Smyrna times., 1897-03-10
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.

NSAV VI OhO OulI6u OIaL9S. 1arby
platforms are not always sincere. Let
ters of acceptance are not infrequently
politically expedient and annual mes
sages to Congress are often mere
statements of administrative acts ac-
cOmplished. There is, however. no
questioning the sincerity of an inau-
gural address. Political expediencv
has seldom part in it, and it is an
epitOme not of acts done, but of great
policies of government to be pursued,
and, if Congress concurs, to be done.
Seldom has it happened since the
close of the civil war that a Federal
Administration was inaugurated under
conditions so grave, difficult and per-
picking as those under which Mr..
McKinley's was inaugurated. The
most serious problems of State con-
front the new President, and demand
prompt and sagacious determination.
The question of securing adequate
revenue for the present needs of the
Government, the question of econom-
icsl administration, the question of
revising our entire system of finance.
the question of realizing the demand
of the country for a currency everv
dollar of which shall be as good as the
best dollar, the question of our foreign
relations, especially our relations with
Spain in connection with the Cuban
insurrectiOn, aud with England re-
garding the Treaty of Arbitration, the
question of restricting immigration,
of faithful observance of the Civil
Service LAWN respect of the answers
President Mckinley would make to
these and to other questions of only
less Importance the country was pro-
toundly interested or concerned. The
inaugural answers ali of them with
dlrectness, precision and comprehen-
siveness. The policies of the new ad-
ministratiOn are generally presented
with such clearness and frankness as
to be most satisfactory and convincing.
The words with which the inaugural
address opens are among the most i'm
pressive part of this forceful document.
They express President McKinlev's
reliance on the support of his country
men and a devout invocation to AL
mighty God for guidance. Immed-
lately following them is the recogni-
tion of prevailing business conditions.
The authors perception of them is dis
tinct, his suggestion of remedial policy
is fOrceful and sagacious.
As it was hoped and commonly be-
heved he would do, the President
makes leading and most prominent the
financial and currency questions. The
plan he suggests for the revision of the
existing financial and currency system
will certainly commend itself to the
shrewd common sense of the country.
even though it should fail to find favor
with Congress; it is that if the author
ity to do so is given the President he
Will appoint a nOn-partisan Commits
sion OF prominent, well-informed citi-
zens, such as will by their character.
ability and special fitness command
public confidence, to early consider the
revision of our coinage, banking and
currency laws, giving them that ex-
haustive, careful and dispassionate ex-
animation which their Importance de-
serves.
The idea is excellent, and Congress
should not delay giving the President
authority to appoint a Commission to
do the work, which can rnquestionablv
be better done by capable, experienced
experts than by a Congress largely
composed of those who are not so well
informed regarding the matters to be
considered and determined.
The President finely epitomizes his
financial, currency and economic poll
cies in the words following:
'"The credit of the Government. the
integrity of its currency and the in
volatility of its obligations must be
preserved. Our revenues
should always be large enough to meet
with ease and promptness not only our
current needs, and the principal and
interest of the public debt, but to make
proper and liberal provision for that
most deserving body of public credi-
tors. the pensioners of the army and
navy.
Instead of meeting these obligations
by borrowing money, we should get it
from taxation. "We should have, "says
the President, ''more revenue, and
that without delay, hindrance or post
pOnement.
Preferably and in accordance with
our traditional policy this revenue
should be secured by duties upon i'm
ported products rather than by direct
taxation.
''it being clear that the controlling
principle of the people in the raising of
revenues from duties on imports, is
Jealous care for American interests
and American labor"
The address strongly recommends the
renewal of the reciprocity policy en-
bodied in the tariff of 1890, under which
$50 great a stimulus was given to our
foreign trade in new and advantageous
market.
The foreign policy of thenew Admin
lstratiOn is succinctly outlined in the
words following:
ut will be our aim to preserve a
firm and dignifed foreign policy, which
shall be just, impartial and watchful of
our national honor, and always insist
ing upon the enforcement of the law
tul rights of American citizens every-
where. We want no war of conquest;
we must avoid the temptation of terri
torial conquest"
As to the principle of arbitration, the
address says it is
the true method of settlement of in
ternational as well as of local or in
dividual differences"
and with that sentiment the country
will try and the Senate should
agree with the President.
The entire address is one which is
certain to inspire the countr1y NTH