Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-07-28
SAYS SECRETARY GAGE
And the Party in Power Will Bring the Pros
s perity Era
E E IF IS ALREADY SETTLED
And Kinley's Special Message on the
s. & al Monetary Commission, Un-
- .cted on Iby the Senate, Will
~ Bring About the Result.

Boston, July 27.--The banquet to Secre-
Larry Gage at the Tuilleries this afternoon
was attended by about $50 men promi-
net in professional and business llfs in
Lais city. A formal reception was given
before dinner, which occurred at 24O On
being Introduced, Secretary Gage said, in
part:
I'VE have met here in p.riod fraught
with it's own interest. Opposing forces
| met in November las, and commended bit
terly over the most vital of economic
questions While the ISSUE was pending
| the profitable arts of industry came to
nearly a standstll. Trade and commerce
| declined to the narrowed limits and in
| a breal.hless suspense thcse who could
compreha nd the deep import of the issue
| walled for its de.ermina ton. That issue
| is now decided. The ballot, the magic
| exponent of the popular will. has recorded
| its Imperative voice for honest money
and for liberty regulated by law. 1t now
remains 70 be seen whether from that de-
cision there Is to be any successful appeal.
1t is this that gives interest, anxious In
terest to the prospective action OF those
who clothed with legislative and execu-
/ tive functions have it in their power to
make secure he fruits of victory, or who
by failing to compreh' nd -heir high re-
sponsiblity, may let slip the advantages
involved in this question men OF enter
prise still hesitate and the columns of
industry march slowly with ranks not yet
completely filled. is th=fe room for doubt
on so plain a proposition? There ought
to be none. There would be none except
for the working on the people of human
nature, which coaxes us to ease after
effort-which induces us to contemplate
rather than act-that spirit. of inactivity
which on more than one occasion kept the
army of the unoin from annihilating the
enemy and on another occasion SO par
alyzed the confed rate columns as to turn
them back from the easy capture of our
capital. Logical as the duty of the gov
ernment seems to be, do not yourselves
supfnely rest upon the conclusion that 1t
will certainly b. performed. We have
passed through weariSome storm. The
loss and cost of Ia are enormous, hui to-
day the skies are clzar, the breeze proper
ly brings comfort ard restoration. Shall
we not be permitted to rest and enjoy
it? No. that would be too foolish to wait
for and invlte further disaster In the fu-
turo. The final answer, however, mrct
depend upon the urgency or the indiffer-
ence of the people. The administrative
branch Of the government Will not stop
rlor rest inactive. It's influence has been
and will be for prompt and judcoius ac-
tion The evidence of !,his fac. is fresh
ar hand in the message just now sub
mitted to congress- by the president"
Mr.. Gage herr quoted several para
graphs from the message. Continuing, he
said:
but the adnlinistra tion cannot make
laws 1t can only execute them after
they ara made. 1t is then to the legioa-
tive body that your thoughtful attentlJn n
Is to he given. If you d-sire finan ial
reforms. your senators and represen a.
tives will rot antagonize your well con-
sldered desires, but they must be inform
ed and constantly reminded of what 1t
is YOU demand. And now what is 1t thst
ha
lection to this future? To this there are
many answers, ard to each answer many
objections. We have iEdeed a delicate
and difficult problem to sove the diff
Guilty being aggravated by the fact that
| ignorariae, prejudice and passion en- er in
| to and complicabsr and vex the solution.
| This is one of the pernl.ies which popular
| government mast pay in return for its
mutifartous and eminent benefits. With
| these drawbacks we can nevertheless
| with patience find our way.
1.-THE recommendation of the president
| for a commission was admirable in tn $
| that 1t suggested a. way out of which a
| body of well trained and though tful men
| leasure without distua ction from other
| pressing themes the important subject of
| currency and banking reforms 1t at the
| same time operated a forum to which
| could be admitted the contributivs sug-
| gestion from all Glasses and conditions of
| men, The bill which passed tha house and
failed of recognition In the senate may be
a matter of regr.t, but n5t of di courage
ment. Nor ought We to speak or think
unkindly CT body which has so assidu-.
| ously toi'ed in THE work of a new bodw of
| law concerning a ma tier so charged wi h
conflicting opinlons and opposing inter-
ests as is any tariH act
The two questions before the country
| in ths last presidential campaign were
| the tariff and the currency. One of them
is already settled. WhapeVer the merits
or demerts OF the new measure II its par