Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-07
Prs.llsa. ueklnlsy'. .Iss.ass.

President uckinlsy's 1lessags.
President McKinley's message to
Congress on it's first assembling in
regular session during his administra-
ton was looked forward to with much
interest, enough to warrant the pub
locations within the past few weeks
of columns of prediction concerning it,
We do not think it will occasion much
surprise, however, in respect to the po-
sitions assumed therein, for they are
logical and consistent with his attitude
heretofore. Nor should it excite parti-
cular comment that the message IS
able, firm, statesmanlike. Those quail
tiles may well be expected at the hands
of William Mckinley. But it is more
than that, it is a felcitious message.
carrying conviction with it's argu-
ments, commencing itself to dispas-
sionate consideration, free from feat
ures tending to irritation between the
legislative and executive branches,
while from the first line to the last the
reader is impressed with the spirit
which makes for united effort in dis
posing of the problems that are pre-
scented. But through it all there is no
mark of wavering. He believes an ef
fort should be made to remove the
menace of the endless chain" and he
has no hesitancy in urging the prime
Importance of such action on the at.
tention of Congress. He is equally
firm in his position on the Cuban ques-
ton though endeavoring to support it
by argument, such that the situation
may be clearly comprehended by all.
He does not say that he believes the
subject should be left to the executive
department for treatment but it is not
difficult to infer as much. He leaves
no question in the minds of his readers
that he is as firm for upholding civil
service reform as he ever has been and
while he does not devote much atten-
ton to the subject of arbitration he
leaves no one in doubt as to his posi-
ton, which he evidently has seen no
occasion to change in the past year.
The President last spring believed
the tariff the first question that should
be treated. He then ascribed the Sec
ond place in Importance to the cur
rency. He is still of the same mind.
and true to his pledges. He believes
that present conditions constitute a
menace and that time of prosperity
rather than time Of stress is the OPP
portunity for dealing with the cur
rency problems. To be sure if there
are not enough votes in the Senate to
pass proper currency legislation then
such legislation cannot be had but
President Mckinley believes in bring
ing the issue squarely before them,
placing the alternatives before them
and the country and asking no more
for the present than the relief of the
government from a very embarrassing
situation and wasteful system. He
declares to all his purpose to support
our currency on parity with gold cost
what it may. He asks Congress to so
arrange it that we need not be COM
PEELED to sell interest bearing bonds to
provide gold for redeeming non-inter-
est bearing United States notes; a SIM
pie, straightforward proposition that
which dictated it. He does not think
present obstacles need discourage
when we recollect how the interest
bearing national debt was decreased
from 81, 1872, 1871, 2OS in 1866 to $685., OBJ, LOG
in 1893 Nor does he think we should
hesitate to provide against such condi-
tions as increased that debt in the
next four years following 1893 to $847,
1856, 500. If holders of greenbacks bring
them to the treasury and demand gosl
for them. all right, pay gold. Then
hold those greenbacks till someone
wants them enough-as they will for
purposes of convenience-to bring gold
to the treasury and pay in for those
greenbacks. The President frankly
admits that while the greater part Of
the bonded debt incurred under the
Cleveland administration was due t.
deficient revenues a considerable par;
was due to the necessity of preserving
the gold reserve. Today the govern
ment's only way of obtaining gold in
time of panic or deficient revenue fol
maintaining it's 5000. 600. 900 of currency
at par with gold is to sell bonds on dis.
advantageous terms. This he proposes
to do, however. il the occasion requires
Our money is good and shall be KEEP
good.
He concurs with the secretary Of tht
treasury that national banks be al
lowed to issue notes to the face valus
NJ their hopdc instead NJ RI tho lin |,