The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-12-03
Congress-The Presidents Mes
sage.

uoon, and Immediately proceeded to
business. Among the very first acts
was that Of Democrat who intro.
duced bill to cripple the new tariff
bill. 1t is safe to say, however, that
that measure will not become law at
this session. The Presidents Message
was read and atteDtively listened to
throughout. The document is pro.
nounced by many to be the ablest
state paper presented to Congress for
many years. The Pittsburgh Com.
Gazette thus reviews il:
No one can peruse the message
which President Harrison transmitted
to Congress yesterday without gather.
Ing from it much information of a
gratifying and assuring character.
Passing over all matters bearing upon
our relations with foreign Nations, and
coming to those of domestic nature,
we find the National finances in a
very satisfactory condition. The sill.
yer act has been disappointing in the
fuctuating price of that metal, but
the hope is entertained that some
months of further trial will demon.
strate its capacity to bring the value
of the two metals closer together.
There has been a gratifying increase
in the money circulation, but a small
proportion Of which is due to silver
legislation.
That there has been a marked i'm.
provement during the year in the ag.
ricultural industries is apparent from
the figures furnished by the Secretary
of Agriculture. The advances in the
prices of wheat, corn, oats, meats and
other products have been most sub.
stantial, and the expectations of cat.
tie and hogs, beef pork and poultry,
have been largely increased. In a
word, there has been a marked i'm.
provement in the general trade and
industrial conditions of the country
during the past year. The balance Of
foreign trade is again in our favor,
and the bank clesrings show that the
increase in the volume of business
was very general throughout the
country. The value of domestic ex.
ports exceeded those of the preceding
year by s115,0 100000, and about $780,.
100000 of this excess was in agricul.
tural products. Labor is everywhere
fully employed, strikes and lockouts
are diminishing in numbers, the de.
preston in agriculture has been great.
ly relieved, and an abundant and
hopeful tone was prevailing when the
foreign money stringency developed
and made its influence felt here. The
President expresses the belief that the
disturbance will be Of short duration,
being unable to withstand "the strong,
safe and wholesome influences which
are operating to give the people profit.
able returns in all branches of legiti.
mate trade aud industry"
The effects of the new tariff are dis.
cussed in frank and sensible manner.
There is neither wisdom nor justice, I"
says the President, "in the suggestion
that the subject of tariff revision shall
be opened before this law has had
fair trial" While the law is not de.
Tended as faultless in every respect,
the President believes ain its general
scope and effect it will justify the sup.
port of those who believe that Ameri.
can legislation should conserve and
defend American trade and the wages
of American workmen." Time will
correct the misinformation so widely
disseminated at home and abroad re.
specting its effects. Already the re.
ports of our custom. houses are dis.
proving the charge that certain duties
are prohibitory. The imports at New
York for the first three weeks of No.
vember we're nearly s per cent. greater
than for the same period in 1889, or
30 per cent. greater than in the same
period in 1888.
The President has a good word for
reciprocity and anticipates great re,
suits from the reciprocity clanse in the
new tariff bill. 1t is a distinct and
definite offer Of free entry to our ports
Of specific articles. When the coun.
tries which send us sugar, coffee. tea
and hides have placed on their free
lists such of our products as shall be
agreed upon as an equivalent for our
concession proclamation to that ef-
feet completes the transaction and in
the meantime our people have tea,
coffee, sugar and hides free of duty.
Congress is admonished of the duty
and Importance of passing certain
measures, among them those relating
to the development of American
steamship lines; the incorporation OF
az International American Bank; the
bill for the relief of the Supreme
Court of the United States; a Nation,
al bankrupt law; the eugrafting of a
postal telegraph system upon the mail
service, and some other bills of minor
importance. Last, but not least ia
importance, is the potent argument il
favor Of the passage of a Federal
Election law, which, while being alb
solutely non.partisan and impartial
will make free aud safe the path of The
elector to the ballot box and th,
onnnf oo frna and onan that nona m