Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05

lar utteranco"----or. as we would de-
scribe It. by the purchased elections OF
November 3. 1896.
Mr.. Mckinley hopes that Congress, lat
the earliest practicable moment. Will
enact revenue legislation that shall be
fair reasonably conservative, and just
and which, while supplying sufficient
revenue for public purposes will still be
slgnauy beneficial and helpful TO every
section. and every enterprise OF the peo-
pie" lie considers 1t TO be the para
mount duty of Congress to stop deiicien-
cies by the restoration Of that ''protec-
tive legislation which has always been
the hrmest prop of the Treasury" He
however. makes no attempt to explain
what sort of a prop" it will be to the
producers OF corn. wheat. cotton, ana
tobacco who have 10 sell their products
in open markets, while they are forced
TO make their purchases in markets
closed to all sellers. except protected
manufacturers.
In the revision Of the tariff, Mr.. Nc
Knley asks that especial attepion be
given to "the re-enactment and extension
OF the reciprocity-principle law Of 1872
business conditions" the President
astutcly admits. ARE not the most prom
ising." 1T will take time" he says,
ito restore the prosperity of former
years"-a very different song from that
sung by his leaders last fall, when we
were told that all the country needed
was a restoration of confidence" that
our currency was mot TO be debased'
The President somewhat recklessiy as
sumes that Congress will not be found
lacking in disposition or ability to re-
lieve dhe situation), as far as leglsla-
ton can do so"
The President INDUCES in the usual
Republican moralizings about equality
OF rights" free and fair elections
"lynchings," &c. He also declares
against trusts Ohink Of that, Mark,
and promises that his party viii en-
force the laws now in existence, and
enact others that may be necessary.
He favors restrictive immigration laws,
and says that "illteracy must be
banished from the land. If we would
attain that high destiny as the foremost
Of the enlightened nations of the world,
which. under Providence, we ought TO
achieve"
The President declares in favor Of
real and genuine" reforms in the civil
service. The changes must not be per
functory or prompted by zeal in be-
half of any party, simply because 1t
happens to be in power" His utterance5
upon this subject are very emphatic.
The decline of our merchant marine
excites his regret, and he declares that
Congress should give prompt attention to
its restoration. More protection.
He declares in favor of the policy OF
arbitration. He recommends the ratih-
cation Of the Olney-Salisbury general ar
bitration treaty The Cuban question is
not referred TO specifically; but he says
that eve want no wars Of conquest; we
must avoid the temptation of territorial
aggression"
Next. the President enters into an ar
gument as TO the necessity for an extra
session of Congress. This he defends
upon the ground that our revenues are
insufficient to meet the expenses Of gov
eminent; but the real reason for the
extra session is that the protected manu-
facturers may the sooner realize upon the
outlay by them made in last years
election expenses. He names Monday.
March 18th. as the day for the assembling |
Of Congress.
In conclusion, the President congratu-
lates the country upon "the fraternal
spirit of the people and the obliteration
of sectional or geographical lines"
The address. as whole is colorless
and featureess. We now know very
little more of McKinley's purposes than
we did before it was delivered. But !
we suppose we ought to excuse his !
silence as to Cuba, because, as yet, he
has had no opportunity to read the fun !
correspondence between Mr. Olney and |
Consul General Lee. Tariff taxation !
is the only immediate remedy that he |
offers for the ills over which the BUSH
ness public is grooming. Coinage, cur
rency. and banking are subjects for In
vestigation by a commission that Will !
take year or two to report. Some !
observations as to international co-opera- !
ton in the matter of silver coinage are |
made. but they amount to little |
more than an attempt on the part of |
Mr.. Mckinley to reconcile his present |
attitude with his past position on this |
question. There is something like deci- |
sion i'm his reference to civil-service re- !
form, and we trust that he means all !
he says Those who have been advocat- |
ing State banks will find no word Of !
encouragement in his address. per ]
contra" those who favor high protec- |
ton and extravagant pensions will be |
much elated by his utterances. In short, !
Mr.. Mckinley talks as Republican 10 |
Republicans. And in this We have no !
right to be disappointed.