¬
national settlement of the question, but
up to this time have not been able to
secure an agreement contemplated by
their mission.
Tiie gratifying aotion of our great sis¬
ter republic of Franco iu joining this
botintry In the attempt to bring about
an agreomout anioiig the principal Com¬
mercial nations of Europe whefdby a
fixed aud relative value between gold
and silver shall bo sooured. furnishes
assurance that we are not alone among
thfi lafgef nations of tho world in real¬
izing the international character of tho
problem and in the doiirn of reaching
some wise and practical solution of it.
Uur special enVoys haft? not made their
final report, os further negotiations
between tho representatives of this gov¬
ernment and the governments of other
countries are pending that and doubts in contem¬ whioh
plation. They believe
hate been recommended in certain
quartets respecting tho question of
maintaining between the stability of the parity
tile metals end kindred ques¬
tions may yet bo solted by further ne¬
gotiations.
T|ie Navy.
Under the head of the navy, tho pres¬
ident points to the necessity for speedy
legislation to procure the armor for tho
three battleships now building which
Would bo otherwise Useless. Ho speaks
iu teruls of praise of the quality of our
ships and thinks that the time lias now
arrived when the increase to whioh the
country is oommittod should for u time
take the form of increased facilities
Commensurate with tiie increase of onr
naval vessels. He refers to the luck of
docks, and urges tliut three or four of
the largest docks be provided on tiie At¬
lantic, at least one ou the Pacific coast
and a floating ample dock iu the gulf. There
should also be provision for officers mu¬
nitions of war aud an increase of
Afid enlisted men. Additions are also
necessary to navy yards aud, as there
are now oil tiie docks five largo battle¬
ships, it is recommenced that an appro¬
priation be made but for oiin more bat¬
tleship on tho Pacific coast. Several
torpedo boats are also necessary.
?*ttl*» of tlio littllMliM Faoiflo.
Spoaklng of the ponding sale of tho
Kansas Pacific railroad, it is said that
if no bettor bid is received than the up¬
set price fixed by tho court, tho govern¬
ment would receive only $2,500,000 on
its claim of nearly $111,000,000. He be¬
lieves that tho government has tho au¬
thority to bid oil the road and has di¬
rected the secretary of tiie treasury to
make the deposit of $900,000 required to
qunlify as a bidder and to bid ot tho
sale a sum ut least equal to the princi¬
pal of tho debt to tiie government, lie
suggests, however, tliut iu a matter so
important us tiie government becoming
a possible owner of tho railroad, con¬
gress should enact sonio legislation to
define its views. It is clear to him,
howevor, that tiie government should
not permit the property to be sold at a
price less than one-half the principal of
its debt aud less than one-fifth of its en¬
tire debt, principal aud interest.
Civil Service.
The president devotes considerable
space to the civil service, the practical
improvement of whioh, he says, lias
long been a subject of earuost discus¬
sion, and which lias of late years re¬
ceived increased legislative and execu¬
tive approval. During tho past few
months tho service has boon placed upon
a still firmer basis of business methods
and personal merit. While tho right of
deserviug veteran soldiers to reinstate¬
ment has been asserted, dismissals for
merely political reasons have been care¬
fully guarded against; tho examinations
improved aud made practical, Ad-
vauce lias boon made by giving a hear¬
ing before dismissal upon all cases
wherein inoompetency is charged or de¬
mand made for the removal of officials.
This last lias been done without impair¬
ing the power of removal.
The Indian Trouble#.
The message deals at some longtli
with the unsatisfactory condition of
affairs in the Indian Territory. The
large white element is said to bo with¬
out protection aud without schools or
other rights of citizens; leading Indians
have absorbed great tracts of lauds and
created an aristocracy, and tiie friends
of the Indians believe that tiie best in¬
terests of the five civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship. Ref¬
erence is made to the failure so far of
the Dawes commission td secure the
consent of tho tribes to un extinguish¬
ment of tiie tribal titles mid a division
of the lands. It is said that shoald the
tribes still fail to ratify the agreement
then some legislation should be had by
longrosa.
Itcoiprooity Arrangement*.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa is said to be now
conducting negotiations with several
governments for reciprocity arrange¬
ments under the tariff act, and it is be¬
lieved that by a oareful exeroise of the
powers conferred by tbe act, some
grievances of our own and other oouu-
sries in onr mutual trade relations may
t>e removed or alleviated aud the volume
jt our commercial exchanges enlarged.'
Cm* of Minlitor Merry.
Reference is made to the failure of
Hr. Merry to be reoeived as minister to
VOL. III. NO. 60.
L. 0. BENTON & CO.
ROUND OAK, GA
Dealers in
General Merchandise,
PLANTATION SUPPLIES 1 .
Ladies’ Dress Goods, Fine Clothing,
BOOTS ANI) SHOES-
We also handle and have on hand at all times
Horses and Mules
That we will sell for cash or on time. Wc sell the
CELEBRATED MITCHELL WAGON
U Ik tel Ui il lusts nl Harass.
We pay the HIGHEST MARKET PRICE for
Cotton and Cotton Seed,
And charge only TEN CENTS for weighing, thereby
saving yon exorbitant warehouse charges.
Thanking tho public for a liberal patronage in the past, wo solicit a con¬
tinuance of the same, promising fair treatment to all.
Respectfully,
L. O. Benton & Co.,
ROUND OAK, GA-
,507 Cherry Street, Macon, Ga.
We take pleasure in telling our friends that onr Buyer, MR. KESSLER,
lias returned from the Eastern markets, where lie purchased a full line of
DM GOODS. CLOTHING, SHOES. HUTS, MILLINERY, &c.
At prices that will surprise you. Before you buy come anil got our prices,
??“ Hoys r Suits....................... “j .......................... $3.75 to $10.00
° verooat ......................'.’.!!!’.!!! V.’.'............ ... 8. oo to 7 oo
Mackintoshes. .
Ladies’ Capes ......... 75c. to 9.00
Hills, Sliocs, Comforts, Hlankets, Spreads, Millinery, and a qrcat
many oilier Articles too numerous to mention
COMI9 AND JBJ3JEJ.
•»*
Proprietors.
507 Cherry Street, MACON? CA,
We would like to liavo our friends come to see us.
J. O. HADDOCK,
J. ’J’. PEARCE,
J. It. ANDREWS,
l. s. McConnell.
When Visiting Wlacon Call On
Iverson L. Smith,
For Dry Bools, Clulis, Hals, Bants, Slots.
TRUNKS, VALISES, &C.
AT 470 MlILBBnnV ST IX 3 D HIT.
—ALSO—
Groceries, Cigars anil Tobaccos.
THE CHEAPEST PUCE IN MACON.
At 4G6 Mulberry Street, MACON, GA.
SAM’L EVANS,
Mod Fattnr and Coin MsrcM.
Milledgeville, Georgia.
Consignments of Cotton solicited. Liberal cash advances made on Cots
ton for storage.