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About Schley County news. (Ellaville, Ga.) 1889-1939 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1897)
THE MESSAGE TO CONGRESS. 4 Affairs of Government Reviewed By President McKinley, MOST SALIENT FEATURES The Cuban Question and Portion Relative to Currency Reform. To the Sen.it® and House of Represen tatives: It gives me p ensure to extend greet -lug to the Fifty.fifth congress assem b.ed in regular session at the seat of , government, with many of whose sen ators and representatives I have been associated ‘m the legislative ser vice. Iheir meeting occurs under fe licitou* conditions, justifying sincere congratulation ami 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 feeling of fraternal regard ami unification of all sections > f our couu try, the incompleteness of which has too long delayed realization of the highest blessing of the Union. The spirit of patriotism is universal aud is ever in creasing iu fervor. Tne puniie questions which now most engross us are lifted far above either partisanship, prejudices or former sec tional differences. They affect every part of our common country alike and permit of no division on anci ent lines. Question* of foreign policy, of revenue, the soundness of the cur r< i,< y, the iinioi.ibi.ify of notion,J obli gatums. the improvement oi! the pubi c service, appeal to the individual con science of every ", earnest citizen to what ever party , . he belongs . ■ whatever i 1 or m sect . • on ot / the „, country , i lie may reside. ^ he exit a ses.-ion ol this congress wmch closed during Jmy, last, enacted lmportant legislation, and w ine its tu •effect lias not yet been realized, what it has already accomplished assutes us ot its tnnetintt.'S mm wisuom. ii> tost its permanent value further time wnl >e lequiinu atm the P“e. satisfied with its operation and lesults thus tai. are iu no mind to withhold from it a an tr,a • Tanff legislation , having . been settled ... , by the extra session of congress, the question next pressing for considera tion is 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 I860. Oa June 16 oE that year we had outstanding demand liabilities in the sum of $728,868,447 41. On Jun. 1. 1879, these liabilities had been reduced to $44J'889,495.88. Of our interest bear ing obligations, ithe figures are even more striking. On July 1, 1866, the principal of the interest bearing debt of the government was $2,332,331,208. On July 1, 1893, this sum had been reduced to $585,037,100, or au aggregate reduc tion of $1,747,264.108. The interest bear ing debt of tiie United on Dec. 1, 1897, was $847,365,620. The government sists money of now outstanding (Doc. 1) con $346,681,016 of United States notes, $!07.793, 2$0 of treasury notes is sued by authority of the law of 1890, $344,963,504 of silver certificates, and $61,286,701 of standard silver dollars. No Time to Hesitate. With the great resources of the gov ernment and with honorable 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 fiuaucial laws from ambiguity and doubt. The brief review of what was accom plished from the close of the war to 181-3 makes unreasonable and grouud ability'or less auv aistrust, either of our financial soundness; while the situatiou from 1898 to 1897 must admonish con cress of the immediate necessity of so legislating as to make the return of the conditions then prevailing impossible. There are many plans proposed as a remedy for the reai 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, and that pledge will not be broken. However, tlie guaranty of our purpose to keep the pledge will be best showm by advancing toward its fulfill m ent. The evil of the present system is found iu the great cost to the govern meut of maintaining the parity of our different forms of mouey, that is, keep iug all of them at par wdtli gold. We surely cannot be longer heedless of the burden this imposes upou the people, ever under fairly prosperous conditious, while the past four years have demon strated that it is not only and expen sive ciiarge upon the government, but a dangerous menace to the national Credit. It is manifest that wo must devise some plan to protect the government against bond issues for repeated re demptions. We must either curtail the opportunity for speculation, made easy by the multiplied redemptions of our demand obligations, or increase the gold reserve for their redemption. We have $'300,000,000 of curreucy which the government undertaken to'keep by solemn enactment has Nobody at par with gold, is obliged to redeem in gold but the