Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-12-11
DIVERSITY OF OPINION.
How the Presidents Message
Strikes Different Persons.
Republicans Generally Pleased with the
Document and Enthusiastic In Its Praise
Democrats, e.. the Other Hand,
Consider It Weak Instrum mt.


Consider IT. Weak Instrum mt.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-Representa-
tive Dolliser (rep) OF Iowa. said:
presidents message IL a clear and con-
serVatiye statement OF the national situation
1t Will meet the general popular approval AS
to the currency question, the presidents ozlls-
| sion to urge in detail the most radical reforms
| proposed by Secretary Gage, indi ates that he
will exercise q good deal OF charity toward con-
'gress, II that body should fail to get together
| on the question.
representative Grosvenor trep.) Of
Ohio said:
The message is an esp 'cially able, clear and
| satisfactory document all the way through
| The currency discussion viii challenge close
examination, and lii the END will be found to BE-
| wise and beneficial, The Cuba sc ,tion is frank,
generally, and patriotic
Representative Hit (rep.) Of Illinois,
| chairman of the committee on foreign
affairs:
The message shows that the president has
| promptly and effectively acted on the Cuban
question In fulhllment OF the sentiments he
| had previously expressed on the Cuban strug-
| gle for liberty and the just expectations OF the
| country He has pressed upon the attention OF
| the Spanish government the injuries our busi-
ness interests are suffering, the Imprisonment
| of American citizens, the barbaric warfare un-
| der Weylcr and the need of change in the mode
| of government in Cuba. The result has been
| the release of every imprisoned American, the
removal and disgrace OF Weyler, the end OF
the conc ,ntration and starvation policy and the
presentation Of a system Of self-government
| largely based on that OF Canada. When our
| suggestions have thus all been accepted and
| are being carried out in apparent good falth,
| which is shown by the opp pJsltion in Spain, he
wisely thinks that good faith on our part re-
quires that we let the measure We ourselves
suggested be triea, at least until we can see
whether the Cubans themselves will be salts
| fed. The situation is vastly different from
| that OF q year ago
Representative Walker (rep. of Mass
achusetLs, chairman Of the committee
on banking and currency, said, as to
the financial features of the message:
| fear the message is not sufficiently specific
and does not go far enough to relieve the situa-
| tion. 1t does not recommend anything Shall be
| done until tho revenues exceed the expend-
| lures OF the government, which nay be many
| months in the future, and is far from immedl-
ute action. Secondly, the recommendation that
| greenbacks be not paid out exc pit for gold
when once redeemed in gold, II enacted into
| law would enable one man with sl,00000)
of greenbacks demanding gold of the treasury
and then depositing the gold in the bank for
greenbacls, AM repeating the process 3i6 times
| to retire the whole s3i6 0OO,0JO in the time it
| would take him to oscliate between the sub
| treasury in New York AMI his confederate for
| eign broker. The recon nendation that banks
| be required to redeem their notes in gold with
| no other provision of law would cause every
| bank in the country to surrender its circula-
| lion, and then what agency would keep the
country on gold basis?
Representative Henderson (rep.), of
Iowa:
lam pleased with the presidents message,
because it meets clearly and squarely every
| vital and pressing question On the money
| question he is Clear stating our situation with
marked intelligence, pointing out our dangers
and making certain recommendations that
would certainly. If adopted, prevent for the
| proacnt at ioast, disasters that we have cape
| r!ented in the past. On the Cuban question MS
course has been pctive, intelligent, patriotic
| and wise.
Representative Hull (rep,), Of Iowa,
chairman of the committee on military
affairs:
| The recommendations as to currency reform
| are more moderate than expected, ana 1t may
| be pOSsibl, for Us to come together in some
way. Personally, l am opposed to any action
| on the currency at this time. i do not believe
| in the international monetary congress. The
Ia l,,., ind an
strated the futility OF any further effort in this
line. | cordially lndorse tne presi ients posi-
tion as to the Hawaiian Islands, but cannot
| agree to his suggestion as to Cuba,
Representative Sayers (dem.) OF
Texas:
Tn. recommendation by the president that
| when any of the United States notes shall be
redeemed in gold they shall be kept ami set
apart and pail out oaly in exchange for gold
| will be, In my jutsm ,nt, il carried out, an in
| direct method OF retiring the greenbacks; and
il such policy should prevail, 1t will BE- ai fata
to the further ,e of these notes as currency as
IL they had been converted into bonds. In such a
| policy do not concur. ! also regard that p0r
ton of the message concerning Cuba as fatal to
any action on the part OF this government
looking to the granting OF bclligerency rights
| 10 tine rcNolutlonlsts.
Representative Bland (dem.), of Mis-
souri,, the recognized free silver demo-
cratic leader:
The presidents proposition to retire the
greenbaclls 10y holding them in the treasury,
except for gold deposits, means u contraction
of the currency to the amount of the greenbacks
| so impounded His statement OF the situation
MS to international bimetallism will not be ac-
ccpted in earnest by anybody. There are few
serious international bimetallists, but among
them suppose the president may be classed as
one The message on all subjects sounds apol-
ogetic and like an affidavit for continuance.
Representative Champ Clark dem. J,
of Missouri, member OF the commit
tee ON foreign affairs:
The message will be o great campaign docu-
ment for the democrats. II the recommends
tions therein contained are adopted by the re-
publicans, the democrats ought TO win in 1895
and 1900 hands down.
Representative Cox (dem.), of Ten.
nessee, the ranking democratic MEM
Der of the committee on banking and
currency:
The message in relation to the currency in
my Judgment is an utter failure. II the policy
advocated vas carried out into law II could
only result in the contraction OF the cur
rency. Under the arguments made by
the president it would be the duty
of tho government to redeem silver in
pold on the application OF the holder
of silver as readily as it does the United
States notes. So II every paper dollar of the
government were retired the raid could be
made on the treasury just as well with silver,
In regard to the recommendations as to bank
ing, they are of such o character that no bank
would do business under law.