Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07

WASHINGTON. d. c., December T.
PRESIDENT Mckinley to-day sent MS an
uuaI message to Congress. congratulatins
o. upon reassembling under felicitous cir
.lms,ancos. and calling for grateful
a-ku5wledgment to a benefcent Provi-
dea.e. which has so signally blessed and
grospered us as a nation. Peace and good
ui. with all the nations Of the earth con
uuue unbroken. he says. He also ex-
presses genuine satisfaction at the grow
ing spirit Of fraternal regard and the uni
lcation Of al sections of our country,
upon the universal spirit of patriotism,
and the lifting of great public questions
above party prejudice and sectional diff
ference.
Contrary 10 the usual custom, which
has led to the treatment Of matters Of
foreign relations in the beginning Of the
message. President Mckinley devotes his
..teution first 10 the financial question, Of
which he says:
The extra session of this Congress,
which closed during July last, enacted
Important legislation, and while its full
elects has not yet been realized, what ii
l-s already accomplished assures us Of
ITS umeliness and wisdom. To test its
Permanent value. further time will be
required. and the people, satisfied with
rs operation and results thus far, are in
n mind 10 withhold from il a fair trial.
Tariff legislation having been settled
ty the extra session of Congress. the
question next pressing for consideration
is that OF the currency. The work Of
I.,,ug our finances upon a sound basis,
lacllt as it may seem. viii appear easier
when we recall the financial operations
O. the government since 1866. on the
9Th day of June of that year we had
outstanding demand liabilities in the sum
o. EAss4i7.u. on the 1st Of January,
lrt these liabilities had been reduced 10
E"t H-sa OF our interest-bearing obli-
st0rs. the figures are even more
striking ON July ]. 1866, the principal of
tas lnterest-bearing debt Of the govern
r-1t was S2332 33l, ,20S. on the 1st day OF
,-y 1893. this sum had been reduced TO
lE11. or an aggregate reduction Of
N,G@ilos The interest-bearing debt OF
he United States on the 1st day Of De-
cm5er. 1897. was $si7 365. .62O. The govern
uut money now outstanding December
isJ consists Of S3CG8l.O1G Of United States
notes N077g3.2 .2sO Of Treasury notes, issued
by authority Of the law Of 1890, $3Sl.96S,5O
c. silver certificates. and SCI, ,2sO,76l Of
standard silver dollars.
CURRENCY REVISION.
with the great resources Of the gov
eminent. and with the honorable example
O. ihe past before us We ought not to
hesitate 10 enter upon a currency reyi-
Sion which viii make our demand obliga-
ions Jess onerous 20 the government.
and relieve our financial laws from am
'su'y and doubt
Ite brief review Of what was accom-
I-shel from the close Of the war 70 1893
makes uareasonable and groundless any
e.-irlst " either our financial ability
" s0l1lness, while the situation from
!'s 20 i@7 must admonish Congress Of
We immediate necessity Of 50 legislating
's 10 make the return OF the conditions
Usl prevailing impossible.
There are many plans proposed as
''hely for the evil. Before we can find
We True remedy we must appreciate the
'eel evil. II is not that our currency
VI every kind Is not good. for every dol
@f oi u Is good; good because the gov
''nnents pledge is out TO keep II so,
'D1 'ha' pledge will not be broken. How
''ei The guaranty of our purpose to keep
we pledge viii be best shown by our
'-'anclng 70 the fulhlment Of II.
mo eyl Of the present system is
'olha IN the great cost 20 the government
maintaining the parity Of our different
,,''N of money-that is, keeping all OF
.usin az par with gold We surely can
=" % longer needless Of the burden this