Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-12-07
Presidents Message,
A Long Document of Public
importance.
CONSERVATIVE AND CAUTIOUS
Gold Standard to Be Given Greater
Advantages.

WASHINGTON. D. c.. Dec. o.
President WIN. McKinlsy's message De
livered 10 congress today Is as foiiows'
ITO the nate and House Of Represent
atiyes:
az gives me pleasure to extend greet
ipgs TO the Fifty-fifth congress assem-
he'd in regular session at the seat oi
government with many Of whose sena-
tors and representatives have been as
.ocsa.ed In the legislative service. Their
meeting occurs under felicitous condi-
tlons. jusifying sincere congratulation
and calling for our grateful ackno"i-
edgment 70 a benehcent providence;
which has 90 slgaally blessed and pros
psred us as a nation. Peace and good
will with ali the nadons Of the earth
continue unbroke1.
"A matter Of genuine satisfaction -
the growing feeling Of fraternal regard
ana unideation Of all rections OF
cur cyuntry, IN, incomplcteDess OF
ysnich mas TOO lorg delayed realization
~ tie highest blessings Of the union.
the epirit OF patriotism Is universal
ana i ever increasing in fervor. The
public questions which now most en-
.rrss. " are lif.sd fat above either par
s,sanshIp. prstudoe or former sectional
dingfei.ces. Thsy effect every part OF
our common country alike and permit
~ no division on ancient lines. Ques-
ions Of foreign policy. Of revenue, the
- s1s The tnElOIA-
bilfy OF the national obligations, Tie
l9,rroyement Of The public service ap-
nal 10 the Individual conscience OF eV-
sry earnest CITIZEN 70 whatever party
hs belongs. or in whatever Eeciion OF
the country he may reside.
-srhe extra SESSION OF this congress
whlca closed duriT z July last, enacted
important legislation and while Us fuii
Effects have not ben realized. what Y
has already accomplished assures us Oi
its rimellness and wisdom. To test is
permanent value. further time VIII be
required and tbs people. satisfied with
its o5er1tion and results thus far, are
n no mind 70 withhold from II a
fair trial.
Tariff legislation having been Cet-
lied By tbs extra session Of congress,
the questiOa next pressing for consid-
eiatlon Is that 81 the currency. The
work Of putting our finances upon a
sound basis, dinicuk as II may seem,
viii zypsEr when We recall the financial
ot,sratlOn u the government elDce 1896.
on the Goth day OF June Of that
year We had outstanding demand Ia
DiHtiss in ths sum Of y7zs. So. .447.n On
the nrBt Of July. 1873. these liabilities
lad Deen reduced 10 S4fs. SO, ,is5 So. OF
our interest barring obligations, the
nsurts are even more striking. On July
j. lts5, ihe pnacipal Of The interest
bearing debt o. the government was
49,. .s5i. .ZJs. on the first day ~ july,
Isgs, this sum had been reduced 10 1885,
057. 100, 0r an aggregate reduction of
81 7.zgi,l1s. Tue iHteTezt-b=ari1
debt Oi The United States on the fir5t
day of u a-mber, .s9T. was ss4I,ss5,slo.
'rns government money now OutBiand-
ing tDee. y CONSISTS of s5fe.6Si. .0ls of
Ualted states notfs; Il07. .7s3.zso of
treE-ury notes ll6ued b. authority OF
The sct of 1880: 1854. SO. .50i of silver cer-
.i'.etss. aud fsl.Zs0.5sl Of standard sill
yer dollars.
'-Ws.h lhe great re8ourcss Of the gov
eFnmept and with the tlme-honored ex-
ample u the past before u. We ought
not hesitate 10 enter upon currency
revision which will lake our demand
obligations less OnerOus 10 The govern
InenL and relieve our financial laws
from ambiguity ana doubt
''rhe brief review " what was ac-
cCmpllshed from the clO8e u the war
until 1873 makes unreasonable 8nj
1TulIflfl s,i,r ss.s-. ..ess elther nf cur
financial ability or s0undnsss; while the
situation from 1888 70 1887 must adIaon-
ish congress Of the immediate necea-
sky for % iegislating as 20 make the re-
turn of the conditions then prevailing
,mp0ssible.
There are many plans proposed as a
remedy for the evil. Before we can end
he true remedy we must appreciate tnt
real evil II II not that our currency Of
every kind 10 not good, for every dol
lar Of y 4 good good beoanso the gov
ernmeri's pie ise is Out D. keep a 20. and
that pledge win not be broken. How
over the guaranty OF our purpose 70
keep the pledge viii be best shown by
advancing toward It's fulnllment.
The eyil u the presaIit system n
found IN the great cost ~ the govern
menf of mahitadng tle parity Of our
dlfersnt forlns u money; that IS. keep
ing all OF them az par with gold. We
surely canu0l be longer needless OF the
burden this innposs upon the people,
given under faiely prosperous condi-
lions. while The past four years have
dam0nstraled that 4 Is not only ex-
pensive charge upon tho government.
put a dantgons pienace ~ the nAtionai
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