Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-12-09
Summary or Tar MESSAGE.

sections OF our country, and the lifting
If great public questions above party
prejudice"
The subject Of greatest importance is
the revision Of the currency, and Presi-
dent Mckinley discusses Il at length.
He says that Congress ought not TO hes
itate now 10 enter upon reform Of the
currency which will make our demand
obligations less onerous TO the govern
ment and relieve our financial laws from
ambiguity and doubt. IL Ii manifest, he
says, that we must devise some plan to
protect the government against bond is-
sues for repeated redemptions. II this
evil Is not corrected by legislation, the
President suggests that the Secretary OF
the Treasury be authorized by Congress
20 sell bonds ut long or short periods
bearing q less rate Of interest than 10
now authorized by law. The President
also recommends that, as soon as the re-
ceipts Of the government are sufficient
TO pay all it's expenses, all United States
notes, after their redemption I'm gold,
shall be set apart and only be paid Dut
again for gold
SECRETARY GAeE's PLAN.
The President invites careful consid.
Grafton by Congress Of Secretary Cages
plan to protect the gold reserve, and
concurs with the Secretary that nation
ri banks be allowed TO issue notes to the
face value Of their bonds deposited; that
the circulating tax be reduced to one.
half OF one per cent. and that national
banks may be established with capital
Of $25.00O. He also recommends that
the issue of national bank notes be re-
stricted to the denomination of 80 and
upward, and that they be required to re-
deem their notes In gold.
The President devotes much space in
his message to a consideration Of the
Cuban question. He outlines his recent
instructions 10 Minister Woodford,
which were TO impress upon the Span
ish government the sincere wish of the
United States to aid in terminating the
war by peaceful meth DDS, accomplishing
result which would be just and honor
able to Spain and to the Cuban people.
IL was also made known to the Spanish
government that the United States could
not contemplate an indefinite period for
the accomplishment of this result.
SPANS response was an announcement
of It's change Of policy, the recall Of
Weyler and the proposition to bestow
autonomy upon the Cubans. He says
that 1t Is honestly due TO Spain that it
be given . reasonable time in which to
test It's new policy. Present conditions
In Cuba do not justify the recognition of
the belligerent rights Of the insurgents,
nor Of their independence. The Presi-
dent declares, i'm conclusion, that ''the
near future will demonstrate whether n
righteous peace 10 likely to be attained
II not" he adds, "the exigency OF further
and other action by the United States
will remain to be taken"
HAWAII.
The President heartily favors the an
ncxation Of Hawaii, and says that, while
abrupt assimilation of the immature ele-
ments OF It's population should be avoid
ed, just provision should be made for
scif-rule In local matters, with the lar
gest political liberty to the Hawaiians.
While the international monetary
commission failed to secure an agree.
ment for international bimetallism, graf
ihcation Is expressed at the action of
France, and Il In said the negotiation
are still pending. The President ex.
presses the hope that the labors of the
commissioners may bring about an
agreement.
The opinion Is expressed that by reci-
procity arrangements under the tariff
act the volume of our commercial ex-
changes may be enlarged. The Presi-
dent earnestly hopes for the improve.
mcnt OF our merchant marine, the infe-
riority Of which, he says, il humiliating
to our national pride, international ar.
bitration Is Endorsed by the President
and declared to represent the best scnti-
ment Of the civilized world. A liberal
appropriation Is urged for creditable
exhibit at the approaching Paris Expo
siti0n.
THE NAVY.
The President urges speedy legisla.
ton TO procure armor for the three hat.
tie-ships now building, and SAYS that for
time any increase In the naval equip
ment should take the form of increased
facilities for our vessels. He urges that
three or four Of the largest docks should
be provided on the Atlantic coast. nj
least one ON the Pacific coast and n float.
ing dock In the Gulf. He indorses the
proposed increase in the number of Off.
GERS and enlisted men and recommends
an appropriation for only one more bat
tie-ship. He thinks several additional
torpedo boats are required.
Prompt legislation Is needed for Alas.
An and the civil authority should be ex
tended within the Territory. Referring
to the pending sale Of the Kansas Pa.
cifc Railroad, the President saws tina.
the Secretary OF the Treasury Ia. been
instructed to bid at the sale a sum eoual
to the principal of the debt 70 the gov.
ernmeAt.