Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-10
Summary of the Presidents Message

The message opens with an expression
OF satisfaction TAT the growing spirit OF
fraternal regard and unfication in all sec.
lions OF our country, and the lifting of
great public questions above party preju
dice"
The subject of greatest importance is the
revision OF the currency, and President Nc
kiuley discusses it at length. He says that
Congress ought not to hesitate now to enter
upon reform of the currency which will
make our demand obligations less onerous
to the government and relieve our financial
laws from ambiguity and doubt. 1t is man
ifest, he says, that We must devise some
plan TO protect the government against bond
issues for repeated redemptions. If this evil
is not corrected by legislation the President
suggests that the Secretary of the Treasury
be authorized by Congress to sell bonds at
long or short periods bearing less rate of
interest than is now authorized by law -
The President also recommends that, as soon
as the receipts of the government are sufti
cent to pay all its expenses, all United
States notes, after their redemption in gold,
shall be set apart and only be paid out again
tor gold.
The President invites careful considera-
ton by Congress of Secretary Cages plan
to protect the gold reserve, aud concurs
with the Secretary that national banks be
allowed to issue notes to the face value OF
their bonds deposited; that the circulating
ia be reduced to one halt of one per cent.
and that national banks may be established
with capital Of $4,000. He also recon.
mends that the issue of national bank notes
be restricted 10 the denomination of $40
and upward, and that the? be required TO
redeem their notes in gold
The President devotes much space in his
message to the consideration of the Cuban
question. He outlines his recent instruc
lions to Minister Woodford, which were to
impress upon the Spanish government the
sincere wish of the United States to aid in
terminating the war by peaceful methods,
accomplishing result which would be just
and honorable to Spain and 10 the Cuban
people. II was also made known to the
Spanish government that the United States
could not contemplate an indefinite period
for the accomplishment of this result
SPANS response was an announcement OF
lts change of policy, TIE recall OF Weyler
and the proposition to bestow autonomy
upon the Cubans. He says that 1t is hon
estly due to Spain that il be given reason
able time in which to test its new policy
Present conditions in Cuba do not justify
the recognition of the belligerent rights of
the insurgents, nor of their independence
"the near future will demonstrate whether
a righteous peace is likely 10 Ce attained; if
not" he adds, "the exigency OF further and
other action by the United States will re-
main to be taken.
The President heartily iavors the annexa-
ton OF Hawaii, aud says that, while abrupt
assimilation OF the immature elements OF its
population should be avoided, Just provis-
ion should be made for sell'rule in local
matters, with the largest political liberty To
the Hawaiians The dispute between Japan
and Hawaii over the immigration ques-
ton he declares to be in II satisfactory stage
of settlement by negoti .tion without the in
tervention OF the government of the United
States.
While the international monetary com
mission failed to secure an agreement for
international bimetallism qualification is ex-
pressed at the action of France, and IL is said
the negotiations are still pending. The Pres
ident expresses the hope that the labors of
the commissioners may bring about an
agreement.
The opinion is expressed that by reel,
| procity arrangements under the tariff act
| the volume OF our commercial exchanges
may be enlarged The President earnestly
hopes for the improvement of our merchant
marine, the inierOrity of which, he says, is
| Illuminating VI our nhllpHui DilhC lhtCi
national arbitration is Endorsed by the Pres
ident and declared to represent the best
sentiment OF the civilized world. A liberal
appropriation is urged for creditable ex-
hibit at the approaching Paris Exposition.
| The President urges speedy Legislation TO
| procure armor for the three battle-ships now
building, and says that for a time any in
crease in the naval equipment should take
the form OF increased facilities Tor our yes.
sells. He urges that three or four OF the
largest docks should be provided on the
Atlantic coast, at least one on the Pacific
coast and a floating dock in the Gulf. He
indorses the proposed increase in the num-
Der of officers and enlisted men, and recon-
mends an appropriation Tor only one more
baltle-ship. lie thinks several additional
torpedo boats are required
Attention is called to the need for prompt
legislation as TO Alaska and the extension
of civil authority within the Territory. The
President approves the suggestion oil the
Secretary of the Treasury for an extension
OF the quarantine laws, and also recon-
mends the appointment OF special com
mission TO ascertain the cause oil yellow
fever Referring to the pending sale OF the
Kansas Pacific Railroad, the President states
that the Secretary OF the Treasury has been
instructed to bid at the sale sum equal TO
the prlnclpal oil the ueDI 10 the government
Referring To the civil service law, the
President says the system has the approval
of the people, and il will be his endeavor to
uphold and extend it. At the same time the
President declares that he shall not hesitate
to exempt cases which he thinks have been
improperly included in the classified SER
vice, or to include those which, in his judg-
ment, will best promote the good OF the
service.
In conclusion the President urges Con
gross not TO encourage the increase OF the
estimates for the maintenance OF the gov.
eminent. On the other hand, these esti
mates, he thinks, will admit oil decrease
in many branches, aud he adds that II Is
commanding duty to keep the appropria-
tons within the receipts OF the government
and thus avoid a deficit.
The Discovery Saved his Life.