The Morgan monitor. (Morgan, Ga.) 1896-????, December 08, 1898, Image 1

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The Morgan monitor., December 08, 1898, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHE MORGAN MONITOR. VOL in. NO. 48. STOVES AND CROCKERY. 1 • A. If you need a Stove or Range it will pay you to come and see us. Also Crockery and China. We make up sets just as you want them , in plain white , embossed or decorated porcelain at very low figures. W. S. BELL J Or a.. I rr-Ti OO u Pi’esid ent M’Einley Addresses Congress on War and Other Problems. POE MONETARY REFORMS Increase of the Standing Army to 100,000 Men and tile Temporary Continuance of Military Rule In New Possessions Favored. Washington, Dec. 5.—On the convening ef congress today, President McKinley transmitted his annual message, which follows: To the Senate and House of Representa¬ tives: Notwithstanding the added burdens Tendered necessary b$ r the war our people rejoice in a very satisfactory and steadily increasing degree of prosperity evidenced by the greatest volume of business ever recorded. Manufacture has been pro¬ ductive, agricultural pursuits have yielded abundant returns, labor in the fields of industry is belter rewarded, rov- eiiue legislation passed, by the-present congress has increased tiie treasury’s re¬ ceipts to the amount expected by its au- 'hors, the finances of the government have been suece sfuiiy administered and Its creoit advanced to the first.rank, while Its currency has been maintained at the world’s highest standard.' Military service under a common flag for II righteous cause has strengthened the national spirit and served to cement- more .closely than ever the fraternal bonds between every section of the couutrv. A review of the relations of the U ited States to other powers, always appropri¬ ate. is this year of primary importance in view of the momentous issues which have arisen, demanding in one instance the ul¬ timate determination by arms and involv¬ ing farreaching consequences which will require the earnest attention of the eon- gross. First In the In my last annual message very full consideration was given to the question or the duty of the government of the United States towards Spain and the Cu¬ ban insurrection as being by far the most important problem with which we were then called upon to deal. The considera¬ tions then advanced and tire exposition of the views therein expressed disclosed my sense of the extreme gravity of the situa¬ tion. Setting aside as logically unfounded or practically advisable, the recognition of the independence of Cuba, neutral inter¬ vention to end the war by imposing a ra- tional compromise between the contest¬ ants, intervention in favor of one or the oilier party, and forcible annexation of the island, I concluded it was honestly due to our friendly relations with Spain that she should bo given a reasonable chance to realize her expectations of re¬ form to which she had-become irrevoca¬ bly ci m.pitted. The ensuing n. nth brought little sign of real progress coward the pacification of Cuba. No tangible relief was afforded tho vast numbers of unhappy recomcem- trados despite the reiterated professions made in that regard and the amount ap¬ propriated December by Spain to that en ,|_ By tbe end of the mortality among them had estimates frightfully increased. Conserv¬ ative from Spanish sources placed the deaths among these distressed people General at Weyler’s over 40 per cent from the time decree of reconcentra- tion was enforced. The war continued on the old footing Without comprehensive plan, developing only tile same spasmodic encounters, bar¬ ren of strategic result, that had marked the course of the earlier ten years’ rebel¬ lion, as well as the present insurrection from its start. No alternative sav§ phys¬ ical exhaustion of either combatant and therewithal the practical ruin of tho island lay in sight, but how far distant nu one could venture to conjecture. Blowing Up of tile Maine. At this juncture, on Feb. 15, last, oc¬ curred the destruction of the battleship Maine, while rightfully lying j n the har¬ bor of Havana on amission of interna¬ tional courtesy and good will—a catastro¬ phe the suspicious liature and horror of which stii reel the nation’s heart pro¬ foundly- It is a striking evidence of the poise arid sturdy good s<-nse distinguish¬ ing ° ur ““tional character that this shock- jog blow, falling upon our generous peo- pie already deeply touched by preceding events in Luba, did not move them to nil instant, desperate resolve to tolerate no longer the existence of a condition of dan- IP ger and disorder at our doors that made possible su . deed , wrought. Yet Tn a _ by whomsoever by instinct of justice pa ti(D ce prevailed and tbe nation anxiously awaited the result of the searching in ves- nfth Z 4 S ,° ° n f °° T le r " uhns ' ?! m Iml of f inquiry - established that the . . of the explosion ongm was ox- tern an ,by a submarine mine,, and only halted through lack of positive testimony c ',, e res Pons,bihty of its authorship, All tnese things carried conviction to the most thoughtful, even before the finding ol the naval court, that a crisis in our e.:’.i sons with c-pain . and toward Luba was at hand. So strong was this belief that