The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Congress met at noon yesterday ana
is now ready for business. The presl-
dents message was transmitted 10
both houses. 1t is somewhat long
document and covers all the import
ant questions before the country.
Those who were looking for weak
message, one which would take no de-
cided stand upon any subject, are
doomed to disappointment. 1t is a
clear, able presentation of the matters
that will con.e before congress for
consideration delivered by man VINO
knows what he wants to say and
says it.
Naturally the first topic he takes up
is that of the currency. The whole
field is briefly but thoroughly re-
viewed and the dangers Of our present
system clearly pointed out. 1.-The
evil of the present." he says, sis found
in the great cost of the government
maintaining the parity Of our differ
emit forms of money, that is, keeping
all OF them at par with gold" 1t is
to reduce, this cost that, in his opin-
ion, should be at once considered. In
this line he recommends, as has been
foreshadowed, that when any of the
United States notes are presented for
REDEMPTION in gold and are redeemed
in gold, such notes shall be kept and
set apart, and only be paid out in ex-
change for gold. This will break
the endless chain drain upon the
treasury for those who part with the
notes for gold, must then part with
gold to again obtain possession of
them, and relieve the government of
the great burden imposed upon it of
getting an increased supply of gold
by bond selling to supply its needs for
redemption purposes.
Further in the line Of currency
matters, he concurs with Secretary
Gage that national banks be allowed
to issue notes to the face value of the
bonds they have deposited for circu-
lation, and that the tax on these
notes be reduced to One-halt of one
per cent. And also that authority
be given for the establishment of
national banks with minimum capt.
tai of 1926, 900, which'would allow their
establishment in many of the smaller
towns and villages and so give those
localities a supply of currency to meet
their needs.
The Cuban problem is reviewed at
length, and interference is opposed
until SPANS plan Of autonomy has a
chance for trial. This view Of the
question will doubtless not suit the
public generally, which has "a general
desire to see the independence Of that
island from Spain. However, it must
be remembered that the president is
situated so that he has information
on the question of which the public
knows little, and that his view Of the
matter may prove much the wiser in
the end, though it must be confessed
that it does not look so from a dis
lance. But with his great patriotism
and strong love and sympathy for Re-
publican institutions, we believe he
may safely be trusted to do what in
his Judgment and knowledge is best
for the interests of humanity and the
country.
He favors the annexation of Hawaii;
approves of the tariff legislation of
the extra session; recommends firm
but conservative foreign policy; re-
fers to the Wolcott commission in be-
half of an international agreement re-
garding the use of silver, and commits
himself to the maintenance of civil
service reform.
Outside of his recommendations re-
garding Cuba, he will doubtless have
the united support of the Republicans
in all his recommendations. Upon
this point there is likely to be more
or less difference of opinion.