The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-12-10
TO GIVE SPAIN TIME.
Presidents Message Includes
a Cuban Policy.
SUBMITS CAGES FISCAL PLAN.
he Calls For Legislation to Prevent the
Need of Bond Issues and Recon-
mends Hawaiian Annexation
and Stronger Navy.

and Stronger Navy.
Washington, Dec. 7.-President Nc
Kinleys first annual message was de-
ivered at the opening of congress yes
terday, and much closer attention was
= given to it's reading than is usually ac-
& corded on such occasions.
1.-The public questions" says the mes
sage, (which now most engross us are
lifted far above either partisanship,
prejudice or former sectional differ
!. ences. They affect every part of our
common country alike and permit of no
division on ancient lines. The extra ses-
sion of this congress. which closed dur
ing July last enacted important legisla-
ton, and, while it's full effect has not
yet been realized, what it has already
accomplished assures us of it's timeli-
>4ess and wisdom. To test it's permanent
alue further time will be required, and
the people, satisfied with its operation
4 and results thus far, are in no mind to
withhold from it fair trial. Tariff leg
islation having been settled by the ex-
ira session of congress, the question
. next pressing for consideration is that
. of the currency"
In relation to the plans for the refor-
nation of the currency, the message
says
With the great resources of the gov
ernment and with the honorable exam
pie OF the past before us, we ought not
to hesitate TO enter upon currency re-
vision which will make our demand OBJ
ligations less onerous to the govern
ment and relieve our financial laws
from ambiguity and doubt. The brief
review of what was accomplished from
the close of the war to 1898 makes un-
reasonable and .groundless any distrust
either of our financial ability or sound
ness, while the situation from 1898 to
1897 must admonish congress of the i'm
mediate necessity of so 1egislating as
to make the return of the conditions
then prevailing impossible. There are
many plans proposed as a remedy for
the evil. Before we can find the true
remedy we must appreciate the real
evil 1t is not that our currency of ev-
cry kind is not good for every dollar of
it is good, good because the govern
ment's pledge is out to keep it so. and
that pledge will not be broken. How
ever, the guarantee of our purpose to
keep the pledge will be best shown by
advancing toward it's fulfillment The
evil of the present system is found in
. the great cost to the government of
maintaining the parity of our different
. forms of money-that is, keeping all of
I them at par with gold. We surely can
Lot be longer Needless Of the burden
this imposes upon the people even un-
der fairly prosperous conditions, while
the past four years have demonstrated
INhat it is not only an expensive charge
|kpon the government but dangerous
menace to the national credit"
In concluding the monetary section of
4 the message, the president says:
q earnestly recommend, as soon as
. the receipts of the government are
I quite sufficient to pay all the expenses
. Of the government, that when any of
the United States notes are presented
for redemption in gold and are redeem
. ed in gold such notes shall be kept and
set apart and only paid out in exchange
for gold. This is an obvious duty.
In my view, it is of the utmost i'm
portance that the government should
be relieved from the burden of provid-
inc all the gold required for exchanges
and export. This responsibility is alone
borne by the government without any
Of the usual and necessary banking
powers to help itself. The banks do not
feel the strain of gold redemption. The
whole strain rests upon the govern
ment and the size of the gold reserve
in the treasury has come to be, with or
without reason, the signal of danger or
OF security. This ought to be stopped.
II we are to have an era of prosperi-
ty in the country, with sufficient re-
eepts for the expenses of the govern
ment we may feel no immediate en-
barrassment from our present curren-
ey, but the danger still exists and will
be ever present menacing us so long as
the existing system continues. And, be-
sides, it is in time of adequate reve-
nues and business tranquility that the
government should prepare for the
worst. We cannot avoid without seri-
Gus consequences, the wise considera-
ton and prompt solution of this uues-
ton"
The president discusses at consider
able length the various phases of. the
Cuban question, and says in plain
terms:
I regard the recognition of the bel
now unwise and therefore inadmissible
Should that step hereafter be deemed
wise as measure of right and duty.
Inc executive will take it. Interven-
uon upon humanitarian grounds has
peen frequently suggested and has not
lailed to receive my most anxious and
sarnest consideration. But should
such step be- now taken, when it is
apparent that hopeful change has sll-
pervened in the policy of Spain toward
Nuoa! new government has taken
ollce IN the mother country 1t is
pedsed in advance to the declaration
mat all the effort in the world cannot
eunice to maintain peace in Cuba by
'he oayonet; that vague promises of
REFORM after subjugation afford no So
luuon Of the insular problem; that with
substitution of commanders fnust
come change of the past system of
warfare for one in harmony with
new policy, which shall no longer aim
drive the Cubans to the horrible
eiternative of taking to the thicket or
succumbing in Misery that reforms
must be instituted in accordance with
.he needs and circumstances of the
uine, and that thesesreforms, while de-
Ashea to give full autonomy to the
eoi9hy and to- create, a virtual entity
T self controlled administration
~ vet ceDserve and affirm the SOW
elsnty ofSpain by a just distribution
=. powers and burdens, upon basis of
.sulual interest untainted by methods
VI selfish expediency.
mat the government of Sagasta,"
s me president, has entered upon a
NuIse from which recession with hon