iijp-eded hut a brief executive suggestion to the congress to receive ini- mediate answer to the duty of making in- stant provision for the possible and per- haps speedily probable emergency of war, and the remarkable, almost unique, SpeCtacle was presented of a unanimous vote of hoth houses on March 9 appropri- at lug £ 0.000,009 "for the national defense and for each and every purpose connected therewith, to be expended at the discre- ti->n of the president.” Still animated by the hope of a peaceful SI lut ion ami obeying the dictates of duty, no effort was spared to bring a speedy einlit-.g of the Cuban struggle. Grieved and disappointed at the barren cuicome of my sincere endeavors to reach a practicable solution, I felt it my duty to remit the whole question to congress, The congress was asked to authorize and empower the president to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between Spain and the people of Cuba. A ftrr nine days of earnest deliberation, dime-/ which the almost unanimous sen¬ timent of your body .-/vzvxj was I) (IO uciciupcu developed uu on every point save - as to the expediency of coupling the proposed action with a for- mal recognition of the republic of Cuba the true and lawful government of that island—a proposition which failed of adop- tion—the congress, ou April 19, by a vote of 43 to 35 in the senatp and 311 to 6 in the house of representatives, passed the mem- orabie joint resolution declaring the peo- pie of Cuba free and independent, de- manding that Spain at onfce relinquish authority over the island and empowering the president to use the entire land and . sea forces of ths Baited States to that end. This resolution was approved by the executive on the next day, April 20. A copy was at once commumcmeu „u Spanish minister at this capital, who forthwith announced that his continuance in Washington had thereby become im¬ possible, and asked for his passports, which were given him. Simultaneously with its communication to the Spanish minister, General Woodford, the Ameri¬ can minister at Madrid, was telegraphed confirmation of the text of the joint reso¬ lution and directed to communicate it to the government of Spain with the formal demand that it at once relinquish its au- thority and government in the island of Cuba and withdraw its forces therefrom. Rupture of Relations. That demand, 'although, as above shown, officially made known to the Span- ish envoy here, was not delivered at Mad- rid. After the instructions reached Gen- oral Woodford on the miming of April 21, but before he could present it, the Spanish minister of state notified him that upon the president’s approval of the joint resolution, the Madrid government re- garding tho act as “equivalent to an evi- dent declaration of war,” had ordered its minister in Washington to withdraw, thereby breaking off diplomatic relations between the two countries. General Wood- ford thereupon demanded his passports and quitted Madrid the same day. Spain having thus denied the demand of the United States and initiated that complete form of rupture of relations which attends a state of war, the execu- tive powers authorized by the resolution were at once used by me to meet the en- larged contingency of actual war between sovereign states. By my message of April 25 the congress was inlormed of the situa- tion and I recommended formal declara- tion of the existence of a state of war be- tween the United States and Spain. The congress accordingly voted on the same day the act approved April 25, 1898, de- daring the existence of such war from and including April 21 and re-enacted the provision of the resolution of April 20 di- retting the president to use ail the armed forces of the nation to carry that act into effect. It is not within the province of this mes- a age to narrate the history of the extraor¬ dinary war that followed the Spanish declaration of April 21. but a brief recital of its more salient features is apropos. The first encounter of the war in point ol date took place April 27, when a detach¬ ment of the blockading squadron made a reconnoisance in force at Matanzas, shelled the harbor forts and demolished several lie «- works in construction. The next engagement was destined to mark a memorable epoch in maritime warfare. Tbe Pacific fleet under Commo¬ dore George Dewey had lain for some weeks at Kong-Kong. Upon the colonial proclamation of neutrality being issued and the customary 24 hours notice being given, it repaired to Mirs hay near Hong- Kong whence it proceeded to the Philip¬ pine islands under telegraphic orders to capture or destroy the formidable Spanish fleet then assembled at Manila. At day¬ break on the morning of May 1 the Amer¬ ican force entered Manila bay and after a few hours engagement effected the total destruction of the Spanish fleet, consist¬ ing of ten warships and a transport, be¬ sides capturing the naval station and forts MORGAN. GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1898. WRITE US FOR PRICES 1 ^ON t ALBANY, GA. a* Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish naval power in the Pacific ocean and com pletely controlling the bay of Manila with the ability to take the city at will, Following the comprehensive Scheme of general attack powerful forces were as- sembled at