Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-19

pioCuic Icc COlldSS OI DO'n tttdls VI
! the mints of those countries and olrr
| own. BY my direction, our consul
| general at Paris has given close attei.-
ton to the proceedings Of the cong 70
OF the Latin Union in order to lndic:..e
our interest in its objects and repor, =.
action.
This conference abso.u..., :.iIcd,4r'
a similar fate has awaited al sub g.
Huent efforts in The same ,,;recii ion ~
still we continue our coinage OF silver
at ratio different from that of any
other nation. The most vital part of the
silver coinage act remains imperative
and unexecuted and without an ally or
friend. The battle upon the silver
field is an illogical contest. TO give
tull effect to the design OF congress on
tins subject, | have made careful and
earnest endeavor since adjournment OF
the last congress.
| 1t may be said in brief, as the result
| OF these efforts that the attitude of the
leading powers remains substantially
| unchanged since the monetary confer
ence OF 1881, nor is to it be questioned
| that the views OF these governments are
in each instance supported by the
| weight of public opinion. The
steps just taken have therefore only
more fully demonstrated the useless
ness Of further attempts, at present, 70
arrive at any agreement on the subject
with the other nations. Meantime we
| are accumulating silver coin, based
| upon our own pcculiarities, to such an
extent and assuming so heavy a burden
to be provided for in anv International
negotiations as will render us all unde-
slraDle party to any future monetary
| conference of nations.
1t Is i significant fact that four of the
live countries composing the Latin
Union mentioned in our coinage acl,
embarrassed with their silver currency,
| nave completed an agreement among
themselves that no more silver shall be
| coined Oy their respective governments
ana That such as has been already cuill-
ed and in circulation shall be redeem
ed In gold by the country of its coin
| age. The resort to this eXpedient by
| these countries may well arrest the at.
tentlon OF those who suppose that we
| can succeed without shock or iniu-
ry IN the attempt to circulate upon its
| merits all the silver we may coin under
these provisions OF our silver coinage
act.
The condition i'm which our treasury
may be placed by persistence in our
present course Is matter of concern
to every patriotic citizen who does not
desire his government to pay in silver
such OF Its obligations as should be
paid IN gold, nor should our condition
De such as to oblige us in a prudent
management of our affairs to stop call
ing in payment of interest bearing
obligations, which we have the right
now to discharge, and thus avoid pay
ment OF further interest thereon.
| The SO called debtor class, for whose
benefit the confirmed compulsory
coinage OF silver is insisted upon, are
not dishonest because they are debtors,
and they should not be suspected of a
desire to jeOpardize the financial safety
OF the country in order that they may
cancel their present debts by paying
the same in deprecated dollars, nor
should it be forgotten that it is not the
rich man or the money lender alone
that must submit to such a readiust-
ment, reinforced by the government
and their debtors. The pittance of the
widow and the orphan and the income
OF helpless benciiciaries of all kinda
would be disastrOusly reduced.
That disaster has not already over
taken us furnishes no proof that dan
ger docs not wait upon continuation
OF the present silver coinage. We have
been saved by the most careful man.
agement and unusual expedients, by
q combination of fortunate conditions,
and by confident expectation that the
conduct OF the government in re-
gard to silver coinage would be speed
lily changed by action of congress.
Prosperity hesitates upon our thres-
hold because of the dangers and
uncertainty surrounding this question.
Capital timidly shrinks from trade
and investors are unwilling to take the
chance of the questionable shape in
which their money will be returned to
them, while enterprise halts at a risk
against which care and sagacious man.
agement do not protect. AS a nesessa-
ry consequence, capital lacks employ
ment, and suffering and distress are
visited npon a portion of our fellow
citizens especially entitled to the care
ful consideration of those charged with
the. duties of legislation, and none ap-
peals to us so strongly for a safe and
stable currency as the vast army of
the unemployed. I recommend the
suspension OF the compulsory coinage
of silver dollars directed by the law
passed in February, 1878.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the secretary of war is
herewith submitted. The attention of
congress is invited to the detailed ac-
count which it contains of the admin.
lstratlon of the department and his re-
Communications and suggestions for the
improvement of the service.
The army consisted at the date of the
last consolidated returns of 2l54 ofIi-
GERS and 14,705 enlisted men. The ex-
penses of the department for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1885, including
$l3. .l64 1874 60 for public works and
harbor improvements, were $45, $780,
999 54.
Troops were sent to Rock
Springs, in Wyoming Territory, after
the massacre Of Chinese there, to pre-
vent further disturbances, and after
ward to Seattle, in Washington Terri
tory, to avert threatened attack on
Chinese labOrers and domestic violence
there. In both cases the mere presence
of troops had the desired effect. 1t ap-
pears that the number of desertions has
diminished, but that during the last
fiscal year they numbered 2997, and one
instance is given by the lieutenant-gen-
eral of six desertiOns by the same re-
cruit. l am convinced that this num-
Der of descrtiOns can be much dimin-
ished by better discipline and treat
ment, but the punishment should be
increased for repeated offenses. De-
sertions might be reduced by lessening
the term of first enlistment, thus al.
lowing discontinued recruit to con-
template a nearer discharge and the
army profitable riddance. After one
term of service a retirement would
serve to make contented recruit and
good soldier. The Judge advocate gen.
eral reports that the number OF trials
by general cOurtmartial during the
year was 1928, and that ,S51 trials
took place before garrison and regi-
mental courtsmartial. The suggestion
that probably more than half the army
have been tried for offenses great and
small in one year, may well attract at
tentiOn.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of the
navy gives history OF the operations
of his department and the present con-
dition of the work committed to his
charge. He details in full the course
pursued by him to protect the rights of
the government in respect of certain