govermneut. The banks are not required to redeem in gold. The gov eminent is obliged to keep equal with gold all its outstanding curreucy and coin outstanding, while its receipts are not required to be paid iu gold. They are paid in every kind of money but gold, aud the only means by which the government can with certainty get gold is by borrowing. It can get it in uo ■other way when it most needs it. The government without any fixed gold revenue is pledged to maintain gold re demption, which it has steadily and faithfully done, aud which, under the authority now given, it will continue to do. Tbo law which requires the govern ment, after having redeemed its United States notes, to pay them out agaiu as current funds, demands a constant re is plenishment of the gold reserve. of This especially so in times business panic nun when tne the revenues are in sufficient to meet expenses of the govern mean At such times the gov ernment has no other way to supply its deficit and maintain redemption but through the increase of its bonded debt, j as during the administration of my predecessor, when $202,815,400 of 4 % per cent bonds were issued aud sold and the proceeds used to pay the expenses of the government in excess of the rev eiiuos and sustain the gold reserve, While it is true that the greater part of the proceeds of these bonds were used to supply deficient revenues, a consul prabi « P orrio » was requited to maintain With our revenues equal to our ex penses. there would be no deficit requir ing the issuance of bouds. But if the f old reserve falls below $100,000,300 how will it bo replenished except bv sel i iuff more bonds? Is there any other way practicable under existing law? The serious question then is. shall we continue tiie policy that has been pur sued in the past; that is, that when the government reserve reaches the point of danger, issue more bonds aud supply the needed gold, or shall we provide other means to prevent those recurring drains upon the gold reserve? If no further legislation is had and the policy of selling ... bonds is to be continued, then congress should give the secretary of the treasury authority to sail bonds at long or short periods, bearing a less rate of interest than is now authorized by law. to Vuiteii State* Notas* I earnestly recommend as soon as the receipts of the government are quite su g^ clen { to pay a ^ expenses of the gnV0r n m ent that when any of the [T V mted llitpd state* ^ tate9 notes notes are are nresenfed presented for for re- re uemptiou in gold and are redeemed in ^ gold, . such notes shall be kept P and , set ^ Qply paid OQ( . , u ex hang6 for go j d This is au obvious dutv. If the bolder of the United States pre ^ ers tbe j d aud gets f rotn the gov ernme.it he should not receive back fyom the government a United States JJO $0 without paying gold iu exchange for if. The reason for this is made all j b0 more apparent when the govern mt , nt I8sues a u interest bearing debt to 1)Vovld0 gold for the redemption of United States notes—a noninterest bear ing debt. Surely it should not pay them out again except on demand and for gold. If they are put out in any otner way. they return again to be tol lowed by another bond issue to redeem them another interest bearing debt to redeem a noninterest bearing debt. In my view it is of the utmost impor t.vnoe that the government should be goffiTeJffired“ to?ex°cha P ngIs and export the’government This resnonsibilitv is aloiie bo ne usual^lud bv necessary^^ankffig without auv Kwers of the noif to help srrsliof* itself The <T,)i(i banks do feel the gfraiu the resS mioii rodemnrion *h?f?vernment Tne whole and the size of the eold reserve in the treasury has come to be with nr with out reason the signal of danger or of security This ou-ht to be stopped if we are to have an era of prosperity in tho country. With sufficient receipts for the expenses of the government we may feel no immediate embarrassment from our present currency, but the dan ger still exists, and will be ever present, menacing us so long as the existing sys tern continues. And besides, it is in time of adequate revenues and business tranquility that the government should prepare for the worst. We cannot avoid without serious consequences the wise consideration and prompt solution of tnis question. The secretary of the treasury has out lined a plan in great detail for the pur pose of removing the threatened recur rence of a depleted gold reserve aud save us from future embarassment on that account. To this plan I invite your careful consideration 1 concur with the secretary of the 