various points on our coast to invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile naval demonstrations were adopted at several exposed points, j Young Hobson*s ISraVe Deed, I The heXt acts of the war thrilled not Only-the hearts of our countrymen, but the World by its heroism. Oil the night o! dune 3 Lieutenant Ilobson. aided by seven devoted volunteers, blocked the nar- row outlet at Santiago harbor, by sinking the collier Merrimac in the channel under a fi-rce fire from the shore batteries, es- raping With their lives as by a miracle, but failing into the hands of the Span- J i iards. On June They 23. were the subsequently advance of the exchanged. Major General Shatter invading army tinder landed j At Daiquiri, about 15 miles east of Santi- ago. On July 1 a severe battle took place, : our forces gaining the outworks at Santi- ago. On the second El Caney and San j Juan were taken after a desperate charge and the investment of the city completed. ! On the day following the brilliant achievement of our land force, July 3, oc- curred the decisive battle of the war. The Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the harbor, was met by the American squad¬ ron under command of Commodore Samp¬ son. In less than three hours all the Spanish 1'oui|.o shipB were " wu destroyed, uvottujDR, the LUtJ two tVVU | Teresa, torpedo AImirante boats being Oquendo, sunk and Viscaya the Maria and Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The Span- ish admiral.and over 1.300 men were taken prisoners, while the enemy’s loss of life was deplorably large, some 605 perishing, On our side hut one man was killed and one seriously wounded, With the catastrophe of Santiago Spain’s power on the ocean virtually ceased. Tho capitulation of Santiago followed, The occupation of Porto Rico became the next stragetic necessity. General Miles had previously been assigned to or¬ ganize an expedition for that purpose. On July 27 he entered Ponce, one of the most important ports in the island, for which he thereafter directed operations for the capture of the island. The campaign was prosecuted with great vigor and by Aug. 13 much of the island was in our posses- sion and the acquisition of the remainder was only a matter of a short time. Ni gptiatlons For Peace. Tbe annihilation of Admiral Cervera’s fleet, followed by the capitulation of San¬ tiago. having brought to the Spanish gov¬ ernment a realizing sense of the hopeless¬ ness of continuing a struggle now becom¬ ing wholly unequal, it made overtures of peace through the French ambassador, On Aug. 12, M. Cambon, ns the plenipo- teiitiary of Spain ami the secretary of state as the plenipotentiary of the United States, signed a peace protocol and I ap- pointed William R. Day, lately secretary 01 state, Cushman K. Davis, William P. Frye ;m<1 George Gray, senators of tlio United States, and Whitelaw Reid to ha the peace commissioners on the part of ti ,e United States. Proceeding in due ^me to Paris, they there met on Oct. 1 *’ vu commissioners similarly appointed on the part of Spain. The negotiations have mMle hopeful progress so that I trust 8O0n to he able to lay a definite treaty of peace before the senate with a view of the steps to its I do not discuss at this time the govern¬ ment or the future of the new possessions which will come to us as the result of the war with Spain. Such discussion will be appropriate after the treaty of peace shall * J e ratified. In the meantime, and until tile congress has legislated otherwise, it will be my duty to continue tlie military governments which have existed since our occupation and give to the people security in life and property and encouragement under a just and beneficient rule, As soon as we are in possession of Cuba 1111,1 have pacified the island it will he necessary to give aid and decision to its people to form a government of them- ,JC, ves. It should be undertaken at the earliest moment consistent with safety and assured success. It is important that our relations with these people shall be of the most friendly character and our com- jnercial relations dose and reciprocal, it (ihould be our duty to assist in every proper way to build up tho waste places nf the island, encourage the industry of the people and assist them to form a gov¬ ernment which shall be free and inde¬ pendent, thus realizing the best aspira¬ tions of the Cuban people. Spanish rule must be replaced by a just, benevolent and humane government, created by tho people of Cuba, capable of performing all international obligations, and which shall encourage thrift, industry and prosperity and promote peace and good will among all of the inhabitants, whatever may have been their relations in the past. Neither reveng - nor passion should Lave a place in the new government. Until there is complete tranquility in the island and a stable government inaugurated military occupation will be continued. With the exception of the rupture with Spain the intercourse of the United States with the great family of nations has been marked with cordiality and the close of the event finds most of the issues that necessarily arise in the complex relations of sovereign states adjusted or presenting no serious obstacle to a just and honor¬ able solution by amicable agreement. Tile lint