Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-16

yudy sent MS annual message TO
Sonsress lie congratulated il upon as
2emLuAg under felicitous conditions
feace ana good will with all the nations
= She eatth continue unbroken, he says.
anu We should feel genuine satisfaction
al the growing spirit OF fraternaI regard
anu unincation in all sections Of our
country and the lifting of great public
questions above party prejudice.
Beginning with the subject Of tho Nnsn-
-, the president says that while the full
etect OF tse legislation of the extra ses-
sloh mas not yet been realized. what il
mas already accomplished assures US of
It's timeliness and wisdom. TO test its
permanent value further. time will be re-
CURED and the people, satisfied with its
operation and results thus far. are in no
mind TO withhold from ii a fair trial.
Inc next question pressing for considera-
lion IS that OF the currency. With the
grsat ~esource OF the government and
Win the honorable example of the past
before US, we ought not 10 hesitate to en-
ter upon a currency revision which will
make our demand obligation less onerous
70 the government and relieve our finan-
cal laws from ambiguity and doubt. The
eVll OF the present system is found In the
! great cost 10 the government of maintain
ing at a parity with gold our different
forms OF money, and the experience of
the past four years nave demonstrated
that TINS is not only an expense charged
upon the government but a dangerous
menace 10 the national credit. IL is nan
l1est that We must devise some plan TO
protect the government against bond is
sues Tor repeated redemptions. We nave
nine hunGred millions of currency which
the government by solemn enactment has
undertaken TO keep at par and nobody is
oDiiged 10 redeem in gold but the govern
mens which must borrow the gold The
law WhlcE requires the aymen out OF
the treasury OF redeemed United States
notes demand
Constant Repicnishment
or the gold reserve, especially in times
OF panic and insufficient revenue. During
the preceding administration S262, 3I5, 400
AZ per cent bonds were issued and sold
TO sustain the gold reserves. and pay the
/ expenses or the government in excess of
revenue. While II is true that a greater
part Of this is used 10 supply C,Gcient
revenues, a considerable portion was re-
| CURED 10 maintain the gold reserve. If
no further legislation is TO be had. 10 cor
rect this and the policy of selling bonds
is TO be continued. then ongres should
| give the secretary of the treasury au-
thority TO sell bonds at long or short pc
RODS, bearing a less rate OF interest than
IS now authorized by Jaw. The resident
Y II earnestly recommend as soon as
the receipts Of the government are quite
sufficient 10 pay all tlie expenses of the
government that when any United States
notes are presented for redemption in
| gold and are redeemed IN gold. SUCH 7 otes
| shall be kept set apart and only paid out
in exchange for gold. This is al bvious
duty If the holder OF the United States
! note prefers the gold and gets IL from tie
government. he should not receive back
from the government a United States
note without paying gold in exchange
for st." That amounts, 10 the presi-
dents mind to giving an interest-5earing
debt, a government bond. for1 noa-inter-
est bearing debt, a United states note.
The government should be relieved from
the burden of providing ali me EOid Te-
quired for exchanges and exports. This
ought to be stopped. With an era OF
prosperity and sufficient receipts we may
feel no immediate embarrassment, but
the danger will be ever present.
The president invites careful considera-
ton for the detailed plan of the secre-
tary of the treasury TO protect the gold
reserve. He concurs with MIN in the rec
o~mmendation that national banks be al
lowed 10 issue notes TO the face value OF
their bonds deposited: that the ~circrlat-
ing tax be reduced TO one-han OF one per
cent and that national lanKS nay pc
established with a capital OF S2o.oD lie
also recommends that the issue or ma
tional banks be restricted to the denomi-
nation of $40 and upwards. and that they
be REQUIRED To redeem their notes IN gold
Regarding Foreign Affairs.
Turning 10 foreign affairs, the presi-
dent deYotes mu1h space in his message
TO a consideration OF the cuban question,
which he says is the most important
problem with which our government IS
now called uDon to deal In its foreign
relations. Summarizing the history of
former outbreaks, the president comes
down TO the present insurrection, speak
ing OF its remarkable increase, its te-
nacious existence against enormous
forces massed by Spain, the widespread
destruction of property. and the disre-
gard of the civilized code of war on both
Sides He saws these conditions give rise
TO gravest apprehensions. There is no
desire on our part 70 pront py SPAN
misfortunes, and we have only the desire
10 see the Cubans enjoying that measure
of s~eif-eontrol which is the inalienable
right OF man. OF the. concentration
policy OF Weyler he says: 1T has utterly
failed as a wal measure. 1t is not civil
ized warfare---it Is determination.
Against this abuse OF the rights OF war
the president says ne had felt con-
strained on repeated occasions to enter
the firm and honest protest OF this gov
eminent He outlines his Instructions to
Minister Woodfcrd. which were, II sub
stance. TO impress upon the Spanish gov
eminent the sincere wish of the United
states TO lend its aid toward the ending
of the war by reaching a peaceful and
last result. just and honorable 10 Spain
and TO the Cuban people. Ii was also
| asked whether Spain. of her own volition.
should not make proposals for settlement,
and III was said that he could not con-
template an indefinite period Tor the ac-
! complishmert OF this result.
THE Spanish reply to Mr.. Woodfcrd
was. in the presidents opinion. IN the d.
rection of a better understanding. IL adj
mitted our friendly purpose and deep in
terest. and declared tina the new govern
ment was bound TO a change of policy
hat Shout satisfy the United States and
nacify cuba within a reasonable time. To
This end political reforms Will be put into
effect and military operations Conducted
nm humane lines. II was suggested that
Snain be left free 10 conduct military
OPERATIONS and grant political reforms.
while the United States, for its part.
should enforce Neutral obligations and
cut off the assistance which the insur-
gents, IL was asserted, received from this
country. Early and complete paeiication
Is hoped for.
Spanish Charges Are BnscIess.
The president declares that the Spanish
disposition to charge us with failure
to meet international duties is baseless
and points TO the efforts this government
has made at the cost of millions and by
the en- ployment of the administrative
machinery of the nation TO perform its
full duty. He also says that the fact
that no military expedition or armed
vessel has left our shores has been dip
lomatiCally represented to Spain. Prom
Using that throughout all the horror and
danger to our own peace. the United
States has never abrogated It's right to
determine its policy as 10 Cuba, the presi-
dent points out that of the untried meas
ures there remains only: Recognition of
the Insurgents as belligerents, recognition
OF the independence OF Cuba. neutral in
teryertion TO end the war by imposing
a rational compromise between the con-
~testants. al intervention IN favor or one
or the other party. He says: II speak
not of forcible annexation, for that can
not be thought of. by our code or
morality would be crimina aggression"
Taking up the question OF belligerency.
the president quotes at length from Presi-
tent Grants message OF Dec. Z, 1915.
wherein ne declared that the condition
fr Cuba warranted neither the recognition
of Independence MOI. the recognition or
II. ada that mnroAuay q