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, aud that the tax on circulating notes se cured by deposit of such bonds here duced one-half of 1 per cent per annum, I also join him in recommending that authority be given for the establishment of national banks with a mini mum cap ital of $25,000. This will enable the smaller villages and agricultural regions of the country to be supplied with cur rency to meet their needs. I recommend that the 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 in gold. . CUBAN _ _ N'-' INTERFERENCE, r Pre.ide..t M«Rii.i«r Follow* )» tb. root »t«p* of m» i reiieoeMot, 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 iu corn mon with those now existing have con fronted this government at various times ill the past. The story of Cuba for many years has been one of unrest; growing discontent; an effort toward a larger enjoyment of liberty and self con tro1 ! of organized resistance to the mother country; of depression after dis tress and warfare aud of ineffectual set tlemeut to this by renewed revolt. For no enduring period since the eufrau chisement of the continental possessions of Spain in the western continent has the epuditiou of Ouba or the policy of Spain toward Ouba uot caused conceru to tbo United States. COUNTY NEWS The prospect from time to time that the weakness of Spain’s hold on the island and the political vicissitude* and embarrassments of the home govern ment might lead to the transfer of Cuba to a continental power called fortli be tween 1828 and I860 various emphatic United declarations of the policy of the States to permit no disturbance of Cu ba’s connection with Soain unless in the direction of independence or acqui sition by us through purchase; nor has there been any change of this declared policy since upon tne part of the govern ment. . The present insurrection broke out 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 enormous 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 civinzid code was regarded no less so by the Spaniards than by the Cubans. The existing conditions cannot but flil this government aud the American people with the grave-it apprehension.) There is no desire on the part of our people to profit by the misfortunes of Spain. We have only the desire to see the Cubans prosperous and oontented, enjoying that measure of self control which is th9 inalienable right of man, protected in their right to reap the ben efit of the exhausrless treasures of their country. Tho cruel policy of concentration was initiated Feb. 16. 1830. The productive districts controlled by the Spanish ar mies were depopulated. The agricult ural inhabitants were herded in and about the garrison towns, tneir laud* laid waste and their dwellings de stroyed. This policy of tho late cabinet of Spain was justified as a neoessary measure of war and as a means of cut ting off supplies from the insurgents. It has utterly failed as a war measure. It was not civilized warfare. It was extermination. Against this abuse of the rights of war, I have felt constrained ou re peated occasions to enter the firm aud earnest protest of this government. There svus much of public condemna tion of American citizens by alleged arrests aud long imprisonment, await ing trial or pending judicial proceed ings. I felt it my first duty to make instant demands for the release or speedy trial of all American citizens under arrest. Beiore the change of tho Spaish cabinet iu October last 22 pris suers, citizens of the United State*, had oeeu given their freedom, Mr. Woodford’* Instructions. The ine instructions luscruccions given given to to our jur new iew “^his‘ ™ " 1 'J? post 5 vJ™ directed Sincere him to impress J wi.h lhe Ulu J^ j ed Stttle , to i eu d its aid to t e ()t - tlje war iu Cuba by reacbdl J „ a peaceful ami lasting result, j ust aI1 honorable alike to Spain and * to ^ ^ Cuban people. P j r iT t0 0 r uote was received OI1 Oct. 23. is iu the direction of a bet ter understanding. It appreciates the friendly purposes of this government, I« admits that our country is deeply affected l> y the war 111 Ouba and that its desires for peace are just. It declares that the present Spanish government is bound by every consideration to a change of policy that should sasisfy the Umted States and pacify Ouba within a reasonable time. To this end Spain has decided to put into effect the poiiti cal reforms heretofore advocated by the P reseut Premier without halting for consideration m the path which, in J£ s judgment, leads to peace 1 he mil itai- y Operations, it is said, will con « UU0 ‘ but will be humane and con dacted