The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-12-11
Congratulations.

hlnley sent his annual message 10 con-
F-ess-
He congratulated it upon assembling under
felicitiouS conditions Peace and good will with
says, and we should feel genuine satisfaction at
The growing spirit of f~raternal regard and uni
f1cation in all sections Of our country and the
atfsing. of great public questions above party
9rejudice-
The Finances.
Beginning with the subject Of the finances,
the president says that while the full effect Of
the legislation OF the extra session has not get
been realized, what il has already accomplished
assures US of its timeiincSS and wisdom. To
test its permanent value further time will be
required and the people, satisfied with its oper-
etIOus and results thus far. are in no mind TO
withhold from it a fair trial. The next ques-
zion pressing for consideration Is that OF the
currency. With the great resources of govern
ment and with the honorable example OF Inc
past before Us. We ought not TO heSl-
tate to enter upon Il currency
revision which Will make our demand ODII-a-
lions less onerouS to the government. and re-
lieve our financial laws from ambiguity and
doubt The evil Of the present system Is
found in the great cost TO the government OF
maintaining at a parity with gold our different
forms OF money, and tine experience OF the past
four years have demonstrated that this Is not
only an expensive charge upon the government,
bit a dangerous menace TO the national
credit 1t is manifest that we must devise
some plan to protect the government against
bond issues for repeated redemptiOnS. We
have $500, 600, 90 Of cure ICY, which the gov
ernment by solemn enactment, has undertaken
to keep a: par. and nobody is Obliged to redeem
In gold but the government, which must borrow
the gold The law. which reqI Tres 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 during the preceding
administration S262. 315, 400 4ia-per-cent bonds
were issued and sold to sustain
the gold reserve and pay the expenses
Of the government in excess Of revenue. While
t. is true that a greater part Of this is used TO
supply deficient revenues, a considerable por-
zion was required to maintain the gold reserve.
II no further legislation is to be had, to correct
this and the policy Of selling bonds is 10 be
continued. then congress should give the Sec
Getary Of the treasury authority to sell bonds
At long or short periods, bearing 4 less rate OF
interest than is now authorized by law. The
9reSident says:
Recommendations
~IearneStly as soon as the receipts
'of the government are quite sufficient to pay all
the expenses of the government. that when any
United States notes are presented FOR reGemp-
notes shall be kept and set apart and only paid
out in e change for god. This IS an
obvious duty. If the holder Of the
United States note prefers the gold
and gets it from the government
ne should not receive back from the govern
ment a United States note without paying gold
IN exchange for it"
That amounts. to the presidents mind, TO Civ
ing an interest bearing deUt. 4 government
bend, for q non-intcrest bearing debt. u United
States note. The government should be re-
lieved from the burden OF providing all the
gold required for exchanges and exports. This
ought to be stopped. With an era Of prosperity
and sufficient receipts we may feel no immediate
embarrassment, but the danger viii be ever
present
The president invites careful consideration
or the detail plan of the secretary OF the treas
.nry 10 protect the gold reserve. He cOncurS
with him in the recommendation that national
Banks be allowed to issue notes to the face
value of their bonds deposited: that their cir
culatiOn tax be reduced to One-half OF one per
cent, and national banks may be established
With q capital OF S25,OUO. He also recommends
chat the issue OF national bank notes be re-
Stricted to the denomination OF ten dollars and
upwards and that they be required to redeem
their notes in gold.
The Cuban Question.
Turning to foreign affairs, the president de-
votes much space i'll his message to a consider
alton of the Gu an question, which he says. is
the most important problem with which our
government IS now called upon to deal in its
foreign relations. Summarizing the history Of
former outbreaks, the president comes down to
The present nSurrecLlon, peaklng OF It's re-
I1arkable increase, its t-naclOuS existence
against normOus forces maSSei by Spain. the
widespread destruction Of property and the
dis egard or the civilized code of
war on both sides. He says these conditions
Fgipe rise to graVcSt pprehenSiOnS. There is
No desire on our part to profit by SPANS mis-
fortunes, and we have only the desire to see
Gubans enjoying that measure of Self-cOntrOl,
which is the inalienable right of man. or the
concentration policy OF Weyler he says: 1t
GAS utterly failed as Il war measure. 1t is not
civilized warfare-lt Is determination"
Our Governments Protest.
against this abuse OF the rights Of war. tbs
pre- ~ident says, he has felt constrained, on re-
peated occasions, to enter the firm and honest
protest OF this government. tie outlines his
Instructions to Minister WOOdford. which were
in substance to impress upon the Spanish gov
erament the sincere wish of the United States
IN lnnl q III ANrari tho .nlfn.r II Th.. rwRr Az
reaching a peac ful and lasting result, just and
honorable to SPAN and to the Cuban people.
IL was also asked whether Spain of her own
Volition should not make proposals for settle
enent and it was said that we could not cOntcm-
plate an indefinite period for the accomplish
-nent OF this result.
The Spanish Reply.
The Spanish reply to Mr.. WoOdfOrd. was, in
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 change Of
policy that should satisfy the United States and
pacify Cuba within a reasonable time. To this
end political reforms Will he put into effect anu
military operations conducted on humane
lines. 1t was suggested that Spain be
left free to conduct military operations
and grant political reforms while the
United States for its part should enforce neu-
GraI obligations and cut OF the assistance
which the insurgents, it was asserted. received
from this country. Early and complete pacif-
cation is hoped for.
Inc president declares InaJ the spanish ClS-
position TO charge US with failure To meet in
6eCuational duties Is baSeleSS, and points to
the efforts taiS government have made at the
cost OF millions, and by the employment OF the
administrative machinery Of the nation to per-
form its duty we'll He also says that the fact
that no military expedition or armed vessel
has left our shores has been automatically
; represented with Spain. Promising that
' throughout all the horror and danger to our
peace, the United States has never abrogated
its right 70 determine its policy as to Cuba, the
president points out that, OF untried measures,
there remains only: Recognition OF the insur-
gents rs OelligerentS, recognition OF the indie
peBdence Of Cuba, neutral intervention to end
Che war by imposing a rational compromise be-
tween the contestants, an Intervention in favor
of one or the other party.
No Forcibie Annexation.
HE says: Il speak not OF forcible annexa-
zion, for that can not be thought OF. That by
our code Of morality would be criminal agrees
sion Taking up the question OF belligcrency,
Sss president quotes at length from President
Giants message Of December Z, 1879. wherein
he declared that the condition in Cuba war
tranted neither the recognition Of independence
NOR the recognition Of oelliserency. He adds
that moreover . recognition of bellig-
erency would confer upon neither
PARTY to conflict q status not Heretofore act
uaIly possessed while it would weigh heavily
In SPANS behalf, giving her the right to search
90 the hi h seas and extending her maritime
rights to the margin OF our territorial waters.
FOR these reasons, says the president, Il
regard the recognition Of the belligerency Of
che Cuban Insurgents as now unwiSe and there
fore inadmiSSible- Should that step hereafter
bedeemed wise. as a matter OF right and duty,
che executive will take it"
Hopeful Change in Spanish Policy.
He points " the hopeful change in the Span
Esh policy to the pledge OF reform and to the
statement Of the horrors OF war as reasons
against intervention on humanitarian grounds.
DnL- A. - ~ H. -aa~ ~ nan ( h.