Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-11
Economy Demanded in Ev-
cry Branch of the Gov
eminent.
Favors the Restoration OF the
American Merchant
Marine.
Deficiencies to Be Stopped
By 4 Revision of the
Tariff.

Washington, March 4.-Following Ia
President Mckinley's inaugural address:
Fellow Citizens: In obedience to the
will of the people and in their presence.
by the authority vested in me by this
oath, I assume the arduous and respon-
sible duties of president of the United
States, relying on the support of my
ceuntrymen and invoking the guidance
of Almighty God. Our faith teaches that
there is no safer reliance than upon the
God of our fathers, who has SO singularly
favored the American people in every
national trial, and who will not forsake
us SO long as we obey his command
ments and walk humbly in his footsteps.
The responsibilities of the high trust
to which 1 have been called-always of
grave importance-are augmented by the
prevailing business conditions, entailing
idleness upon willing labor and loss to
useful enterprises. The country Is suffer-
ing from industrial disturbances. from
which speedy relief must be had. Our
financial system needs some revision; our
money is all good now, but its value must
not further be threatened. 1t should all
be put upon an enduring basis, not sub
ject to easy attack. nor its stability to
doubt or dispute. Our currency should
government. The several forms of our
paper money offer in my judgment.
A Constant Embarrassment
to the government and to safe ball
ance in the treasury. Therefore, I be-
lieye it necessary to devise a system
which. without diminishing the circulate
ing medium or offering premium for it's
contraction, will present remedy for
those arrangements, which, temporary in
their nature. might we'll in years of our
prosperity have been displaced by wiser
provisions. With adequate revenue Sc
cured, but not until then, we can enter
upon such changes in our fiscal laws as
will. while insuring saftey and volume to
our money. no longer impose upon the
government the necessity Of maintaining
so large gold reserve, with its attend
ant and inevitable temptations to specu-
lation.
Most of our financial laws are the out
growth of experience and trial, and
should not be amended without investi-
cation and demonstration of the wisdom
of the proposed changes. We must be
both sure we are right and make haste
slowly" If. therefore, congress in it's
wisdom shall deem it expedient to create
a commission to take under early consid-
Grafton the revision of our coinage, bank
ing and currency laws, and give them that
exhaustive, careful and dispassionate ex-
animation that their Importance demands,
I shall cordially concur in such action.
If such power is vested in the president
it is my purpose to appoint a commission
of prominent. well informed citizens of
different parties. who will command pub
lie confidence both on account of their
ability and special fitness for the work.
Business experience and public training
may thus be combined and the patriotic
zeal of the friends Of the country be so
S11 l.1% oh ~,,k ~,,{11 I.
as to receive the support Of all parties,
and our finances cease to be the SUBJ
ject of mere partisan contention. The
experiment is at all events worth a trial
and in my opinion it can but prove bene-
fetal to the entire country.
international BimeflilisM.
The question Of International bimetal-
lism will have early and earnest atten-
ton. 1t will be my constant endeavor to
secure 1t by cooperation with, the other
great commercial powers of the world
Until that condition is realized, when the
parity between our gold and silver money
springs from and is supported by the
relative value of the two metals. the
value of the silver already coined, and
that which may hereafter be coined
must be kept constantly at par with gold
by every resource at our command. The
credit of the government, the integrity
it's obligations must be preserved. This
was the commanding verdict of the peo-
Die, and it will not be UNDECIDED.
Economy is demanded in every branch
Of the government at all times, but es-
pecially in periods like the present de-
preston Of business and distress among
the people. The severeSt economy must
be observed in all public expenditures,
and extravaganza stopped wherever it il
found and prevented wherever in the fu-
| ture 1t may be developed. If the rev.
enues are to remain as now, the only re-
lief that can come must be from de-
creased expenditures. But the present
must not become the permanent condition
Of the government.
1t has been our uniform practice to re-
| tire, not increase, our outstanding obliga-
TONS. and this policy must again be re-
sumed and vigorously enforced. Our rev.
enues should always be large enough to
! our current needs, and the principal and
| interest Of the public debt but to make
proper and liberal provision for that most
| deserving body Of public creditors, tho
| soldiers and sailors. and the widows and
orphans who are the pensioners of the
| United States.
! Remedy for Deficits.
The government should not be permit.
ted to run behind or increase it's debt ir
| times like the present. Suitably to pro
| vide against this is the mandate Of duty
the certain and easy remedy for most OF
our financial difficulties. A deficiency is
| inevitable 30 long as the expenditures o.
the government exceed its receipts Il
can only be met by loans or an increased
revenue. While q large annual surplus O.
revenue may invite waste and extrava
| gance inadequate revenue creates distrus
| and undermines public and private credit
| Neither should be encouraged. Betwee,
| more loans and more revenue there ough
| to be but one opinion. We should hav,
| more revenue and that without delay
| hindrance or postponement.
| A surplus In the treasury, created b!
loans. is not permanent or safe reliance
! 1t will suffice while it lasts, but it can
! not last long while the OUTLAWS of TIN
| government are greater than its receipts