wlth a11 regard for private rights being accompanied by political action leading to the autonomy of Cuba, ^hilo This it guarding is claimed, Spanish will result sovereignty, in invest Cuba with a uistmct personality; tb e island to be governed by au execu tlV0 reserving a,ld to a bpam } ocal council the control or chamber, of the foreffi 11 relations, the army and navy nnu the judicial administration, loac complish this the present government proposes to modify existmg legislation by decree, leaving the Spanish cortes, wltb a ' d ^ aban seua ^ BaG \ 00 P* utl es, to solve the economic ^ problem aild P ro P eid y distribute the existing debt - lu the . , , , . absence er a declaration or the measures that the government proposes to take in carrying out its proffer of good offices it suggests that bpain be left free to couu act military operation* aac * Braat P oiltlcal retorms, while the United btatesi for its part shall enforce us ueutrM ooligatmus and cutoff the assistance which it is asserted the lusur K eu ts receive from this country, lhe supposition ot an indefiiiite prolongation of the war is denied. It is asserted that tne western provinces are already well reclaimed; that the piautiug of tobacco therein lias been resumed and tbat b ^ toi 'ce of arms a,nd new and am pie reforms very early aud complete pacification is hoped for. Discussion of the question of interna- j tional . duties and responsibilities of the united States as Jspaiu understands tliem is presented with au apparent uis- j position to charge us with failure in this regard, lliis charge is without any basis m fact. It couui not have been made if bpain had been cognizant of the constant efforts tins government lias made at the cost ot millions and by tho employment of the administrative ma chinery of tho nation at command to perforin its full duty under the law of nations. That it has successfully pre- j vented the departure of a single miii tary expedition or armed vessel from our shores in violation of our laws would seem to be a sufficient end. i Throughout all these horrors and dan £ ers to our own peace, this government has never iu any way abrogated its sov ereign prerogative of reserving to itself tbo de termination of its policy aud course according to its own high sense ^ ri 8 b « and iu consonance with the dearest interests aud convictions of our own people should the prolongation of tbe strife so demand. Of the untried measures there remain only recognition of the insurgents as belligerents; recognition of the inde pendence of Cuba; neutral intervention to end the war by imposing a rational compromise between the contestants, and intervention m 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 srimiual aggression. Opposed to Recognition. I regard , the , recognition , . of . the ., . bel- . ligereucy of the Cuban insurgents as now unwise aud therefore inadmissible. Should thaj step hereafter be aeemed wise as a measure of right and duty the executive will take it. Intervention upon humanitarian grounds has been frequently suggested aud has 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 in the policy of Spain to ward Cuba? A new government liaB taken office in the mother country. It is pledged in effort itavauce the to the declaration that all the in world cannot suffice to maintain peace in (Juba by the bayonet; that vague promises of reform after subjugation afiord no solution of the insular problem, that with a substi tution of commanders must come a ch <uge of the past system of warfare for one in harmony with a new policy which shall not longer aim to drive the Cubans to the ‘'horrible alternative of taking to the thicket or succumbing in misery, 1 ' that the reforms must be in stituted in accordance with the needs aud circuuistauoaa of the time aud that these reforms, while dasigued to give full autonomy to the colony and to ere ate a virtual , , , entity and self con ro , administration, shall vet conserve and affirm the sovereignty of Spain y a ]us distribution of powers and burdens upon a basis of mutual interest uutain ;e y methods of Bel fish expediency. It is honestly due to Spain and to our friendly relations with Spam 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 She has recalled the com raauder whose brutal orders inflamed the American mind and shocked the civilized world. She has modified the horrible order of concentration and un dertaken to care for the helpless aud permit those who desire to resume the cultivation of their fields to do so. and assures them of the protection of the equations. Spanish govermneut in their