The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-09
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
The New President Outlines
the Policy Of His Ad-
miniStration.
Economy Demanded in Ev-
cry Branch of the Gov
eminent.
FaVOrS the Restoration Of the
American Merchant
Marine.
Deficiencies to Be Stopped
By a Revision Of the
Tariff.

President McKinley'S inaugural address:
Fellow Citizens: In obedience to the
will of the people and in their presence,
by the authority vested In me by TINS
oath, I assume the arduous and respon-
sible duties of president of the United
States, relying on the support OF my
countrymen and invoking the guidance
of Almighty God. Our faith teaches that
there is no safer reliance than upon the
God of our fathers, who has so singularly
favored the American people in every
national trial, and who will not forsake
us so long as we obey his command
ments and walk humbly in his footsteps.
The responsibilities of the high trust
to which [ have been called-always OF
grave importance-are augmented by the
prevailing business conditions, entalllng
idleneSS upon willing labor and loss TO
useful enterprises. The country is suffer-
ing from industrial disturbances. from
which speedy relief must be had. Our
financial system needs some revision; our
money is all good now, but it's value must
not further be threatened. 1t should all
be put upon an enduring basis, not sub
ject to easy attack, nor its STABILITY 10
doubt or dispute. Our currency should
continue under the supervision of the
government The several forms OF our
paper money offer in my judgment,
A Constant Embarrassment
to the government and to safe bal
ance in the treasury. Therefore, l be-
lieve it necessary to devise a system
which, without diminishing the circulat-
ing medium or Offering a premium for its
contra ction will present a remedy for
those arrangements, which, temporary in
their nature, might well in 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 fiscal laws as
will while insuring saftey and volume to
our money no longer impose upon the
government the necessity of maintaining
so large a gold reserve, with its attend
ant and inevitable temptations to specu-
latiOn.
Most of our financial laws are the out
growth Of experience and trial, and
should not be amended without investi-
cation and demonstration of the wisdom
of the proposed changes. We must be
both sure we are right and make haste
slowly" If therefore congress in it's
wisdom shall deem it eXpedient to create
a commission to take under early consid-
GRAFTON the revision of our coinage, bank
ing and currency laws, and give them that
exhaustive careful and dispassionate ex-
animation that their Importance demands,
T shall cordially concur in such action.
If such power is vested in the president
il is my purpose to appoint a commission
of prominent, we'll Informed citizens OF
different parties, who will command pub
lie confidence both on account of their
ability and special fitness for the work.
Business experience and public training
may thus be combined and the patriotic
zeal of the friends of the country be so
directed that such report will be made
as to receive the support of all parties,
and our finances cease to be the SUBJ
iect of mere partisan contention. The
experiment is at all events worth trial,
h0ne-
ficial to the entire country.
international BIN eta1Iism.
The question of international bimetal-
Iisrn 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 supported by the
relative value of the two metals, the
value of the silver already coined, and
that which may hereafter be coined,
must be kept constantly at par with gold
bv every resource at our command. The
credit of the government, the integrity
of its currency and the invioiabifity OF
its obligations must be preserved. This
was the commanding verdict of the peo-
pie. and it will not be unheeded.
FIconomy is demanded In every branch
of the government at all times, but es-
pecially in periods like the present de-
preston of business and distress among
the people. The severest economy must
be observed in all public expenditures,
and extravaganza stopped wherever it is
found and prevented wherever in the fl-
ture it may be developed. If the rev.
enues are to remain as now, the only re-
lief that can come must be from de-
creased expenditures. But the present
must not become the permanent condition
of the government.
1t has been our uniform practice to re-
tire. not increase, our outstanding obliga-
lions and this policy must agas71 be re-
sumed and vigorously enforced. Our rev.
enues should always be large enough to
meet with ease and promptness not only
our current needs, and the principal and
interest of the public debt, but to make
proper and liberal provision for that most
deserving body of public creditors, tha
soldiers and sailors. and the widows ana
orphans who are the pensioners OF the
United States.
Remedy for Deficits.
The government should not be permit
ted to run behind or increase its debt in
times like the present. Suitably to pro-
vide against this is the mandate of duty;
the certain and easy remedy for most of
our financial difficulties. A deficiency is
inevitable so long as the expenditures Of