San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-06


cess of the revenue. While it is true
that a greater part of this was used to
supply the deficient revenue, consid-
cradle portion was required to main
tain the gold reserve. If no further
legislation is to be had to correct this
and the policy of selling bonds is to
be continued, then Congress should
give the secretary of the treasury au-
thority to sell the bonds at long or
short periods, bearing less rate OF
interest than now authorized by law.
earnestly recommend that when any
United States notes are presented for
redemption in gold and are redeemed
in gold, such notes shall be kept and
set apart and only paid out in exchange
for gold. This is an obvious duty. If
the holder of the United States note
prefers gold and gets it from the gov
eminent he should not receive back the
from the government a United States
note without paying gold in exchange
for it."
That amounts to the presidents
miud to giving an interest bearing debt
a government bond, for n0n-interest
hearing debt, United States note.
The government should be relieved
from the burden of providing all the
gold used for exchange and exports.
This ought to be stopped. With an
era of prosperity and sufficient re-
CENTS we may feel no immediate en-
barrassment, but the danger will be
ever present. The president invites
careful consideration of the detailed
plan of the secretary of the treasury to
protect the gold reserve. He cOncurs
with Secretary Gage in the recommen-
dation that national banks be allowed
to issue notes to a fair value of their
bonds deposited; that the circulation
tax he reduced to one-half of one per
cent, and that national banks may be
established with capitals of $4,000.
He also recommends that the issue of
national bank notes be restricted to the
denomination of ten dollars and up
ward and that they be required to re-
deem their notes in gold.
Turning to foreign affairs, the pres
ident devotes much space in his mes
sage to the consideration of the Gu
ban question, which he says is the
most important problem with which
deal i'm its foreign relations. Summar-
izing the history of the former out
break, the president comes down to
the present instruction, speaking of
its remarkable increase, its tenacious
existence against enormous forces
massed by Spain, the widespread de-
struction of property and the disregard
of the civilized code of war on both
sides. He says these conditions give
rise to the gravest apprehension; that
there is no desire on our part to profit
by SPANS misfortune and we have
only Il desire to see the Cubans en-
jOying the measure of self control
which is the inalienable right of man.
OF the concentration policy of Weyler,
he says: " 1t has utterly failed as a
war measure; it is not civilized war
fare, it is determination" Against
this abuse of rights of war, the presi-
dent says he has felt constrained on
repeated occasions to offer firm and
honest protest by this government.
He outlined his instructions to Minis
ter Woodford, which We're in substance
to impress upon the Spanish govern
ment the sincere wishes of the United
States to lend its aid toward bringing
about an end to the war by Offering
peaceful and lasting results. Just and
honorable to Spain and to the Cuban
people alike. 1T was also asked wheth-
er Spain of her own volition would not
make proposals for settlement and it
was said that he could not contem-
plate an indefinite period for the ac-
complishment of this result. The
Spanish reply to Mr.. Woodford was in
the presidents opinion in direction
of better understanding. 1t admit
ted our friendly purposes and deep in
terest and declared that the new gov
eminent was bound to have a change
of policy, that should satisfy the Unit
ed States and pacify Cubans in a
reasonable time. To this end came
the proposed political reforms, while
the United States for its part, was ask
ed to enforce neutral obligations and
cut off assistance which the insurgents,
it is asserted, received from this coun-
try. The early and complete pacifica
ton of Cuba is hoped for. The presi-
dent declares that Spanish disposition
to charge the United States with a
failure TO meet international duties is
baseless and points to efforts this gov
eminent has made mt a cost of millions
and by the employment of the admins
trative machinery of the nation to per
form its full duty. He also says
that no military expedition or
armed vessel has left our shores or has
been automatically represented with
Spain. Promising that throughout all
the horror and danger to our own peace
the United States has never abrogated
its right TO determine its policy as to
Cuba, the president points out that of
untried measures there remains only
the recognition of the insurgents as be-
ligerents, the recognition of the indie
pendence of Cuba, neutral intervention
to end the war by impOsing q rational