lawful oc She has just released the ••Competitor” prisoners, heretofore sen tenced to death, and who have been the subject of repeated uiolomatic corres poudence po during f both this aud the pre- v . . ri Not arrest a single American citizen is now under or in Sonfiuemeuc iu Cuba of whom this government has any knowledge. The near future will dem ou-strate whether the indispensable cou ditiou of a righteous peace, just alike to th 9 Cubans and to Spain as well as equIt ablo to all our interests so inti mately involved in the welfare of Cuba, is likely to be attained. If not, the ex igency of further aud other action by the United States will remain to be taken. When that time comes that ac tiou will be determined in tne line of indisputable right aud duty. It will be faced without misgiving or hesitancy in the light of the obligation this gov eminent owes to itself, to the people of who^have their interests confined und to honor it the aud pro^' action to hu inanity. Sure of the right, ...... keeping free from , m all offense ourselves actuated on y by upright and patriotic consiaeratious, moved neither by passion oi selfishness, the government will continue its watch ful care over the rights and property of American citizens and wnl abate none ot its efforts to bring about by peaceful agencies a peace which shall be honor. able and euauring. If it shall here after appear to be a duty imposed by our obligations to ourselves, to civihza non and humanity to intervene with torce it shall be without au t on out part, and only because the necessi y o such action will be so clear as to com ma, ‘ d fcbe support aud approval of the civilized world. THE HAWAIIAN u ... „ diicctiom QUESTION, , " "" _ * .. 0,1 ea . y rBe * y le r ““ e,,t ' By a special message dated June 16, ] as t ( I laid bo fore the senate a treaty signed that day by the plenipotentiaries of the United States and of the republic of Hawaii, having for its purpose the incorporation of the Hawaiian islands as an integral part of the United States and under its sovereignty. The senate having removed the injunction of se crecy, although the treaty is still pend ing before that body, the subject may be properly referred to iu this message because the necessary action of the cou gre-s is required to determine by legis l a tion many details of the eventuaL union, should the fact of annexation be accomplished, as I belive it siiould be. While cousisrently disavowing from a very early period any aggressive policy 0 f absorption iu regard to the Hawaiian I | group, a long series of declarations j through three-quarters of a century has proclaimed the vital interest of the United States in the independent life of the islands aud their intimate cominer- | ciai depeudeu a e upon this country. At j the same tim * it lias been repeatedly j assorted that in no event could the eu- | tity of Hawaii statehood cease hv the j passage of too islands under the domi natiou or influence or power tiiuu the United States. Under these ciroum stances the logic of events required that annexation, therefore offered but de chned, should in the ripeness of time come about as the natural result of the strengthening ties that bind us to those islands, and be realized by the free will of the Hawaiian state. That treaty was unanimously ratified without amendment bv the seuate aud president of the republic of Hawaii on gepc. io. last, and only awaits the fa vorable action of the American senate to affect the complete absorption of the islands into the uomaiu of the United Status Wliat the conditions of such umou shall be. the political relation thoreof to the United States, the char, aotej of the local administration tne quality and the degree of the elective f r au. chise of inhabitants, the extension of the federal laws to the territory the enactment of special laws 0 r to tit the 3 peculiar condition therefor, and the regulation, if need be, of the labor svs tern therein, the treaty has wisely dele gated to congress. If the treaty is com firmed, as every consideration of dignitv aud honor requires, the wishes of on., jr r e SS will see to it that, avoidiua a h. ra p t assimilation of elements perha,™ ] lar j| y y ec fit to share in the highest f,.a due UC regard hises of citizenship the and havuj the to geographical ooudi. t j OUS( most just provisions for g»if rule m local mat ters with the West polltlcal liberties aud au integral oar o( our na tion will be accorded to the Hawaiiaus. No less is due to a peoule w ho, after nearly five years of demon, stratad capacity to fulfill the obligations t>f aelf governing