Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-12-21
SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The Second Of the Kind Since
Congress Convened.
FINANCIAL LEGISLATION NEEDED.
President Calls Attcntjoa to the For.
eign Situation As an Added Reason
for PTomp. Action.

fakisx the Holiday Recess - Makes
n" Further Recommendations Than
Were Contained in His Regular Message
--seaAte Passes the Venezuelan Commis-
si-n Bill without Amendment and Unan-
sn,ously-speechcs Of Defiance TO Eng
innd-Holiday Recess Postponed.
WAsHiNGToy, Dec. 2i.-After two ses-
eiors of the cabinet had discussed the
financial condition of the country In the
present crisis, President Cleveland, late
yesterday afternoon, sent to congress the
following message:
SIN my last annual message the evils of
our present financial system were plainly
pointed out and the causes and means Of
tho depletion Of government gold were
explained 1t was therein stated that,
after all the efforts that had been made
by the executive branch Of the govern
ment to protect our gold reserve by the
Issuance OF bonds, amounting to more
than siGa,opSp. such reserve then
amounted to by little more than $40, 600.
oJ0; that about 10, ,0Oo,vOO had been with.
drawn from such reserve during the
month, next previous to the date Of that
message, and quite large withdrawals for
shipment in the immediate future were
predicted. Tho contingency then feared
has reached US, and the Withdrawals OF
gold since the communication referred to
and others that appear inevitable
threaten such depletion of our gov.
crnmcnt gold reserve as brings US face to
face with the necessity Of further action
FOR Its protection.
signal and Impressive Warning.
"This condition Is intensified by the
prevalence in certain quarters Of sudden
and unusual apprehension and timidity in
business circles. We arc in the midst of
another season Of pcrplcxity caused by our
dangerous and fatuous financial opera
tions. These may be expected to rccur
with certainty as long as there Is 10
amendment In our financial system. If
In this particular instance our prcdica-
mcnt Is mt all influenced by recent in
sistcncc upon the position we should oc-
cupy in our relation 20 certain questions
concerning our foreign policy, this fur
nishcs u signal and impressive warning
thit even tho patriotic sentiment Of our
people Is not an adequate substitute for o
sound financial policy. OF course there
can be no doubt in any thoughtful mind
as to the complete solvcncy OF our nation.
or can there be any just apprehension that
the American people will b. satisfied with
less than an honest payment Of our public
obligations in the recognized money OF the
world.
'rhc Real and the Sensible Cure"
eve should not overlook the fact, how
ever, that aroused fear Is unrcasoning and
must be taken into account in all efforts
TO avert public loss and the sacrifice of
our peoples interests. The real and sensi.
bic cure for our recurring troubles can
only bc effected by n complete change in
our financial scheme. Pending that, tho
executive branch Of the government will
not relax Its efforts nor abandon its deter
mination to use every means within its
reach To maintain before the world Amer
lean credit, nor will there be any hcsita-
tion In exhibiting its confidence in the
resources of our country and the constant
patriotism Of people.
should Do something Before Recess.
''In view, however, of the peculiar situa-
tion now confronting us l have vcntured
TO herein express the earnest hope that
the congress in default Of the inaugura-
tion Of n better system of finance will not
take recess from its labor before it has
by Legislative enactment or declaration
done something, not only to remind those
npprehcnsivc among our people that the
resources Of this government and u scrupu.
lous regard for honest dealing, afford q
sure guarantee Of unqucstioncd safety and
soundncss, but to rcassurc the world that
with these factors and the patriotism Of
our citizens the ability and dctcrmina-
tion of our nation to meet in any circuIn-
stances every obligation 1t incurs do not
admit Of question.
Asks Congress for Prompt Ala.
az ask mt the hands of the congress such
prompt aid as IL alone has the power to
give To prevent, In n time Of fear and up.
prchcnsion, any sacrifice Of the peoples
interests and the public funds, OF the i'm.
pairncnt of our public credit in IN effort
by executive action to relieve the dangers
Of the present contingency.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
"Exccutivc Mansion, Dec. 20, 1885,"