The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-12-10

Commemorate Efforts For international
Bimetallisn.
Washington, Dec. 6.-President Nc
kinley today sent his annual message
to congress He congratulates it upon
assembling under felicitous conditions.
Peace anu good will with all nations of
the eaft1 continue unbroken, he says,
and we should feel genuine satisfaction
at the growing spirit of fraternal re-
gard and unitication in all sections of our
country and the lifting of great public
questions above party prejudice.
Beginning with the subject of the fin
anances, the president says that while
the full effect of the Legislation / ,4-e -
ira session has not been real41-,. ,..--.C
it has already accomplished assn. IS
of it's timeliness and wisdom. 10 st
it's permanent value further time VI.l be
required, and the people, satisfied with
it's operation and results thus far are
in no mind to withhold from it a fair
trial.
The next question pressing for consid-
Grafton is that of the currency. With the
great resources of the government and
with the honorable example Of the past
before US, we would not hesitate to en-
ter upon a currency revision which will
make our demand obligations less oner-
Gus to the government and relieve our
financial laws from ambiguity and
doubt. The evil of the present system
is found in the great cost to the govern
ment of maintaining at parity with gold
our different forms of money, and the
experiences the past four years have
demonstrated that this is not only an
expensive charge upon the government
but a dangerous menace to our national
credit. 1t is manifest that we must de-
wise some plan to protect the government
against bond issues for repeated re-
demption. We have nine humid ed mill
ions of currency which the government
by solemn enactment, has undertaken
to keep at par, and nobody is obliged
to redeem in gold but the government,
which must borrow the gold. The law
which requires the payment out of the
treasury of redeemed United States notes
demands a constant replenishment of
the gold reserve, especially in times of
panic and insufficient revenue, and dur
ing the preceding administration $780,
315 400 Az per cent bonds were issued
and sold to sustain the gold reserve and
pay the expenses of the government in
excess of revenue While it is true that
a greater part of this was used to supply
deficient revenues, considerable por-
ton was required to maintain 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
L. To all hf de-
long or short periods bearing d less rate
of interest than is now authorized by
law. The president says:
Il earnestly recommend as soon as |
the receipts of the government are quito
sufficient to pay all the expenses of the !
that when any United States
notes are presented for redemption in
gold and are redeemed in god, such
notes shall be kept and set apart and
only paid out in exchange for god. TINS
is an obvious duty. Ii the holder of
the United States note prefers the gold
and gets it from the government, he
should not receive from the government
a United States note without paying
gold in exchange for it"
Turning TO 1oreign affairs, the president
devotes much space in his message to d
consideration of the Cuban question,
which, he lays, is the most important
problem with which cur government
is now called upon to deal in it's foreign
relations. Summarizing the history of
former outbreaks, the president comes
down to the present lnsurrect. on, speak |
ing of it's remarkable increase, it's uena-
cious existence against enormous forces |
massed by Spain, the widespread de-
struction of property and the u.sI q gard |
of the civilized code of war on both SIDES.
He says this condition gives rise to the
gravest apprehension. There is no de-
sire on our part to profit by Spains mis-
fortunes, and we have only the desire to |
see the Cubans enjoying that measure of
self control which is the inaliend BILE |
right of all.
OF the concentration policy of Weyler, !
he says: 1T has utterly failed as a war
measure. 1t is not civilized warfare it |
is determination" Against tins abuse
of the rights of war, the president says
he has felt constrained on repeated oc-
casions to enter the firm and earnest pro-
test of this government. He outlines
his instructions to Minister Woodford, |
which were in substance to impress upon
the Spanish government the sincere wish |
of the United States to lend it's aid toward .
the ending of the war by reaching a
peaceful and lasting result just and hon
orable to Spain and the Cuban people
1t was also asked whether Spain of her
own volition should not make proposals
for settlement, and ii was said that he
could not contemplate an indefinite period
for the accomplishment of this result
The Spanish reply to Mr.. Woodford was,
n the presidents opinion, in the direction
Of a better understanding. 1t admitted
our friendly purposes and deep interest,
and declared that the new government
was bound to a change of policy that
should satisfy the United States and
pacify Cuba within a reasonable time.
To this end political reforms will be
put into effect and military operations
on humane lines.
Taking up the question of belligerency,
The president quotes at length from Pres
dent Grants message of Dec Z, 1875,
wherein he declared that the conditions
n Cuba warranted neither the rscogni-
ion of independence nor the recognition
If belligerency. He adds that more
,ver, a recognition of belligerency would
,onfer upon neither party to the conflict
stStus not heretofore not actually pos
,essed, while it would weigh heavily in
Spain's behalf, giving her right of search
IN the hiph seas a nd extending her mari