statehood, come of tbe i r f ree will to merge their destinies iu our body politic. The questions which have arisen be tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of tho treatmout of Japanese laborers erai. cra ting 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 A tunnillng I.iw, to Make >’ a . tionul ottloerj I'ttramoUuc. ^ bG receilt . prevalence , ot yellow ,, fever . nber and 111 a “ u, ot cities towns through ouctbe soat x bas resulted in much drs turbance of commerce aud demonstrated t be necessity of such amendments to unr quarantine laws as wnl make the regulations of the national quarantine aut borities paramount. The secretary 0 £ tde treasury> j u the portion of his re ^ port reiatiug to the operation of the ariue hosoltal service> call8 attention tQ th<J defe( : t8 ia the present ^ quarantine Uiws ftijd recommeuds a tndmeats thereto which wlll lVt) the treasury de tment clia requislt8 ^ authority to pre Veu t £hQ mvasi( oi epidemic £ diseases from forei couutrias ud iu times of 0 ® iike lhat o( the past sum . mer, will ... add ,, to . the .. effi cie ncy of tl Janitary measures for the protection of the people and at the same time proven unnecessary restriction of commerce. I concur m his recommendation. 11 u r . the United TT j(. 0 i States by bv yellow fever, the importance of the discovery the exact cause of the disease, which, U P to th « P^seut time, has been unde termmed, is obvious, and to t ns eud a systematic bacteriological investigation should oe made. I theretore recommend that congress authorize the appoint meat of a commission by the president, to insist of four expert bacteriologists, 0110 M -be selected from the medical oft ‘-ers of the marine hospital ser ic , to be appointed from civi life, one tob detailed trom the medical officess of the ^ from the officers «>< the navy, cp SPECIAL pr|A| MONEY ENVOYS. Vresident SHU Hopeful of Securing an I uternuttounl .Agreement. Under the provisions of the act of congress, approved March 3. 1897, for the promotion of an international agree ment respecting bimetallism. I ap p [j oiuted , ou Apr u u, lb 97, H^u .Edward Woioott of Colorado. H.ln. A.ilai E. Stevenson of Illinois, and lion. Charles j Paine of Massachusetts, as special ouvoys to represeu fc the United State*, They have been diligent iu their effort* to secure the concurrence and co-opera cion of European couutries in the inter ua tioual settlement of the question, but up to this time have not been able to secure au agre emeu6 contemplated by their missiojl . The gratifying action of our great sis t6r r e Dnb lic of France in joining this coutlt r y in the att empt to bring about an agr0 e ra ent among 'the principal com luereia i nations of Europe whereby a fixed and relative value between gold aud sl i vor sbad be secured, furnishes assurance that we are not alone among the larger nations of the world iu will izing the international character of the problem and in the do*ire of reaching some wise aud practical solution of it Our special envoys have not made fhoir final report, as further negotiations between the representatives of this gov srn ment aud the governments of othet countries are pending aud in coutera placion. Thev believe that doubts whu-li have been recommended iu certain quarters respecting the question oi maintaining tho stability or the parity between the metals end kindred qu® s ‘ A tions may yet be solved by further ne gotiations. T x “ ‘ Under the head of the navy, t .i.^nres- i ident points to the necessity tor sp legislation to procure the armor ^ three^ would battleships be otherwise now useless. building |jra in terms of praise of the quality ships and thinks that the time ^ arrived when the increase to w i^ country is committed should tot ‘ , take the form of increased ac commensurate with the increase ot f naval vessels. He refers to the a ' docks, aud urges that three or f be largest docks be provided ^ on lan tic, at least one on the a ?i >r rlier0 a floating dock in provision the gu • should also be ample 1 ^ nicions of war and an increase o 1 and enlisted men. Additions a thore necessary to navy yards aud, as fl _ are now on the docks live large r0 . ships, it is recommenced that au ir^ priatiou be made but for one mo a ) tleship on tho Pacific coast. - torpedo boats are also necessary -au «,r the k».»«»s fee Oc „ .. sale of t be b P ea u ... 1110 P® ' * ’£ °‘ - sa ui ^ansas , s uo D «tter jvaomc Did is raiir race i, , aa the HP' * “ oveni Se pnCS 7 ^ tbeK 500,000 “ 0n " wouta , , reoe ol.iv *2 He b0 8 cla ‘™ * iear 4 ..>flOO000. ’ 113 ^ ° V h aS tbs* K road au d b the
