St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-12-10

nexatIOn OF HaWai1-dn0 THESE tHTSS
problems are important because upon
careful discussion and proper set
Element of them much OF the future
peace and welfare of this country
may depend.
The president aims at such revision
of the currency as Twill make our
obligations less onerous to the gov
eminent and relieve our financial
laws from ambiguity and doubt"
The sort of currency reform that Mr..
Mckinley is after is the reform that
will put our currency on the soundest
possible basis; and in this effort he
will receive a cordial backing. One
suggestion he makes is that all United
States notes that may be redeemed
in gold be set apart to be paid out
again only in exchange for gold. This
plan if adopted would interfere very
satisfactorily with the depletion of
the gold reserve. 1t is gratifying to
note that the president is substan-
italy in accord with the policy of
Secretary Gage of the treasury de-
partment, and that the two are pull
ing together for the attainment OF
the same desirable end-namely, such
a financial condition as will enhance
to the greatest possible degree the
credit OF the nation.
Jingoeism is given remotely back
seat when it comes to the Cuban
question, which is reviewed at con-
siderable length. The president,
while not yielding one jot of his
Americanism and his sympathy with
people who are struggling for life,
liberty and happiness, still insists
that Spain shall have full chance 20
put in operation the more humane
policy which she has promised to
use in her dealings with the Cubans.
And the whole country will endorse
this attitude of the chief magistrate.
He evidently believes that Spain hon
estly intends to bring about a change
of things in Cuba-in fact, already
there are indications on that island
that this is the case; and he very
wisely suggests that it will be time
enough by-and-by, if Spain shall
utterly fail to handle Cuba in the
right way, for the United States to
take decided position and interfere
in behalf of the insurgents.
Mr.. Mckinley urges the annexa-
ton of Hawaii, but does not give
any 6rst-class reason why such a
thing should be brought about sim
ply indicating that it would be a
natural result of the strengthening
ties that bind us to these islands"
He expects that congress will take
final and favorable action on this
matter at the present session. But,
when it is considered that the con.
ditions of this union,' the political
relations thereof to the United
States, the character of the local adj
ministration, the equality and degree
of the elective franchise of the in
habitants, the extension of federal
laws to that territory or the enact.
ment of special laws to fit the pecu
liar condition thereof, and the regu
ation of a labor system there, are
questions which congress will bt
called on to discuss and decide before
this annexation scheme can be dis
posed of, it will be seen that the ma
tional legislature has an extensive
: job on hand, with abundant oppor
. tunity for getting into tangle tina
) may prove fatal to the whole plan
, There are a great many people il
this country who are opposed to tn
gathering in of this peculiar people a
e citizens OF the United States, becaus
they are not clear as to what is to b
gained by it; and congress may we
move cautiously on this question.
The rest of the message deals wit
reciprocity Tin the direction of whic
satisfactory progress is being made
, the sealing question, Alaskan terri
" tory, our Indian relations, bimeta
=, ism, the Nicaragua canal and sundr
u other matters of minor moment.
- has been we'll received throughot
, the country, and even some Englis
u papers are inclined to call it an e:
& celent state document.
IL
te Vermont's Senior Senator.
ID This third day OF December is ri