St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-21
THE MESSAGE.
Urgent Call on Congress to Per-
form It's Duty,

Urgent Call on Congress to Per-
form It's Duty.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Following
is the message sent to congress by
President Cleveland today:
ITO the Congress: In my last an
nual message the evils of our present
financial system were plainly pointed
out and the causes and means of the
depletion of government gold were eX-
planned. 1t was therein stated that,
after all the efforts that had been
made by the executive branch of the
government to protect our gold re-
serve by the issuance of bonds amount
ing to more than $162, 100000 such re-
serve then amounted to but little more
than $162, 100000, such reserve then
amounted to but little more than s79,-
600; that about $16,0G0.G00 had been
withdrawn from such reserve during
the month next previous to the date of
that message, and quite large with
drawals for shipment in the imm te
future were predicted. The contingent
cy then feared has reached us and the
withdrawal of gold since the communi-
cation referred to, and others that ap-
pear inevitable, threaten such a deple-
ton in our government gold reserve
as brings us face to face with the ne
cessity of further action for its pro-
lection. This condition is intensified
by the prevalence in certain quarters
of sudden and unusual apprehension
and timidity in business circles.
1--WE are in the midst of another sea-
son of perplexity caused by our danger
Gus and fatuous financial operations.
These may be expected to recur with
certainty as long as there is no amend
ment in our financial system. If in
this particular instance our predica-
ment is at all influenced by a recent in
sistence upon the position we should
occupy in our relation to certain ques-
tions concerning our foreign policy, this
furnishes a signal and impressive
warning that even the patriotic senti-
ment of our people is not an adequate
substitute for sound financial policy.
OF course there can be no doubt in any
thoughtful mind as to the complete
solvency of our nation, nor can there
be any just apprehension that the
American people will be satisfied with
less than an honest payment of our
public obligations in the recognized
money of the world. We should not
overlook the fact, however, that arous-
ed fear is unreasoning and must be
taken into account in all efforts to
avert public loss and the sacrifice Of
our peoples interests.
1.-THE real and sensible cure for our
recurring troubles can only be effect
ed by complete change in our finan-
cial scheme. Pending that, the eXecu-
tive branch of the government will
not relax it's efforts nor abandon it's
determination to use every msans with
in it's reach to maintain before the
world American credit, nor will there
be any hesitation in exhibiting its
confidence in the resources of our coun-
try and the constant patriotism of our
people. In view, however, of the pc
culiar situation now confronting us,
I have ventured to herein express
the earnest hope that the congress, in
default of the Inauguration of a better
system of finance, will not take recess
from it's labors before it has by legiS-
lative enactment or declaration done
something, not only to remind those ap-
preherlsive among our people that the
resources of this government and a
scrupulous regard for honest dealing
afford a sure guarantee of unques-
toned safety and soundness, but to
reassure the world that with these
factors and the patriotism of our citi-
zens the ability and determination of
our nation to meet in any circum-
stances every obligation 1t incurs do
not admit of question.
"I ask at the hands of congress such
prompt aid as it alone has the power
to give, to prevent, in a time of fear
and apprehension, any sacrifice of the
peoples interests and the public funds.
or the impairment of our public credit
in an effort by executive action to re-
lieve the dangers of the present con-
tingency. -"Grover Cleveland.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 20, 1895"