Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-03-11

obligation prescribed TO MAINTAIN TIE
Constitution and enforce the laws of the
Jrt.5 States and Pres 5.ut Mckinney
delivered his tnaugural address.
Presidents Inaugural.
Fellow-Citizens. In obedience to the
wi! 4 the people. and in their presence.
by the authority vested in me by this
oath. I assume the ariuous and respen-
sib,e duties Of President Of the United
States. relying on the support of my
countrymen and invoking the guidance
of Almighty God. our faith teaches us
that there is no safer reliance than upon
the God OF our fathers, who has so singu-
larry favored the American people in ev-
cry national trial, and who will not for
sake US so long as we obey his command
ments and walk humbly in his footsteps.
The responsibilities of the high trust
to which l have been called-always of
grave importanee-are augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en-
failing ideness upon willing labor and
loss to useful enterprises. The country
is suffering from industrial disturb
ances. from which speedy relief must be
had. Our financial system needs some
revision; our money is all good now. but
its value must not further be threatened.
It should all be put upon an enduring
basis not subject to easy attack, nor Its
stability to doubt or dispute. Our cur
rency should continue under the super
vision OF the government The several
forms Of our paper money offer. in my
Judgment a constant embarrassment to
the government, and to a safe balance
In the treasury. Therefore, l believe 1t
necessary to devise a system which,
Oh, Ia
dunn or offering a premium for its con-
action. will present a remedy for these
ARA rcements which. ten porary in their
nature might we'll. in the years of our
prosperity have been displaced by wiser
provisions With adequate revenue Sc
cured, but not until then. we can enter
upon such changes in our finance laws
as WILL while insuring safety and volume
to our money. no longer impose upon the
necessity Of maintaining so large a gold
reserve. with its attendant and inevita
bic temptations to speculation. Most OF
our financial laws are the outgrowth Of
experience and trial. and should not be
amended without investigation and dem
onstration OF the wisdom of the pro-
posed changes. We must be sure we
are right" and make haste slowly"
II, therefore. congress, in its wisdom,
shall deem It expedient to create a COM
mission to take under early considera-
ton the revision of our coinage, bank
ing and currency laws and give them
that exhaustive, careful and dispassion-
ate examination that their choice de-
riands, shall cordially concur in such
action If such power Is vested in the
president It Is my purpose to appoint
q commission of prominent, well-in-
formed citizens Of different parties. who
will command public confidence, both on
account of their ability and special fit
ness for the work business experience
and public training may thus be COM
bined, and the patriotic zeal of the
friends Of the country be so directed that
such a report will be made as to receive
the support of all parties, and our ffnan-
ces cease to be the subject of mere par
tisan contention. The experiment is at
all events, worth trial and in my opin-
ion it can but prove beneficial to the en-
tire country.
The question of international bimetal-
ism Will have early and earnest atten-
ton 1t will be my constant endeavor
to secure it by cooperation with the
other great commercial powers Of the
world. Until that condition is realized.
when the parity between our gold and
silver money springs from, and is sup
ported by the relative value of the two
Metals, the value of the silver already
coined and Of that which may hereafter
be coined, must be kept constantly at
par with gold by every resource at our
command. The credit of the govern
ment the integrity OF its currency and
the inviolability of lis obligation must
be preserved. This was the command
ing verdict Of the people, and i will not
be IN Needed