Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1896-12-09
ARIZONAJOURNAL-MINER
wEDNESDAY....-.-DEC. g, 1896
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


 of the recent election, in which the patriotism of the American people is commended. Speaking of foreign affairs, he declares that the disturbed condition in Asiatic Turkey has assumed less hideous and bloody aspect during the past year, and says:
 "I do not believe the present sombre prospect in Turkey will be long permitted to offend the sight of Christendom. It so mars the humane and enlightened that belongs to the close of the nineteenth century that 1t seems hardly possibly that the earnest demand of good people throughout the Christian world Tor its corrective treatment will remain unanswered"
 In dealing with the Cuban situa- ton, he unalterably opposes the recognition of the insurgents as belligerents. He believes the situs- ton to be too delicate for any inter vention on the part of the United States at the present time, although his message strongly hints that the ultimate outcome may require an aggressive stand on the part of this government. With the greatest deli cacy he devotes a large portion of his message to a review of the situa- tion, and points as solution of the problem the offer to Cuba on the part of Spain of genuine autonomy. It has been iutimAted to Spain, and that country does not seem unwill- ing to adopt the suggestion, that the United States act as mediator ID bringing about this result. At the the same time, Spain demands that the insurgents lay down their arms before 6 compromise will be con sidered, and the Cubans insist on something more definite than a promise of autonomy before they will consent to do so. In any event, the president says, the United States should make no attempt to acquire the island, and should prevent any other power from acquiring 1t. If, however, the ability of Spain to demonstrate its sovereignty be- comes manifest, the United States should not hesitate to recognize and and discharge its duties without, in any way, meanwhile, stimulating a disregard to duty or i'll timed ex- precision of feeling.
 Briefly touching on :he Venezue- lap boundary question, and the Behring Sea complications, the pres ident then deN otes himself to inter nal affairs.
 In reviewing the war department, the president does not recommend an increased army, and he says, the organized militia numbers ll2,S79 men and costs S3,2O0,00O annually which should suffice. He believes both the regular army and militia should save more money for equip ments.
 Regarding the navy, the president recommends the expenditure of money for coast defeuses, declares his belief in the ability of the gov ernment to build its own vessels and equipments, is opposed to pay ing any further speed premiums and recommends a plan for laying up ships in reserve, so as to reduce the cost of maintaining our vessels ahoat. Eight new cruisers and twenty-eight new gun boats have been commissioned, and the chief executive says American ships are equal to any that float.
 The president thinks federal of lenders should be confined in gov ernment prisons.
 The Postof.ce department, he says, is in good condition, with a deficit of $S,OO0,0OO ow ing to reduc- ton in postal duties, and the in crease, without proportionate rev enue, of the low class matter.
 He demands the settlement of the Pacific railway loans and grants, and especially the foreclosure of the Union Pacific mortgage. He shows that in the agricultural department that the value of farm products in IS96 amounted to S570,OOO,OOO. He is opposed to the further gratu- itous distribution of seed.
 The inter state commerce and civil service laws are highly com meRded.
 While admitting a deficit of a little more than S25,000,000, he de- fends the Wilson tariff bill as hay ing opened up foreign markets and trade with othsr coun- tries. The present bill, he says will yield sufficient revenue if given a fair trial, but the deficit was to be in the face of the business of the past two years.
 In this connection, he defends the drafts made on the reserve fund, as he says It IS immeasurably better to our surplus to the pay ment of justifable expenses than to allow 1t to become an invitation for appropriations and extraya- gant expenditures
 He alludes to our financial meth ods as weak and vicious and asks prompt reform of the system which s opposed to every rule of sound finance and shown by experience to be fraught with grievous peril and He refers to the late contest as being a greater menace to | prosperity than the late war. He l declares financial peace cannot be i until the government cur 'ency obligations, upon which gold l nay be demanded, are withdrawn rom circulation and cancelled. He I Idvocates their exchange for long ern, low interest bonds, and their with the proceeds of uch bonds.
 Summing up the financial situa- iou, the president says: The entire ase may be presented by the state nent that the day of sensible and ound financial methods will not lawn on us until our government bAndons the banking business and he accumulation of funds and con