tinier Tragedy. On Sept, 10, l89f, a conflict took place at Lattimer. Pa., between a body of striking miners and the sheriff of Luzerne cotinty ami his deputies, in which 83 miners were killed and 44 Wounded, of which ten of llie killed and 13 of the wounded were Austrian and Hungarian subjects. This - deplorable event naturally aroused the solicitude of the Austro-Hungarian gov- erumeut, which oil tuo presumption that the killing and wounding involved the un- justifiable misuse of authority, claimed reparation for the sufferers. Apart from the searching investigation and peremp- tory action of the authorities of Penusyl- Vania the federal executive took appro- prints steps to learn the merits of the Case in order to be in a position to lileet the urgent complaint oE a friendly power, ‘i’he sheriff and his deputies, having been iiidicted for murder, were tried and ac- quitted after protracted proceedings and the hearing of hundreds of witnesses on the ground that the killing was in the line of their official duty to uphold law and preserve public order in the state. A representative of the department of jus¬ tice attended the trial and reported its course fully. With all the facts in its po- session, this government expects to reach a harmonious Understanding on tho sub¬ ject with that of Austro-Iiungary, not¬ withstanding the renewed claim of the latter after learning the result of the trial, for indemnity for its injured sub¬ jects. Nicaragua Canal Project, The Niearaugna canal commisssion. un- der the chairmanship of Rear Admiral John G. Walker, appointed July 24, 1897, under the authority of a provision in the sundry civil act of June 4 of that year, has nearly completed its labors, and th e results of its exhaustive inquiry into the proper route, the feasibility and the Cost of construction of .an interoceanie canal by a Nicaraguan route will be laid before yon. . An the scope of recent inquiry embraced the whole subject with the aim of making plans and surveys for a canal by the most convenient route, it necessarily included a review of tile results of previous surveys and plans and in particular those adopted by the Maritime Canal company under its existing concessions from Nicaragua and Costa Rico, so that to this extent those grants necessarily held an essential part in the deliberations,and conclusions of the canal commission as they have held and must needs hold jn the discussion of the matter before congress. Under these cir- cumstances and in view of overtures made to the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other parties for a new ca- nal concession predicated ou the assumed approaching lap-ve of the contracts of the Maritime Canal company with those states I have not hesitated to express my conviction that considerations ot expedl- eney and international policy as between the several governments interested in the construction oceanic canal and by this control route of require an inter-j tho [ m dntainance of the status quo until the canal commission shall have reported and the United Staters congress shall have had an opportunity to pass finally upon the whole matter, without prejudice by rca son of any change in the existing condi¬ tions. All these circumstances suggest the ur- gency of some definite action by tho con- gressattliis session if its labors of the past are to be utilized and the linking of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a prac- tical waterway is to be realized. That the construction of such a maritime highway is now more than ever indispensable to that intimate and ready interoommunica- tion between our eastern and western sea- boards demanded by the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands and the prospective expansion of our influence and commerce in tlie Pacific and that our national policy now more imperatively than ever calls for its control by this government, are propo¬ sitions which I doubt not the congress will duly appreciate and wisely act upon • The Partition of China. The United States ba« not been an in- different spectator of the extraordinary events transpiring in the Chinese empire, whereby portions of it s maritime p. o- vinces are passing under the control of various European powe rs, but the pros- j poet that the vast commerce which tho ! energy of our citizens and the necessity of our staple production for Chinese uses has built up in those regions may not be prejudiced through any exclusive treat- ment by the new occupants has obviated the need of our country becoming an actor in tho scene. Our position among nations having a large Pacific coast, and a constantly ex- pawling direct * rade with the farther Orient, gives us tho equitable claim to consideration and friendly treatment i:i thjs regard ami it will lie my aim to sub- serve our large interests in that quarter by all means appropriate to the constant policy of our government. The territories of Kiiio Chow, of Wei-Hai- Wei and of Port Arthur and Talienwan leased to Dor- many Great Britain and Russia respect- U cly for terms of years, will it is an- be ° pe " Li international com- SSfBSlft'eStt SSLS of this government would appear to ba realized. Meanwhile there may be just ground for disquietude itl view of the Un¬ rest and revival of the old sentiment of