The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-12-10


than is now authorized by law 1 ear
nestly recommend soon as the receipts
of the government are quite Sumclent to pay
all the expenses of the government. 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 paid out in exchange for gold. This
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 back
from the government United States note
without paying gold in exchange for it The
reason for this is made all the more apparent
when the government issues an Understanding
note to provide gold for the redemption OF
United States notes-a non-interest bearing
debt Surely it should not pay them out again
except on demand and for gold If they are put
out in any other way they may return again to
be followed by another bond issue to redeem
Notwithstanding debt to redeem
a non-interest bearing debt
Providing Gold for Business.
In my view it is of the utmost Importance
that the government should be relieved from
the business of providing all the gold required
for exchange and export. This responsibility
is alone borne by the government without any
of the usual and necessary banking powers to
help itself. The banks do not feel the strain
of the gold redemption. The whole strain
rests upon the government and the size OF the
gold reserve in the treasury has come to be.
with without reason. the signal OF danger
or of security. This ought to be stopped. If
to have an era Of prosperity in the
country with sufficient receipts for the eX-
penses Of the government. we may feel no i'm
mediate embarrassment from our present cur
rency: but the danger still exists and will be
ever present menacing so long the existing
system continues And besides it is in times
of adequate revenues and business tranquility
that the government should prepare for the
worst We cannot avoid without serious con-
Sc .uenceS the wise consideration and prompt
solution Of this question.
Secretary Cages Plan.
The secretary of the treasury has outlined o
plan in great detail for the purpose Of remov-
ing the threatened recurrence of a depleted
gold reserve and save US from future embar-
rassment on that account To this plan I in
vite your careful consideration. I concur with
the secretary Of the treasury in his recommen-
dation that national banks be allowed to issue
notes to the face value of the bonds which they
deposited for circulation. and that the tax on
! circulating notes secured by deposit Of such
| bonds be reduced to one-half Of one per cent
| per annum. 1 also join him in recommending
that,authority be given for the establishment
| of national banks with minimum capital of
| s25. 600 This will enable the Sma Ter villages
| and agricultural regions Of the country to be
| supplied with currency to meet their needs
| recommend that the issue OF national bank
! notes be restricted to the denomination of 40
| and upwards. If the suggestions have herein
| made shall have the approval OF congress. then
| would recommend that national banks be re-
quired to redeem their notes in gold.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The most important problem with which
this government is now called to deal, pertain
ing to its foreign relations concerns its duty
toward Spain and the Cuban instruction
Problems and conditions more or less in COM
mon with those now existing have confronted
this government at various times in the past
The story of Cuba for many years has been one
OF unrest: growing diScOntent: an effort toward
a larger enjoyment Of liberty and self-control
of organized resistance to the mother country;
of depression after distress and warfare, and
of Intellectual settlement to be followed by re-
newed revolt. For enduring period since
the enfranchlsement OF the continental possess
sion of Spain in the western continent has the
condition of Cuba. or the policy of Spain to-
ward Cuba not caused concern to the United
States
The War In Cuba.
The present Instruction broke out in Febru-
ary 1895 1t is not my purpose at this time to
recall its remarkable increase or to character
iZe its tenacious resistance against the enor-
nous forces massed against it by Spain. The
revolt and the efforts to Subdue it carried de-
struction to every quarter of the island devel-
oping wide proportions and defying the efforts
of Spain for its suppression The civilized
code of war has been diSregarded, no less so by
the SpdniardS than by the CubanS The exist
ing conditions cannot but fill this government
|
prehension. There is no desire on the part of
our people to profit by the misfOrtunes of
| Spain. We have only the desire to see the
CubanS prosperous and contented. enjoying
| that measure Of Sef-control which is the in
alienable right of man, protected in their right
| to reap the benefit of the exhaustless treasures
of their country.
The offer made by my predecessor in April,
1885, rendering the friendly offices Of this gov
eminent failed Any mediation our part
| was NJ nfad n hri y he VI rpo6 .
| There is no efectual way to pacify Cuba un-
less it begin with the actual submission OF the
rebels to the mother" Then only could Spain
act in the promised direction Of her own mo-
ton and after her own plans. The cruel policy
| of concentration was initiated February l6,
| 1896 The productive districts controlled by
the Spanish armies were depopulated and the
| agricultural inhabitants were herded in and
about the garrisoned towns. their land laid
waste and their dwellings destroyed. This policy
! of the late cabinet of Spain was justified as a
necessary measure Of war and as q means of
cutting OF supplies from the insurgents 1t
has utterly failed a war measure 1t was
not civilized warfare. 1t was determination
| Release OF American Prisoners.
| Against this abuse of the rights Of war have
felt constrained on repeated occasions to enter
the firm and earnest protest Of this govern
ment There was much of public condemna-
| ton Of the treatment of American citizens by
alleged illegal arrests and long Imprisonment
awaiting trial pending protracted judicial
! procedure. I felt it my first duty to make in
slant demand for the release or speedy trial OF
| all American citizens under arrest Before
! the change of the Spanish cabinet in October
last - prisoners. citizens Of the United States.
had been given their freedom For the relief
| of citizens suffering because OF the
| conflict, the aid of congress- was sought in a
| special message. and under the appropriation
of April 4, 1897. ef1e rive aid has been given to