New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-05

midsummer Of 1898 that the President thought 1t
| necessary to call upon Congress for the help which
he and his friends and advisers had earnestly be-
sought that body TO grant the preceding winter.
When Congress assembled In special session early
in August 1898 he sent to it special message. dated
about eight months later than the last annual mes
sage OF his predecessor. from which document some
extracts have been quoted. What changes for the
worse had taken place in that short period? Dis
aster had followed disaster until universal distress
prevailed President Cleveland's special message Of
August s. 1893 a tale OF woe Its opening sem
encc told Of the existence of an alarming and ex-
traordnary business situation" which, however. he
attributed further principally to Congressional
legislation touching the purchase and coinage Of
silver by the general Government, resolutely shut
ting his eyes and attempting to belitte other and
far more potential causes. He appealed to the mem
bers Of the legislative branch of the Government to
rise above the plane of party politics., but at the
same time declared that it had been his purpose
call special session early in September. that
might enter promptly upon the work of tariff
form. which the interests of the country clearly
demand which so large a majority of the people.
shown by their suffrages. desire and expect. and
to the accomplishment of which every effort of the
present Administration is pledged"
Despite this unnecessary and most untimely par
tsan threat, the Republican minority in both
branches of Congress promptly and periodically
responded 10 the Presidents urgent recommended
ton in favor of the repeal OF the bullion purchase
provision OF the silver law of 1890 although none of
i's members agreed with him that the existing
troubles solely mainly due to that provision.
that the repeal of 1t would revive business.
lieve industrial distress restore he prosperity
which had existed at the time when President Iar-
rson wrote his last annual message, eight months
before.
LOOKING TOWARD A BOND ISSUE.
After four months had passed President Cleveland
sent another message to Congress in regard to Ma
tonal affairs He reported that the repeal OF the
bullion purchase provision had made IAN entire
change In the complexion OF our currency affairs"
and that he did doubt that the ultimate result
Of this action will be most salutary and far-reach-
Ing" but at the time he appeared TO realize
that the situation was precarious one. for he
earnestly suggested" that the authority of the
Secretary OF the Treasury to issue bonds Is not
clear a. L should be- and the bonds authorized arc
observation-disclosures TO the Government both as to the
time Of their maturity and rate OF interest" He
seemed 10 have learned something since the preced-
ing February. Further IN the message are found
two passages which offer striking contrast to the
opening sentences Of President IIarrisons annual
message Of the preceding December. One OF them
reads follows
At this time. when depleted public Treasury
confronts us. when many of our people are engaged
when enforced economy is pressing upon the great
m, mass OF our counirymen ! desire to urge WITH all
an b. S2 by coed on Of as tho he
Treasury and sympathy with the straitened cir
cumsiances Of our felow-countrymen.
The other passage more suggestive and
significant:
The duty OF public economy is also Of immense
Importance in It's intrinsic and necessary relation
to the task now in hand, OF providing revenue to
meet Government expenditures, and yet reducing
the peoples burden OF Federal taxation.
The President then went on to say that tariff
reform is directly before us TO recall the solemn
pledges OF the party in power and to commend
the Tariff and Internal Revenue bill which Chair
man Wilson and his Democratic collea2ues or tho
Ways and Means Committee had already framed
ana sum it"d Tor MS inspection ana approval some
WEEKS before n vas to be offered in the House OF
Representatives.
THE MESSAGE OF 1894
President Clevcland's next annual message 20
Congress was dated December 3. lssi-thirteen
months after his nostrum to the lnancai Ills
from. which e. was suffering had been admins
tered 20 n" country ami ne compelled TO
por that during tho last month the gold reserved
IN the Treasury Tor tho purpose OF rcdecmng tho
notes of The Government circulating money In
the hands o. tho people became reduced. and
IT'S fIriher depletion IN the future seemed
certain. that m the exercise OF proper FOR
the public welfare - became necessary 10 replenish
this reserve and thus maintain popular faith in
the ability and determination OF he Government 70
meet as agreed It's peculiarly obligations" He also
compliance hr'aH-e me Ina Congress- wni'h "4s
controlled hy his own party, had refused 10 DO
lin Congress anf wha, he Republicans and
minority of the democrats in the HOUSE OF Repre-
II order 20 retreat hal not been given by Mr..
Carlisle ihat IS. 10 r!othe the secretary % the
Treasury VITA authority 20 issue bonds bearing a
,,r,,I I'm th.s MESA. Pr"'s.eeni Ciryeiand made
conntrymcn." which had not greatly improved
the date OF MS message Of the previous year.
nor diI b.. dwell with al. the earneatness ut his
command upon the necessity OF risil economy OF
appropriations and expenditures,' despite the fac,
tnat the excess % expenditures over receipts Tor
The nscal year ended June @. 1875, amounted TO
then current fiscal year amounted to S20co@o.
He ID, however, recommend The closing OF Amer
lean shlpyaris by tu" enactment OF "A frce-shp
Law; the locking up OF United states notes to an
~ the country and the revival OF state banks OF
issue These were the chief remedies he proposed
an Increase Of The interest bearing Indebtedness
amounting TO $loooDco had taken place. In order
TO maintain the gold reserve and meet deficiencies
OF revenue. and at the end OF which he was not
able to r"p)rt any substantial Improvement In gem
era business and industries.
IT'S OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES INCREASE.
The endorsements Of the Administration con-
tnucd rapidly to increase as the confidence OF the
people In the ability and patriotism OF the party in
power steadily diminished. and within TWO months
after the date Of his annual MESSAGE President
Cleveland sent a special message to Congress I'M
ploring and demanding instant action to save the
National Treasury from bankruptcy. Both branches
Of Congress We're controlled by his own party. and
that party lacked the capacity or the courage and
the patriotism necessary 10 meet and provide
against the imminent danger that threatened the
National nonor and credit. Every remembers
the result. which was unpleasant and notifying
- everybody except the moncy-lenders who prohied
b. H.
About one-half OF the annual message which
President Cleveland sent 10 Congress az the begin
ming of the present session devoted 10 financial
matters. ami II did not contain single reference
to the general condition OF tne people, whether they
were prosperous or the reverse or whether their
condition WAS improving or growing worse. He did,
indeed say that by command OF the people GUS
toms revenue system designed for the protection
ana benefit Of favored classes at the expense Of the
great Of our countrymen. ana which. while
inefficient for the purpose Of revenue curtaed our
trade relations and impciei our entrance to the
markets OF the world has been superseded by a
tariff policy which In principle * based upon
denlal nf the ri ht OF The Government 10 OhStruct