opposition axld prejudice to alien people which pervades certain of the Chinese provinces. As in tiro case of thd at tacks upon our citizens in Szechuan and at Kiilien in 1895, the United States minister has been instructed to secure the fullest measure of protection, both local and inn periul. for any menaced American inter- ests and to demand, in case of lawless in* j J jury to person or property, instant repara- 'ion appropriate to the case. Warship* [ have been stationed at Tien-Tsiu for more 1 ready observation of the disorders which have invaded the Chinese capital, so as t< be in a position to act should Heed arise while a guard of marines has been sent tc Peking to afford the minister the satin measure of authoritative protection as tin representatives of other nations haVo beer constrained to employ, Tlio French Exposition. There is now every prospect that tin participation of the United States in tin universal exposition to be held in Paris in 1900 will bo on a scale commensurate with the advanced position held by our pro. ducts and industries la the world’s chief markets. The preliminary report of Mosel I*. Handy, who, under the act approve! July 19. 1S97, was appointed special com¬ missioner with a view to securing all at. tamable information necessary to a full and complete understanding by congress in regard to the participation of this gov¬ ernment in the Paris exposition, was it d before you by my message of Dec. 6. 1897, and showed tho large opportunities to make known our national progress in manufactures, as well as the urgent need of immediate and adequate provision to enable due advantage thereof to be taken, Mr. Handy’s death soon afterward ren- dered it necessary for another to take u(i and complete the unfinished work, and on Jan. ll la&t Mr. Thomas W. Cri iler, third assistant secretary of state, was desig- nated to fulfill that task. Ry a provision in the sundry civil appropriation act ol July 1, 194)8 a sum not to exceed *650,003 was allotted for I he organization of a corn- mission to care for tile proper preparation and installation of American exhibits and for the display of suitable exhibits by the several executive departments, particu- iarly by the department of agriculture, the fli h commission and tho Smithsonian institn-don, in representation of the gov ej'imien ol the United States. Pursu- ant to that enactment, I appointed Mr. Ferdinand W. 1‘ec't of Chicago comniis- sioner general, with an assistant, coinmis- sioner general and secretary, Mr. Deck at once proceeded to Paris, where his sue- cess in enlarging the scope and variety of the United States exhibit has boen most gratifying. Notwithstanding the Coin- pnrntively limited area of the exposition site—less than ono half that of tho World’* Fair at Chicago—the space assigned to Urn United States has been increased from the absolute allotment of 157,493 square feet reported by Mr. Handy to some 203 000 square feet, with corresponding aug mentation of the field for a truly charac- teristic representation of the various im portant branches of our country’s (level- opment. Mr. Peck’s report will be laid before you. In my judgment its recom¬ mendations will call for your early COll sideration, especially as regards an in¬ crease of the appropriation to at least $1,000,000 in all, so that not only may tlie assigned snaco be fully taken up by tlie best possible exhibits in every class, but the preparation and installment be on so perfect a scale as to rank among the firs? in that unparalleled competition of artis> tic and inventive production and thus counterbalance tho disadvantages with which we start as compared with other countries whose appropriations are on a more generous scale and whoso prepara- lions are in a stato of much greater for- wardness than our own. Annexation of Hawaii. Pending consideration by the Senate of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, by tho plenipotentiaries of the United States and of the republic of Hawaii, providing for lution ti Jt! .annexation to accomplish of the tho islands, a Joint reso- by same purpose accepting the offered cession and incorpo- rjl Hng the ceded territory into the Union adopted by the congress and approved *HHy 7, 1898. I thereupon directed the United States steamer Philadelphia to con vt *y Hear Admiral Miller to Honolulu _ entrusted his hands this important to legislative act to be delivered to the presi- dent of the republic of Hawaii.with whom t j je admiral and the United States minis ter were authorized to make appropriate arrangements for transferring tho islands to the United States. This was simply l, u t impressively accomplished on Au . 12 by the delivery of a certified copy of the resolution to President Dole, who thereupon yielded up to the representa- 0 f government of tho United States the sovereignty and tho public property of the Hawaiian Islands. Pursuant to the terms of the joint reso- lution and in exerciso of the authority |hereb con(erre ,i upon me. I directed tbat civil, judicial and military pow- prH theretofore exercised by tho officers of ^[ le government of the republic of Hawaii Ujose a gov- SSSL%SS!SSS buch o/Ii- SHOT GUNS BICYCLES. If you want a Bicyele or Shot Gun call on us. We can certainly interest you. We can sell you a first- class Shot Gun at a very low price. Don’t fail to call on us when you come to Albany and see our ex¬ tensive line of goods. W. S. BELL J ■ 9 C ers and to fill vacancies. The president officers and troops of the republic there- upon took the oath of allegiance to the United States, thus providing for the un- Intemipted continuances of all the admin¬ istrative and municipal functions of the annexed territory until congress shall otherwise enact. Following the further provision of the joint resolution I appointed the Hons. Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois, John T. Morgan of Alabama, Robert R. Hitt of Illinois Sanford R. Dole of Hawaii and Walter f. Freiif of Hawaii ascommission- i rs to confer and recommend to congress such legislation concerning the Hawaiian islands as they should deem necessary or proper. The commissioners having fulfilled tho mission Confided to them their work will lie laid before you at an early day. It is believed that their recommendations will have tlie earnest consideration due to the magnitude of the responsibility resting upon you to givo Such Shape to the rela¬ tionship of those midpacific lands to our home Union as will benefit both in the highest degree, realizing the aspirations of the community that has cast its lot with us and elected to share our political heritage while at tho same time justify¬ ing the foresight of those who for three quarters of a century have looked to the assimilation of Hawaii as a natural and inevitable consummation in harmony with our needs and in fulfillment of our cherished traditions. Under the provisions of the joint resolu¬ tions the existing customs relations of the Hawaiian Islands with the United States and with other countries remain unchanged until legislation shall other¬ wise provide. The consuls of Hawaii, here and in foreign countries continue to fulfill their commercial agencies while the United States consulate at Honolulu is maintained for all proper services per¬ taining to trade and revenue. It would be desirable that all foreign consuls in the Hawaiian Islands should receive new ex - equnterS from this government. Czar’s Disarmament Plan. Tbs proposal of the Russian <-z-\r for a general reduction of the vast military es¬ tablishments that weigh so heavily upon many peoples in time of peace was re ceiitly communicated to this government with an earnest invitation to be repre sented in the conference which it is con¬ templated to assemble with a view to dis¬ cussing the means of accomplishing so de sirable a result. His majesty was at once informed of the cordial sympathy of this government with tho principle involved in his exalted proposal and of tho readiness of the United States to take part in tho conference. The active military force of the United States as measured by our population, territorial area and taxable wealth is and under any conceivable prospective condi I tions must continue to be in time of peace so conspicuously less than that of the armed powers to whom the czar’s appeal is especially addressed that tlio question can have for us no practical importanci save as marking betterment an auspicious step to¬ ward the of the condition ol the modern peoples and tho cultivation ol peace and good will among them, but in this view it behooves us as a nation to lend countenance and aid to the benefi¬ cent project. The Currency Question. Tho secretary of the treasury reports that the receipts of the government from all sources during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1898, including $84,751,233 re¬ ceived from sale of Puciflc railroads, amounted to $405,821,885 and its expendi¬ tures to $443,368 582. There was collected from customs $149,575,062 and from in¬ ternal revenue $170,900,641. Our dutiablii imports amounted to $324,785,479, a de¬ crease of $58,156,690 over tho preceding year, and importations free of duty amounted to $291,414,175, a decrease from the preceding year of $90,524,068. Internal revenue receipts exceeded those of the preceding year by §24.212,068. The total tax collected on distilled spirits was $92,540,999. on manufactured tobacco $36 230,523 and on fermented liquors §89,515,421. We exported mer¬ chandise during the year amounting til §1,231.482,830, ail increase of $180,488,774 from the preceding year. It is estimated upon the basis of present revenue Jaws that tho receipts from Du government for the year ending June 80, 1899, will he $577,874,607 and its exp-ndi tures $680 874,647, resulting in a deficiency of $112,000 000. On Dec. 1, 1898, there was held in the treasury gold coin amounting to §188.441.547, gold bullion amounting to $180,592,545, silver bullion amounting to §93 359,250 and other forms of money amounting to §451,963,981. On the same date tho amount of money of all kinds in circulation or not included in treasury holdings was $1,860,879,509, an increase for tho year of $105.794;906. Esti¬ mating our population at 75,194,000 at the time mentioned the per capita circulation -vus $25.09. On tlie same date there was in the treas. ury gold bullion amounting to $188,502,- 545. Tbe provisions made for strengthening the resources of the treasury in connec¬ tion with the war bus given increased confidence iri the purpose and the powei of the government to maintain the present standard both established more firmly than ever the national credit at home and abroad. A marked evidence of this i| found in the inflow of gold to the treas, m PS 32 > tiry. Its net, gold holdings on Nov. 1' 1898, were $239,8S5,106 as compared with 8153,573,147 on Nov. 1. 1807, and an ini crease of net cash of $2 iT,756,11,0 Nov. 1, 1897, to 8300,288,275 Nov. 1. 1893. The pres¬ ent ratio of net treasury gold outstanding government liabilities including United States notes, treasury notes of 1896, silvej certificates, standard silver dollars and fractional silver coin Nov. 4, 1893, waq 85.85 per cent as compared with 16.96 per, cent Nov, 1, 1897. Redemption of Notes. I renew so much of lily recommendation of December, 1897, as follows. “That when any of tho United States notes are presented for redemption in gold and uro redeemed In gold such notes shall he 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,’ The reason for this is made all the more apparent when the government issues an interest bearing debt to provide gold for the redemption of United Seateg notes—a, noninterest bearing debt. Surely it should not pay them out again except on de¬ mand and for gold. If they are put in any other way they may return again, to ha followed by another bond issue to redeem them—another interest, bearing debt to re¬ deem a noninterest bearing debt.” Tli s recommendation was made in tho belief that such provisions of law would insure a greater degree the safety of the present standard and better protect our currency from tlio dangers to which it is subjected from a disturbance in tho gen¬ eral business conditions of tho In my judgment the present condition of the treasury amply justifies the imme¬ diate enactment of the legislation reconi- memled one year ago, under which a por¬ tion of the gold holdings should be placed in a trust fund, from which greenbacks should lie redeemed upon presentation, hut when once redeemed should not there¬ after lie paid out except for gold. it is not to bo inferred that other legis¬ lation relating to our currency is nut re¬ quired; on the contrary, ihcre is an ob vious demand for it. The importance of adequate provision which will insure to our future a money standard, related as our money standard now is io that of our commercial rivals, is generally recognized. Tho companion proposition that our domestic paper cur¬ rency shall ho kept safe and yet be so re¬ lated to the needs of our 'industries and internal commerce as to bo adequate and responsive to such needs is a proposition scarcely less important. The subject, in all its parts, is commended to the wise consideration of the congress. For a Dig Standing Army. Under Die act of congress approved April 28,1898 authorizing the president, in his discretion, “upon a declaration of war By congress, or a declaration by con¬ gress that war exists,” directed the in¬ crease of the regular army to the maxi¬ mum of 02,0 00, authorized in said act. There are now in the regular army 57 ,- Hit officers and men. In said act it was provided “that at the end of nny war in which tho United States may become in¬ volved the army shall lie reduced to a peace basis by tho transfer of the same arm of the service or absorption by pro¬ motion or honorable discharge under such regulations as tlio secretary of war may establish of supernumerary commissioned oflicers ami the honorable discharge or the transfer of supernumerary enlisted men, and nothing contained in this net shall be construed us authoring the permanent in¬ crease of the commissioned or enlisted force of the regular army beyond that now provided by the law in force prior to tlie passage of this act, except as to the increase of 25 majors provided for in sec¬ tion 1 hereof.” Tlio importance of legislation for the permanent increase of the army is there¬ fore manifest and the recommendation of the secretary of war for that purpose has my unqualified approval. There can be no question that, at this time and probably for some time in the future 100,090 men will be none too many to meet the necessi¬ ties of the sitn“fion. At all events, whether that number shall lie required permanently or not, the power 'should be given to the president to enlist that force if in his discretion it should he necessary, and the further discretion should be given him to recruit for the army within the above limit from the inhabitants of tho islands with the government of which we are charged. Jtis my purpose to muster out the en¬ tire volunteer army ns soon as the con¬ gress shall provide for the increase of the regular establishment. This will be only an act of justice and will bo much appre¬ ciated By the brave men who left their homes and employment to help the coun¬ try in Us emergency. Washing ton’s Centennial. In the year 1900 will occur the centen¬ nial anniversary of the founding of the city of Washington for the permanent capital of the government of the United States by authority of an act of congress approved July 16, 1790. In May 1800 the archives and general offices of the fed¬ eral government was removed to this place. On Nov. 17, 1800, the national con¬ gress met here for the first time and as¬ sumed exclusive control of tbe federal dis¬ trict and city. This Interesting event as- (Continued On Fourth Page.)